Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbrau

Although more than 600 years old, this historical building barely shows its age thanks to concerted maintenance and design, with a sleek, boutique gloss atop the clean, minimal lines of modern European style. The reception area makes a good first impression, with a glass ceiling, attractive modern fixture, and nail-polish-pink chairs and sofas. That suits the young professional couples that make up most of the clientele just fine, as well as the smaller number of business travelers and families. A 24-hour lobby bar entices socializing with a selection of drinks, which taste even better on the rooftop terrace paired with views of old Salzburg.  

Just across the river that girds Salzburg’s medieval core, the hotel is within a 10-minute walk of most of the city's top sights. The narrow streets, designed for human and horse, regulates much of it to the exterior. Thankfully, a funicular and elevators can bring people up the steep hills. Getting to the hotel from the train station is a short nine-minute bus ride followed by a three-minute walk, while from the airport, it’s about 24 minutes by bus. If laden with baggage, consider a cab, as the hotel is located in a pedestrian zone and buses drop off a five to 10-minute walk away. 

• Five-minute walk to Mozart's Residence
• Six-minute walk to Mirabell Palace
• Six-minute walk to Getreidegasse
• Seven-minute walk to DomQuartier
• Eight-minute walk to Salzburg Cathedral and Residenzplatz
• Nine-minute walk to Salzburg Museum
• 10-minute walk to St. Peter's Abbey and Cemetery
• 14-minute walk to Hohensalzburg Castle
• 18-minute walk to Augustiner Brewery and Cloister
• 24 minutes to Hellbrunn Castle by bus 

The building may be hundreds of years old, but you’d hardly know it in the ultra-modern guest rooms that combine Scandinavian minimalism with Austrian order. Under the high ceilings are blond-wood desks, headboards, wardrobes, and other accents against mostly bare white walls and parquet flooring. The aesthetic carries over to the spacious bathrooms, with round basin sinks, walk-in showers, hairdryers, and wall-mounted soap dispensers. All rooms also come with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, coffee machines, mini-fridges, safes, ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. Cribs and infant beds are available upon request. There's also free water upon arrival, though free coffee pods are limited to two per stay. Upgrading to Business rooms adds leather lounge chairs with ottomans and queen-size beds. The best views over the roofs of Salzburg are from the rooftop suite, often booked by honeymooners. 

Star Inn Hotel Premium Salzburg Gablerbrau doesn't have a slew of features, but there are a few nice perks. There's no full-service restaurant or gym on-site, but there's a small, charming rooftop terrace bar that looks out to a backdrop of domes and green hills. A buffet breakfast is served for an extra charge in a pleasant dining room with honey-colored wood tables and wall paneling, and a 24-hour lobby bar offers cocktails and espresso. Other amenities include dry cleaning and shoeshine service, free newspapers and a computer station in the lobby, and a 24-hour front desk concierge that can arrange tickets for local performances. The hotel also sells the 72-hour city pass that gives you access to cable cars, museums, and other attractions. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and small pets stay free, but there's no on-site parking.