The grandest square in the old town, fronted by the Residenz, the cathedral, and the New Residence with its glockenspiel. The 15-metre marble Residenzbrunnen at the centre — sea horses, Tritons, and a giant on top — is among the largest and showiest baroque fountains north of the Alps.
The square is the natural pivot of any walk through Salzburg: every other major sight is within five minutes' walk. Time your stop for 11 a.m., 3 p.m., or 6 p.m., when the glockenspiel on the New Residence plays a short Mozart or Haydn piece.