22 Commercial Properties to Buy in Salzburg

Buying commercial property in Salzburg means securing a place in one of Austria’s economically strongest locations. The Mozart city offers businesses and investors a wide range of opportunities – from representative offices in the Old Town to modern retail premises and spacious storage and production facilities on the city outskirts.

With its high purchasing power, proximity to the German border and a stable demand, Salzburg is considered an attractive market for commercial property. Buyers here benefit not only from a value-stable investment but also from a location that ideally combines tradition and modern economic structures.

• What is meant by a commercial property? Commercial property includes all properties used for commercial purposes, for example offices, practices, retail units, restaurant spaces, warehouses or mixed-use buildings.
• Why is Salzburg an attractive location? The city convinces as an economic center with high purchasing power, proximity to the German border and excellent infrastructure.
• What amenities are typical? Commercial properties usually offer generous usable space, flexible layouts, modern technology and, depending on the intended use, extras such as shop windows, storage areas or parking spaces.
• Where are suitable locations found? In the city, offices, practices and retail units dominate, while on the outskirts and in the surrounding area more production and storage spaces are being built in business parks.
• How do purchase prices develop? Purchase prices vary widely: prime properties in the Old Town reach top prices per square meter, while halls or production areas on the outskirts are significantly cheaper.

In Salzburg, commercial property refers to all properties used for commercial purposes – that is, not residential properties, but spaces for businesses. This includes, for example, office space for service providers, practice rooms for doctors, retail units for shops and gastronomic establishments.

Warehouses or mixed-use buildings such as a residential and commercial building also fall under the term commercial property. As an economic location, Salzburg offers a wide variety of such commercial units, from a small shop in Salzburg’s Old Town to a large warehouse in the Pongau region.

The city of Salzburg itself is a highly sought-after location: as the state capital it is the economic center of the region. Companies appreciate the good infrastructure, the proximity to the German border and the high local purchasing power. In the various districts of the state, for example in the Hallein district or in the Pongau with Sankt Johann as the district capital, there are also commercial properties with different focuses.

While offices, practices and retail units often dominate in the city, there are more industrial areas with storage space, production halls or business parks in the surrounding communities. Each location has its own character: a commercial property in a central Salzburg city location is considered a prime property with a correspondingly high purchase price, whereas properties on the outskirts or in smaller towns often offer larger plots and parking options.

When you buy a commercial property, you can either use it for your own business or rent it out. It is important that the property fits the intended uses and that the zoning (use permit) of the property allows commercial use. Buying such a property should be well considered, because every property is a substantial purchase item.

Whether office buildings, commercial buildings or warehouses – certain features are particularly important for commercial properties. These include sufficiently large areas (usable area) with a sensible room layout as well as a good sense of space, for example through high ceilings and large windows.

Bright rooms with modern lighting and good ventilation create a pleasant working environment. Technical aspects such as existing air conditioning or modern infrastructure (for example IT cabling) also belong to a contemporary fit-out. Accessibility should also be considered: ideally a property has parking facilities or its own parking spaces for employees and customers, and the public transport connections are good.

Depending on the type of property, the fit-out details vary. A ground-floor retail unit places value on large shop windows and a well-visible entrance, while an office loft emphasizes an open floor plan and industrial design. In a business park with multiple units, the total usable area of all rooms is often specified – this includes offices, storage areas, social rooms and sanitary facilities.

It is important that the property is functional and at the same time radiates the desired character, whether modern-minimalist or charming with historic elements. In some buildings, rooms can be combined into one unit or subdivided into smaller workspaces.

An example: an old furniture factory was converted into a modern commercial loft with unmistakable loft character. During the revitalization, original steel beams and the industrial window look were retained, creating a unique sense of space on entry. The loft spans the ground and upper floors and has two entrances – one from the quiet Robinigstraße and a second via an inner courtyard on the main street.

The location of a commercial property in Salzburg is often the decisive factor. Different types of locations are suitable depending on the industry and the intended use. A retail business or restaurant benefits from a central high-traffic location with many passersby – ideally in the heart of the city. In Salzburg’s Old Town, for example, tourist flows and residents provide many potential customers, which makes retail units and gastronomic properties particularly attractive there.

A modern office, however, can also be well located outside the immediate center – for example in a business park on the outskirts, where generous office space, parking and modern infrastructure are available. Production companies and logistics firms often prefer locations in industrial areas on the outskirts or in the surrounding area – close to a federal road or motorway to ensure quick access for suppliers and customers.

Outside the city of Salzburg there are also versatile opportunities. In the Hallein district there are long-established industrial sites, while the Pongau with towns like Sankt Johann is more influenced by tourism and medium-sized businesses. There you will find attractive opportunities to buy hotels, gastronomic properties or mixed projects, often on generous plots, frequently with a yard, garden or terrace offering plenty of space.

Such locations outside the city are usually cheaper in purchase price and allow more space, but the infrastructure must be checked carefully. It is important that the zoning of the property matches the intended use – a former residential house in a village cannot simply be used as a commercial property unless a re-zoning is approved.

For example, the Imberg business quarter is developing into a sought-after location for offices and service providers, and the Quartera Terrace offers modern commercial units with innovative architecture and good public transport connections.

• In Salzburg there are around 400.000 m² of office space – and the supply continues to grow through new projects.
• The purchase prices for commercial properties differ significantly depending on location and property type. Retail units in top locations in Salzburg’s Old Town achieve top prices per square meter on sale, while warehouses or production halls on the outskirts or in the surrounding area are significantly cheaper.
• Former factory buildings and warehouses in Salzburg are increasingly being converted into modern lofts, offices, event locations or commercial units. The industrial charm (e.g. visible steel beams) is often deliberately retained and combined with contemporary fittings.
• Commercial properties often offer higher returns than residential properties, since commercial tenants usually sign long-term contracts.
• However, buyers also bear a higher risk: in case of vacancy it can take time to find a suitable new tenant for the specific commercial space.