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Salzburg
Trip Planning & Itineraries
9:44 PM Sunday, Jul 5
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Salzburg's Altstadt (old town), on the south bank of the river, is a Baroque fiesta of churches, plazas, courtyards and fountains, oozing the waves of charm that you would expect from this Mozart mecca. Museums, houses, squares, chocolate bars and liqueurs are all part of one giant homage to Wolfgang.
Salzburg was built on mining, of both gold and salt, although salt (the so-called white gold) has always been more important. Salz is German for salt and Salzburg literally means 'Fortress of Salt'.
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Salzburg Old Town is all delicate spires surrounded by craggy cliffs and a backdrop of snowy alps. It's a city to wander, stopping regularly for coffee, chocolate or torte in one of the elegant gold and marble coffee shops. Bells ring out from the many churches and the sound of horse drawn carriages makes you feel you've stepped back a century or two. But don't be fooled - the shops contain the latest European fashions. Salzburg has been a tourist magnet for a couple of centuries thanks to its beauty, the nearby lakes and mountains, and the birth of Amadeus Mozart here in 1756. More recently a certain film has been attracting visitors to the city: the hills are indeed alive with The Sound of Music.
Day 1: City of Spires
Once a major spiritual center, Salzburg is crowded with churches. The old town is compact and lies on the west side of the Salzach River, right under the Monchsberg mountain. The streets are pedestrian or horse drawn carriage only so exploring on foot is a delight. In the square Domplatz, stands the 15th century Cathedral with its three bronze doors: faith, hope and charity. Mozart was baptised here and there is an ecclesiastical museum next door. Then there is the ornate and chandeliered Stiftskirche St Peter; don't miss seeing the catacombs. Franziskanerkirche is the tall, elegant home to the Franciscans, and Kollegienkirche is the University Church and an excellent example of Baroque exterior architecture, although the interior is surprisingly austere.
The three main squares are Domplatz, Kapitelplatz and Residenzplatz. The archbishop's used to live in Residenz, a baroque palace you can now tour. Across the river is Schloss Mirabell, the Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich built this for his mistress and ten or so children. It is now the office of the mayor but you can go inside for concerts. Make sure you at least put your head in the door to see the marble staircase and baroque sculptures. The Mirabell Gardens are beautiful and the perfect place to rest after a few hours of sightseeing.
For the panoramic view of the city, head up to Festung Hohensalzburg, the castle perched high onto of Monschsberg. It's a steep walk or you can get there by funicular. These days part of the building is given over to local artists for studios.
Day 2: Mozart and The Sound of Music
As soon as you set foot in Salzburg, you are besieged by Mozart. Every souvenir has him plastered on it. He lived in a small house in the center until he was 17 and back then the city was not that concerned about him, even though he gave his first public recital at age 5. You can pay homage to the musical genius at Mozart's Geburtshouse - his birthplace - and see his first violin, or at Mozart-Wohnhaus - his residence. You can get a combined ticket for both. Then retreat to a cafe for coffee and Mozart Balls, chocolate delicacies which really are delicious.
Perhaps Salzburg's embracing of Mozart is to try and counter their other great musical fame: The Sound of Music. There are some souvenirs around but mainly it is only the tour groups singing the songs that draw your attention to the film made here in 1964/5. But if you know the film, every corner you turn brings the film to mind - the locations are everywhere. Head out to Hellbrunn, 4 km south to see the famous gazebo. Or go for the magnificent Schloss Hellbrunn itself, a yellow baroque palace of the 17th century. Nearby is the famous mountain Untersberg which has a cable car to the summit.
In the evening, attend a concert at Schlosskoncerte, dine at Stiftskeller St Peter, the oldest restaurant in Europe, or go to a Sound of Music puppet show at the Marionette Theater.
Day 3: Alps and Lakes
One of the great joys of Salzburg is its location close to the beautiful lake district of Austria. Lovely little towns nestle next to picturesque lakes loomed over by the Alps. Mondsee, Hallein and Berchtesgaden are all worth visiting. Mondsee is a pretty little village which houses the Nonnberg Abbey (used for the wedding scenes in Sound of Music). Hallein was originally a Celtic town and is the location of Salzwelten Salzburg, the salt mine which made the city of Salzburg rich. These days it is only open to tours.
Berchtesgaden is famous for its association with the Nazis. Perched high above, on a mountain peak, is the Eagle's Nest, a teahouse retreat given to Hitler on his 50th birthday. It now houses a restaurant and is open to the public with all profits going to the community. Eagle's Nest is worth a visit for its incredible feat of engineering and views. The building is approached by steep road then brass-line elevator through the sheer rock of the mountain. Or put on your warmest clothes and head for the world's largest ice caves, the Eisriesenwelt.
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Yes, yes -- the hills truly are alive with the Sound of Music. Relive the film, the songs and the stunning scenery on this top-rated tour from Viator.
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