Hohensalzburg Fortress towers above the city of Salzburg and the spectacular Mirabell Gardens

Sensational Salzburg

Maybe you fall in love with a city because it’s one of your first European towns to visit. Or maybe it’s just because this town is just so charming and friendly or it had the backdrops for one of our favorite musicals, The Sound of Music. Growing up in the 1960’s, The Sound of Music was broadcast on television once a year. The scenery of the Alps and the sweet true story captivated us back then.

So when we planned our first foray to Europe in 1989, Salzburg made the list and it became one of our favorite cities in the world.

Salzburg is an Austrian city situated on the border of Germany with sweeping views of the Eastern Alps. The Salzach River divides the town from the medieval buildings of the Alstadt (Old City) on the left bank with the 19th century Neustadt (New City) on the right. The famed composer, Amadeus Mozart, was born and lived here in Salzburg. The culture is palpable and the scenery is divine.

Salzburg means “salt fortress” and Hohensalzburg Fortress sitting on top of the hill guarded the important salt mines in the region.

Built in 1077, the Hohensalzburg Fortress was one of Europe’s largest castles at the time.

Go to the Festungsbahn funicular station in Festungsgasse and buy a ticket for the funicular. Or, from the ticket office, follow the signs to the castle and hike 10 minutes up the hill. The views from the top are breathtaking, sweeping vistas over the seafoam green rooftops and the Alps beyond.

After the walk around the castle, there is a lovely walking path that follows the ridge along the west side of the city. From the castle, walk a bit downhill  towards the funicular. You will see the trail called Monchsberg. This forested path which is 3.5 kilometers has views over to Untersberg Mountain by Grodig as well as the sweeping views over Salzburg and the Salzach River. Stop along the way for a coffee and a meditation at Gasthaus Stadtalm. You can also take the Monchsberg elevator at Gstattengasse, 13 by the hill at the end of Getreidegasse or the stairs by Toscanini Hof.

After you walk the steps back to the old town, walk one of our favorite streets. Overrun by tourists now, Getreidegasse is just a fun street with metal cut out signs over the street to mark the stores and restaurants.

 

 

Walk into the Salzburg Cathedral. Built in 774, this is where Mozart was baptized in 1756.

 

 

Born in the 18th century, Mozart’s birthplace is a wonderful place to visit. His home is a museum and is a must see for Mozart fans. Getreidegasse, 9.

Stroll the large open squares of Salzburg:

Mozartplatz features the statue of Mozart in the center.

Kapitelplatz has an oversized chess board.

Residenplatz is the largest and is bordered by the Salzburg Cathedral. This features the horse statue in the center where Maria splashes water as she makes her way to the Von Trapp home in the movie, The Sound of Music.

 

 

St. Peter’s Abbey is a quiet and beautiful spot to see because the cemetery is gorgeous, full of colorful flowers and elaborately decorated gravestones. The Europeans know how to take care of graveyards! The Von Trapp family fled through this cemetery in the movie.

 

 

Walk over the Salzach River to the New Town and stroll Linzergasse and hike up to Kapuzinerberg for great views. Enjoy a drink at Stein Terrasse, a great rooftop for sunset views on Steingasse.

Take a stroll through Schloss Mirabell, the Mirabell Palace Gardens. This is another scene from The Sound of Music when the children danced around the Pegasus fountain and sang “Do Re Mi.”

If you are here in July or August, definitely look at attending the Salzburger Festspiele. The concert tickets can be found on salzburgerfestspiele.at/en/ticketing-information.

If you are crazy like us, you must take a Sound of Music tour. We booked the Bob’s Tour, but there are numerous ones now on Get Your Guide. We visited Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron, the Palace used for the outdoor shots of the Von Trapp home, the paths where the children rode bikes with Maria, the movie set gazebo where Lisl sang “I am 16, going on 17”, and the beautiful St. Michael’s Church in Mondsee where Maria married the Colonel. It was cheesy and tchotchke all at once, but we sang all of the movie songs as we toured around and totally loved every minute. But, we are huge fans! Since then, Rick has interviewed five of the six children from the movie. You can listen to their interviews on Successmadetolast.com under the celebrity tab.

You can also do a 3 1/2 hour bike tour. Go to mariasbicycletours.com to book.

Just enjoy a bike ride on your own. The flat trails by the river are perfect for riding. topbike.at.

Try some of these locations for lunch or dinner:

Augustiner Brausteubl – Opened in 1621, this is a wonderful Salzburg experience. The beer garden and restaurant serve locally brewed beer and a great place to relax and it’s just a short walk along the river from the Old Town.

Cafe Tomaselli – What can I say. Pastry and Coffee. Perfect. This cafe has been operating since 1705 and was frequented by Mozart. Try the walnut tort, or walnut cake, and the Austrian cafe melange, a cup of mocha with milk and a topping of whipped cream. Yum.

Gasthaus Zwettler’s – Nestled inside a building built in 1516, this restaurant serves delicious weiner schnitzel and spinach dumplings.

Die Weisse – Austria’s oldest brewery and another great relaxation point

Zum Zirkelwirt – This cozy lodge serves yummy homemade dishes and is located on the picturesque old street of Papagenoplatz.

Balkan Grill – Great sausage stand that his hiding down a tunnel at Getreidegass, 33

Our favorite lodging in Salzburg:

Hotel Sallerhof – This quaint village guesthouse features a garden and patio and scrumptious breakfast. We stayed here when we had a car and we were a 5 minute drive into the car park right in the city center. Haupstrasse, 9, Grodig

Hotel Weisse Taube – Smack dab in the center of the Old Town, we stayed here when we rode the train into town on another visit. Their breakfast spread is still at the top of our European Best list to this day. Kaigasse, 9, Salzburg

Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron – Commissioned as a family estate in 1736, this elegant palace has unrivalled vistas of the lake and Untersberg Mountain. Used as the backdrop for the Von Trapp family home in the movie, The Sound of Music, we had reservations here for my birthday in 2020 before the pandemic made us cancel. We will be back soon! I can’t wait!
Leopoldskronstrasse, 56

Use salzburg.info for creating your own special days in this delightful city.