Where We Be
Hohensalzburg Fortress towers over the numerous
church spires and historic buildings of Old Town
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There's so much to see and do in Salzburg! We
started out with the famous "Sound of Music"
tour, which took in the Salzburg Lake District
and ended in Mirabell Gardens. We explored
Hohensalzburg Fortress, which occupies a
commanding position above the city. We visited
Mozart's birthplace and second home. We took
a breathtaking eight-minute cable car ride to
the top of Untersberg for amazing alpine views.
We got wet at the trick fountains at Hellbrunn
Palace (not to be missed). And that's just for
starters! We also enjoyed a river cruise, Mozart
music, museums, churches, staterooms, cata-
combs, strolls through Old Town, etc. etc.
A 72-hour Salzburg Card is definitely the way to
go if you have at least three days here. It's a
terrific value at €45 per person (as of 2023) as it
includes one-time free admission to ALL city
tourist attractions and museums, plus all public
transport, plus discounts on musical events.
You'll save a lot compared to paying for each
attraction separately, and it will free you up to
think less about the cost of things and more
about what you really want to see and do.
View looking towards Old Town
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The Salzburg City Cruise takes us on a 40-minute there-and-back cruise
covering about 8 km of the river (Tour 1 is included on the Salzburg Card)
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We take the elevator back down and walk to Makartsteg Bridge, aka the "love lock" bridge
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Near the bridge we book a river cruise for 2 pm, then kill some
time walking along the pedestrian walkway that follows the river
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The Original Sound of Music Tour is a great way to start your
sightseeing -- definitely a highlight of our time in Salzburg
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Leopoldskron Palace is where the Von Trapp family lived in the movie (now a luxury hotel). This
is where the tipping canoe scene happens and is also where the gazebo was originally located.
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Hohensalzburg Fortress is unmissable as you begin your four-hour bus tour
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The gazebo had to be moved because of "too much love” from fans who
carved their initials in it, etc., so now it sits on the grounds of Hellbrunn Palace
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Along the way you'll pass Nonnberg Abbey with its red spire,
which is where Maria was a novice both in the movie and in real life
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As we head into the beautiful Salzburg Lake District, our guide leads us in singing “Doe a Deer”
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We make a brief stop near St. Gilgen, where panorama shots and picnic scenes were filmed
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Panorama Tours' distinctively decorated buses are part of the fun
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As the scenery continues to unfold, a little stuffed goat leads us in a rousing edition of "The Lonely Goatherd"
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Our last stop in the Salzburg Lake District is Mondsee Cathedral
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This cathedral is where Maria and the Baron get married in the film
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Afterwards we have an hour on our own to tour around the town of Mondsee
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We share a piece of apple streudel and walk to the lake shore
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The tour ends at the Pegasis Fountain in Mirabell Gardens,
where Maria and the children sing the "Do-Re-Me" song
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Many of the scenes related to that song were filmed here
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We revisit the "Do-Re-Mi" steps later in the day when the gardens are less busy
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From the steps you can see the gardens, the Pegasus Fountain, and Hohensalzburg Fortress
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Sound of Music Tour (Day 1)
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The captain pretends to let two kids steer
the boat from a fake steering wheel up front
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We manage to fit in one more attraction for the day -- the Mozart Residence.
This was Mozart's second home, also known as the "Dance Master's House."
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We pick up our 72-hour Salzburg Cards at the local
tourist office first thing in the morning on Day 2
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Our very first stop is Mozart's birthplace --
the yellow building above (born Jan 27, 1756)
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From above we get fine views of the cemetery and Salzburg Cathedral
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The cemetery is near the catacombs. To our surprise we have to climb
UP to get to the catacombs, where we visit two rock-hewn chapels.
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The interior of Salzburg Cathedral is opulent. Mozart was a choir boy and
played the organ here. At right is the baptismal font where he was baptized.
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After a short rest, we take the #28 bus to Grödig, half an hour away from Salzburg
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The views would have been even more
magnificent without all the fog and mist!
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It's chilly at the top, and we're in t-shirts, so our hike is
short here -- but on a sunny day this would be amazing!
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We ride the cable car back down, then take the #25 bus to Hellbrunn Palace
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Hellbrunn is built in the Mannerist style, and the audio tour gives a great introduction
to what this style is all about, with its fantastical creatures and overall playful spirit
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The frescoed ballroom includes a revolving couch in the center for easy viewing
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Our other favorite room is the music room, where Mozart music is playing
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The interior of Hellbrunn is interesting, but what really
stands out about this place is the gardens and trick fountains
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The funniest moment is watching these folks sit down at a table where they KNOW
they're gonna get wet. When the water comes on, their expressions are priceless.
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Only the head of the table -- where the host sits -- gets no "surprise" water experience
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The gardens are filled with playful statues in the Mannerist style
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Back at the palace, we return our audio guides and have a final look around
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Everywhere you go in the gardens, you get surprised with spurts of water. This employee has a half-grin on his face
as he squirts someone unexpectedly. Watch out: the mounted stag’s head shoots water out of its mouth and nostrils!
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Everything in the gardens is powered by water, including these moving figurines
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Robin laughs with delight after getting sprayed
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View of the palace grounds from above (the long pathway
leads to where the gazebo from "Sound of Music" is located)
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We head straight to dinner at L’Osteria, which is close to our hotel
and right next to this kid-friendly "broken water main" feature
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Here we soak up the atmosphere and read all the info about young Mozart and his family
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Some of Mozart's early musical instruments and scores are located here
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The modern museum at the top is missable (in our opinion),
but the scenic views from the terrace are magnificent
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View looking across the river from the Monchsberg terrace
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We walk along Getreidegasse, the main pedestrian drag in Old Town, towards
Monchsberg Lift -- a fast elevator that takes you to the top of the cliff (shown right)
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We pass Hotel Sacher along the way, where Julie Andrews
stayed during the making of "The Sound of Music"
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Hohensalzburg, Untersberg, and Hellbrunn Palace (Day 3)
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We begin Day 4 with a guided tour of the Festival Halls, where the Salzburg Festival is held each year
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The highlight is the "Rock Riding School," a theater built in 1693 in what was once a rock quarry. It features
in "The Sound of Music." Honestly, I thought it was a painted stage set, but those are actual arches carved
into the rock. The front seats go vertical because the theater was once open-air in both summer and winter.
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Three different festival halls (auditoriums) are used for the festival
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Next up is the DomQuartier, once the residence of the powerful prince-archbishops of Salzburg
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Here you can see the magnificent state rooms of the prince-archbishops
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The rooms increase in elegance as you proceed towards the prince-archbishops' private quarters
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A verandah offers excellent views of the plaza outside the Domquartier
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The Domquartier residence connects to the cathedral via a raised passageway for easy access
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Mozart used to play the organ here -- one of five organs in the cathedral altogether
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The church's treasury houses some beautiful artifacts
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Our final stop in Old Town is the Christmas Museum, which puts you in the Christmas spirit
even in summer. Note: the creature next to Santa is Krampus, the German "Christmas Devil."
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We start Day 3 with Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg’s most popular
attraction. We arrive at the funicular just as it opens at 8:30 am.
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We climb to the top of a tower for killer views over Salzburg
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The 11th-century castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Central Europe
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All of Old Town and the surrounding countryside is visible from up here
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At the armory, I have my photo taken in full armor (with the
help of CGI), then we pay a visit to the Marionette Exhibit
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We enjoy seeing the ornate State Rooms and outdoor courtyard while it's still quiet
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Happy to be in "explorer mode"
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What's known as the “Salzburg Bull” isn’t an actual bull but rather
a series of horns operated with air power connected to organ pipes
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After taking the funicular back down, we visit lovingly tended St. Peter’s Cemetery
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Here we take a breathtaking 8-minute cable car ride
up to the top of Unterberg for magnificent alpine views
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Salzburg Bonus Sights (Day 4)
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The cross marks the
top of Unterberg (6,473 ft)
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It's hard to tell which turtle is spurting water and which is receiving it
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Staying (mostly) dry despite how it may look
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Making our way out of Old Town, we pass this modernist sculpture
of a man standing atop a gold ball staring up at Hohensalzburg
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The entry halls are lovingly decorated with murals
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Before leaving for Vienna, we pop in to see the interior of
Mirabell Palace, with its Angel Staircase chock-full of cherubs
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