Salzburg is unique – magical – in many respect. Its a place of wonderful characters, whimsical architecture and scintillating history! Its also an incredibly walkable city to explore on foot. From Mozart, to the Von Trapp family & Sound of Music, to chocolates and cellos, which all originated here! And Salzburg is mostly just beautiful and friendly!
Immerse yourself in the charm of the world-famous city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for a day, or several to also explore the nearby landscape of Austria. Fee the confluence of tradition and modernity in a relatively small city of 170,000. Salzburg is a big small city, or vice versa…
Fun Salzburg facts:
Salzburg means “salt land” – a vital mineral, mined for centuries in nearby land, and traded here at markets.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg.
Salzburg is famous for its annual Christmas Market.
Salzburg is on the River Salzach
Salzburg is the filming location of “The Sound of Music”
Salzburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an honor and yet a detriment touristically)
Maria Kutschera was the Trapp family nannie in Salzburg, in the 1930s. She taught the children to sing and perform for the Baron at his parties. As a family choir, they plotted a secret escape when Germany invaded Austria. After their 1939emigration to the USA, they settled in Stowe Vermont – Maria though it resembled the Alps. Their story became the inspiration of Sound of Music which was filmed in Salzburg, you can visit the sites.
Mirabell Palace has its own scandalous history, the palace was the creation of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau in 1606. He built the Mirabell Castle in the heart of Salzburg, on the river, for his mistress Salome Alt. Eventually their 15 (illegitimate) children lived here. Now Schloss Mirabell is the Mayor’s residence. You can stroll the Baroque courtyard, and marvel at the size of the mansion. Concerts are held here – what a treat to hear Mozart in this 1600’s palace. Visit the gardens and famous Pegasus statue, the gazebo and stone stairs where the Von Trapp children performed their “doe a Deer” evening song.
Salzburg’s Felsenreitschule is a famous concert hall next to Mirabell, and riding school, where the Von Trapps last performed before escaping Austria. From the Gardens is a wonderful view of the Fort towering above the city of Salzburg.
You also stroll by the famous Marionette Theatre – which you can tour to learn the history of puppets on strings, dating here from 1913, to include the original Punch & Judy show, among other theatrical puppet shows.
The Salzach River runs right through the city, so cross the pedestrian bridge loaded with Locks of Love. Salzburg’s historic center is on the south side of the Salzach River, much like Innsbruck is on the River Inns.
You can visit Mozart’s birthplace, born here Jan 27, 1756 in the “Hagenauer Haus” at No. 9 on Getreidegasse. The Getreidegasse is not just worth visiting for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart claim to fame. It’s a most beautiful alley in the old town of Salzburg, with ornate house fronts, and fascinating windows, which become smaller and more modest from the first floor onwards. You displayed your wealthy for passersby to see at eye level, and saved on building costs on upper levels.
Salzburg’s narrow streets and grand squares of the old town are fascinating, as you stroll, you step back in time. Its entertaining to just browse Salzburg’s shops, stopping at a café or chocolatery.
For coffee and chocolate go to Café FURST – the original – since 1884. In this original location, Paul Furst created the original Mozart Kugel – a veritable “chocolate bullet,” delectable with a wonderful surprising center. Enjoy this confection, or a Sacher torte also famed here, with a coffee in this charming historic bistro.
For an authentic Austrian lunch, K&K is a wonderful restaurant set on a pretty square, run by two brothers.
Zwettlers is another historic eatery, since 1886, serving homemade Austrian specialties in a charming wooden interior bar and restaurant.
Dinner at Johanneskeller is cool, in the old stone cellar, delicious food is served. Reserve a table as this place is popular with locals and tourists alike always a good sign!
Salzburg Cathedral with its mighty dome and two towers is a monumental building of the early Baroque. The magnificent main marble façade worth seeing outside, if you don’t want to pay admission to see the bronze baptismal from 1311, in which Mozart was baptized.
Cathedral Square with the Marian Column, is home to the world-famous Salzburg Festival, a Christmas time market in the Dom Quartier. In January, when we visited, it was home to a small ice rink in the plaza. Austrians celebrate winter well.
Hohensalzburg Fortress towers majestically on the hill above the old town. 11-16th century. You can climb and tour this fort. Or take the Sound of Music tour, which take you through all the highlights, landmarks and movie settings in town, thenon a bus trip to the mountains and “the hills are alive” alm, with narration on the way.
Stay at the Salzburg Hotel Hyperion, in the heart of the city, across the street from Mirabell Palace. It’s a great location while touring Salzburg. This sophisticated hotel has chic modern rooms – we loved our Junior Suite with Executive Club access. Dieter the concierge at Hyperion is superb at advising the best tour of Salzburg and where to dine, etc. Hyperion is also just 800 meters to the Salzburg train station, where you can zip to Munich, or Vienna, in 2 hours.
Salzburg is just 20-minutes from thermal baths of Bad Reichenhall or Bad Vigaun. Bad means bath in German, it’s a good thing, not bad. Locals found salt had tremendous healing and wellness properties. Many Austrian towns “sprang up” around these thermals, and then became touristic for the medicinal health benefits. Bad means bath – dating to the discovery of thermal hot springs and mineral baths.
Salzburg is also in Austria’s famous salt (salz) region – salt was called “white gold”. Its been mined since ancient times for its health properties and providing storage without refrigeration.
Lake Hallstatt is home to the most famous mine, hall statt means salt market… which took place in the charming old village on the beautiful lake with the mines high up on the hillside above. You can still visit the Salt Mines today, with a train ride, cave tours and an amusement park vibe. The tiny quaint Austrian village of Hallstatt, however, has been over touristed, with big tour groups of camera clamoring Asians, getting their selfies by the lake. We visited in January, skiing the Salzburg mountains, during Lake Hallstatt’s “quiet season,” and we were bummed to see such bustle of bus loads clogging the otherwise picturesque village streets.
From Salzburg you are also within an hour to many Austrian ski resorts in the Salzburger mountains, the Ski Amade region, like Saalbach, Obertauern and many worthy ski resorts. Just an hour from Salzburg is skiing at Tauplitz, and Krippenstein.
