About a 1 hr 40 min drive or 2-hour public transport trip from Munich, Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria, the birthplace of Mozart and one of the filming locations for The Sound of Music.
Due to its location at the foot of the Alps, Salzburg offers stunning mountain views too!
It’s also home to two Mozart attractions: The Mozart Residence and Mozart’s Birthplace. His birthplace is a museum dedicated to his early life and childhood, while the residence is a grand building showcasing his later years and achievements as a composer.
Both are totally worth visiting; however, the residence can be pricey ticket-wise, so if you’re on a tight budget, I’d just recommend his birthplace
Next is the Mirabell Gardens and Palace (Schloss Mirabell), location of the Do-Re-Me song in The Sound Of Music. The gardens are free and absolutely gorgeous and offer several photo spots of the palace. Tickets for the palace can be purchased online or alternatively; you can purchase Salzburg city cards that give you access to the popular attractions at a reasonable price. Head over to this website for more details.
A visit to any European city wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the old town. I’d also recommend accessing the ‘dark staircase,’ otherwise known as Imbergstiege, on the right side of the old town for access to the Kapuzinerkloster Monastery and views of its pretty gardens.
The DomQuartier is another great attraction for its expansive Baroque architecture and versatile museum. It houses former palace halls, churches, artefacts and paintings. There are plenty of food spots and shops in the area too.
Last but certainly not least is the Hohensalzburg Fortress, dating back to 1077! The fortress is quite large, and it will take about an hour or more to get through the 14 rooms. There are options for tours and workshops, and if you’re visiting during the festive season, there are also Christmas markets at the top. This is an attraction definitely worth the entrance fee. You can take the funicular up the hill or take the hike, which is very humbling but offers impressive views of the city. Remember to book tickets in advance!
Notes from me
While the city is most definitely worth visiting, the city is known to be popular among tourists, so do expect crowds.
Oh and also should talk about the famous Mozart Chocolate. It is, in my opinion, not very good. Yes it has Mozart’s face on it. Yes it looks fancy. But it tastes like marzipan, a confection made of sugar and almond meal. I don’t know if it’s a result of personal ‘fake pistachio’ trauma but I personally did not enjoy it and think it’s a little overrated. But, hey you might like it (and I just might be dramatic).
Lastly, if you’re visiting during Christmas, there are so many markets spread out all over the city that you’re sure to stumble upon. My favourites are the Mirabellplatz Advent Market and Salzburg city square market. If you’re travelling with young ones, this is my little reminder of the slightly terrifying (or humorous) tradition where actors dress up as ‘Krampus,’ a morbid version of Saint Nicholas who roams the streets scaring misbehaving children. They won’t harm you though! They’re actually friendly(ish) and will pose with you for a photo.
That’s all from me, happy travels!
My inbox is always open if you have any questions or need further advice.
Ciao,
Jacqui.
