An Unforgettable Adventure in Salzburg: Top Things to Do and Must-See Sound of Music Sites!
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Riding into Salzburg on a train from Germany felt magical. I remember saying, “Okay, now where are those mountains?” And no sooner had I said that did they come into view. Despite the spring weather, snow still capped each mountain’s peak, and the sun shone blue on them. I couldn’t help but fall a little bit in love with them.
The Alps will always have a special place in my heart, and the train ride’s introduction to them and Salzburg will forever intertwine in my head. I considered seeing the mountains in Salzburg worth it on its own, but the city had more to offer than that. Salzburg, Austria, evokes a timeless, comfortable fairytale feeling that is hard to find elsewhere.
I originally went to Salzburg because I grew up watching Julie Andrews sing “Climb Every Mountain” over and over again in The Sound of Music, and I wanted to see all of the filming locations. While I found what I wanted to see, I left feeling different about the place than I could have expected.
Gorgeous Palaces Turned Film Locations
In Salzburg, everyone needs to visit Mirabell Palace and Gardens, whether or not they love The Sound of Music. Yes, it has the famous steps Julie Andrews climbed when she sang the last billowing note in “Do Re Mi,” tourists can pretend to march around the fountain and sing as I did.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site housed several famous Bavarian royal family members over the years, and visitors can learn all about their history while taking in crystal-clear views of the Salzburg Fortress and admiring the gorgeous red and yellow rose garden.
Today, the palace hosts the Salzburg Mayor and Municipal Administration, so it still functions as a working building. Its baroque architecture stands triumphantly in the mountains, and anyone can visit for free each day from 9 to 4.
Travelers should also see Schloss Hellbrunn and its trick fountains. Whoever built it painted it in a bright banana shade of yellow, an odd but beautiful and striking choice. The palace no longer has original furniture or decorations, so the gardens are the main attraction.
The Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Markus Sittikus, built the palace with an eye to the celebrations he would host there. To mess with his guests, he installed “trick fountains” throughout the gardens. They never knew when or where a sprinkler could turn on and soak their entire outfit.
In addition to the trick fountains, travelers can hunt for the 16-going-on-17 gazebo where Liezl danced with Kurt. At the holidays, Hellbrunn hosts an Advent market to get everyone in Salzburg in the holiday spirit.
Take Me to the Nunneries
Yes, The Sound of Music was right about all the nuns living in Salzburg. The city has several Abbeys, including Nonnberg Abbey, a gorgeous Gothic structure located in the center of town. Every morning, the nuns sing Gregorian Chorals against the picturesque mountain backdrop.
Meanwhile, Sound of Music fans will remember St. Peter’s Abbey from the wedding scene where Maria marries Captain Von Trapp. In addition to its big-screen appearance, the congregation has had a large influence on the musical aspects of Christianity. Mozart composed the Dominicus Mass for this abbot, and a few years later, Joseph Hayden wrote the Rupertus Mass for them.
A Musical City
Beyond composing music for St. Peter’s Abbey, Mozart was born in Salzburg. His childhood home still stands tall and is preserved in Salzburg, and travelers can now tour it because the city turned it into a museum. The museum houses many fascinating artifacts, including the first piano Mozart ever learned to play on and some of the first drafts of his musical compositions.
While in Salzburg, visitors can also see live Mozart concerts throughout the year. Many happen around the holidays to celebrate Advent and Christmas. They also host a New Year’s Eve concert. Salzburg hosts many non-Mozart concerts throughout the year, too, making it the perfect destination for music lovers.
A Castle for the Ages
Of course, one should take advantage of stopping in on Fortress Hohensalzburg. Set atop a large hill, the largest preserved castle in Central Europe provides its visitors with unmatched views of the city skyline. They also get a clear view of Mount Untersberg, Salzburg’s largest mountain, and the one Julie Andrews filmed on.
This castle has lots of history, and the oldest part is over 900 years old! Visitors can access it by climbing up the hill, as I did, or taking the funicular railway between Kapitelplatz and Festungasse, which is the smarter choice.
Food and Shopping
Austria has delicious local food, and anyone can find it at local inns, where they serve flavorful soups, strudels, and boiled rump. Salzburg also has many beer pubs and gardens. The German presence in Austria influences the beer culture here, so tasting some beer is a must in Salzburg.
In Salzburg, everyone must go to a cake shop and pick up some dessert! The cakes here taste delicious, and the confectioners decorate each with all the dressings.
Travelers should also stop by a market for hand-decorated gingerbread cookies and pretzels. I’m biased because pretzels are one of my favorite snacks. However, I got my life’s largest, most delicious pretzel the size of my head at a Salzburg market. Take advantage of such a delightful Bavarian treat while visiting.
In addition to flavorful food, Salzburg has many traditional businesses to explore. Many sell and rent traditional Austrian clothing, making the stores a great option for Oktoberfest outfits. Even if travelers come outside of the holiday season, they will still have fun trying on the outfits. Tourists can also see some historical trades, including master weavers and bakers, confectioners, liquor producers, and tailors.
When I visited around Easter, many stores sold hand-decorated fancy Easter Eggs painted with various swirls and beautiful decorations. The trades stay around due to tourism, but much of the work has a longstanding history.
One place, for example, is the 600-year-old Schlosserei Wieber metalworking shop. Meanwhile, Stiftsbackerei St. Peter is a bakery that opened in the 12th century. One thing is for certain: you will never find a shortage of history or interesting souvenirs to take home.
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