Salzburg Wonders

Salzburg is popular travel destination of Austria for a lot of reasons but the immediate thought that comes to my mind is the memory of the evergreen Hollywood musical "Sound of Music" which was shot in the scenic locations of Salzburg. This amazing musical city has a lot to offer to its visitors, from its rich culture and heritage to the picturesque beauty of Austrian Alps.

1. Scratch the map

This beautiful Austrian city is located on the banks of river Salzach close to Germany- Austria border along the Northern Alps. The combination of mountainous landscapes and lush green valleys makes Salzburg a scenic gem.

2. How to reach

Salzburg is easily accessible from different locations by both railways and flights. The train journey from Vienna to Salzburg takes around 2.5 hours while from Munich it takes around 1 hour 45 minutes. We took a direct train from Friedrichshafen to Salzburg and the journey lasted for approximately 3 hours.

3. Our Tour Highlights

3a. Makartsteg bridge over Salzach river 

The Salzach river divides the city of Salzburg into two parts- Altstadt (old town) on the left side and Neustatdt (new town) on the right side. Makartsteg bridge, named after famous Austrian artist Hans Makart, is a very popular bridge in the city centre connecting the two sides of the river. You will find thousands of locks attached to the bridge as a symbol of love making it a very colourful sight!! This is a very popular tourist spot and a trip to Salzburg is almost incomplete without clicking a picture at this spot!

3b. Mirabell Palace and Gardens  

Mirabell Palace, built by prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich in early 17th century, is one of the most beautiful architectures in Salzburg. Generally, you can visit the Angel Staircase and Marble Hall inside the Mirabell Palace free of charge. However, most of the times its closed due to important events or weddings being hosted there. We could not go inside due to the same reason. But since we had booked concert tickets for Marble Hall, we were able to go inside on the evening of the concert. So that’s a workaround to see the Mirabell Palace from inside!! 

The elegantly designed Mirabell garden is equally charming as the palace interiors. If you are lucky, you can also get to listen to some live music in the Mirabell gardens on Sunday mornings.

3c. Marble Hall concert

Almost every evening, concerts are held at the Marble Hall in Mirabell Palace where once the great music composer Mozart also played music. You must attend one of these musical concerts to experience the rich cultural and musical heritage of this city to its fullest. Renowned musicians play popular classical pieces by Mozart making it an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, taking pictures and videos are not allowed in the Marble Hall once the concert starts. So, I only have some pictures that I took prior to the beginning of the concert, and it goes without saying that the Marble Hall creates the perfect ambience for a lovely musical evening. 

3.d Mozart's Birthplace

Mozart’s birthplace on 9 Getreidegasse is also a must visit destination in Salzburg. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born here in 1756 and stayed till the age of 17 in this apartment. You will find several original letters and documents linked to Mozart’s life on display in the museum here.  

3.e Mozart's Residence

You can also visit Mozart’s residence at 8 Makartplatz where Mozart lived with his family from 1773 until he moved to Vienna. Here again, you can learn about Mozart’s life and his family members.

3.f Salzkammergut region 

Salzkammergut (meaning ‘salt domain’) is a resort area in Austria near Salzburg popular for its natural beauty, lush green meadows and crystal-clear lakes. You can either drive yourself or take a ‘Sound of Music’ tour to visit this scenic Lake district. We visited this region during our ‘Sound of Music’ tour and were amazed by the charming countryside views. Some of the lovely locations in this region are Mondsee, Wolfgangsee, Faistenau etc. 

4.My Recommendations

• It is worth spending at least 3-4 days in Salzburg to visit the main attractions.

• I would certainly recommend the ‘Sound of Music’ tour even if you are not crazy about this blockbuster musical movie. Although expensive, this tour is worth exploring the beautiful locations where the movie was shot.

• Don’t forget to try the famous Salzburger Nockerln which is a specialty dessert of Salzburg.

• If you have an extra day, you can combine a day trip to Hallstatt from Salzburg.

5.Goodbye Notes

"So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye ........

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight......."

As I kept on humming “these are a few of my favourite things” during the trip, I was already planning to visit Salzburg a second time. All I can say is that it’s difficult to resist the charm of this city- so if you have not already visited Salzburg, start planning now!