Salzburg and a Few of My Favorite Things

Salzburg and a Few of My Favorite Things

Salzburg: perhaps Europe’s best-kept secret and my favorite city of all. The world knows Salzburg as the birthplace of Mozart and the home of the famous Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music. Yet, for each visitor, it holds its own quiet charm as they get to experience the magic of a smaller city with just as much to do. The city is accessible from Vienna, Prague, and Munich, which makes it the perfect weekend getaway.

If you’re planning a trip to Salzburg, and you’re a fan of The Sound of Music like I am, I would recommend all of the following sites. You’ll recognize many from the 1965 film.

• Mirabell Gardens: These gardens are situated right near the center of the city and are featured in the Do Re Mi scene.
• Leopoldskron Palace: This is the back of the house used for filming in the movie and across a beautiful lake.
• Heilbrunn Palace, Gazebo: Think ‘I am 16, Going on 17’
• Salzburg Lake District Area, St. Gilgen: Absolutely breathtaking scenery of Austria.
• Nonnberg Abbey: Abbey featured in The Sound of Music.
• St Peter’s Abbey: This is the abbey where the Von Trapp Family is filmed hiding from the Nazis in the movie.
• Do Re Mi bridge: This is the bridge that Maria and the Von Trapp children ran across in the movie.
• Marionette Theater: This theater is close to Mirabell Gardens. Shows are available to watch if you are interested!
• Felsenreitschule: This is the theater from the end of The Sound of Music; midday tours are available, or you can see a show later in the evening.

If you love The Sound of Music but are overwhelmed by how to accomplish all of this in one trip, Salzburg tour companies offer a variety of options. A bus tour is offered through Panorama tours for $45/person that takes you to many of the sights listed above. Furthermore, the Fraulein Maria Bicycle Tour offers individuals the opportunity to bike through Salzburg in nice weather to get the true experience of the Von Trapp children.

For the Mozart lover, you can actually go visit his birthplace in the center of the city and tour a museum of his former home. The tickets are 10-15 euros and totally worth it for classical music enthusiasts.

Additionally, be sure to check out both the Salzburg Cathedral and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Both provide a window into the early history of the quaint city. The Fortress is a little bit of a hike since you can see it from anywhere in the city, so wear your walking shoes before you head up to this medieval castle.

Finally, after you’ve spent the day seeing these sights and taking in the breathtaking Austrian scenery, what’s left to do but eat and drink some traditional Austrian food? Be sure to order some wiener schnitzel, have apple strudel for dessert, and visit Augustiner Bräu for a beer. This brewery is run entirely by local monks and is a can’t miss while in Salzburg!

Otherwise, enjoy your trip, take lots of pictures, and Salzburg is sure to be one of your favorite things!

This is a guest post. 

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