Austria - Salzburg
Salzburg - The Mozart's Town
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| Salzburg |
It is about 2.5 hours of train ride from Vienna. You can purchase the train ticket at ÖBB
Attractions and Tours
Salzburg Card: This is highly recommended if you are staying at least a day at Salzburg. It includes all public transportation in Salzburg, most of the attractions, and gives you discounts to other tours. You have the choice of 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour card. You can select and prepay the card on-line then obtain the actual card at the central train station tourist center. Once you obtain the card, you put your name, the date and the time on the back of the card. The card is barcoded and each time when you visit the attraction that is included, it will be scanned.
Below are what I visited during my stay. After three attractions, I've already earned the value I paid for the Salzburg Card.
Tip: Untersberg, Schloss Hellbrunn, and Mozart's Resdience are on the same bus route, bus number 25. I recommend visiting Untersberg and Hellbrunn in one day. The rest of the attractions are mostly around the center of the town, so you can easily walk from one to another.
1. Untersberg
Take bus number 25 and get off at the last stop. You can see the cable station from the bus stop
If you don't have the Salzburg Card, you can purchase ticket in the building. If you have Salzburg Card, you can go ahead and have your card scanned. Always take note of the last descent before you take the cable car up.
The cable car ride is about 5 to 10 minutes. Pick a nice day to do this. The view is very rewarding. Once you arrive at the top you have some hiking choices. The most popular one is going to the summit where a cross is at.
This is a one way in and one way out hike, taking about 30 minutes or so to complete each way. The hike is not hard at all because the trail is well marked. However, still be cautious because the first part of the trail is full of gravels and it can be slippery, especially if you don't have proper footwear. The second part of the hike are with bigger rocks and could be steep in some sections, but easy to climb and easy to navigate.
2. Schloss Hellbrunn - Hellbrunn Palace & Trick Fountains
This is a summer palace for Archbishop Markus Sittikus. He designed and built this palace purely for pleasure. He invited his guests over during the summer and enjoyed a fun day with water fountains and water tricks. What's amazing is 400 years old of mechanism and design still work well in our modern days. This is a perfect attraction to visit in the summer, definitely when it's really hot outside. Children especially love the trick fountains.
You can easily get to Schloss Hellbrunn by bus 25, stop at Hellbrunn. Once you get off the bus, just follow the sign and walk down the path to the entrance of Hellbrunn. Get your ticket at the ticket office and catch your trick water guided tour.
3. Mozart's Residence (Mozart Wohnhaus)
Salzburg Card: This is highly recommended if you are staying at least a day at Salzburg. It includes all public transportation in Salzburg, most of the attractions, and gives you discounts to other tours. You have the choice of 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour card. You can select and prepay the card on-line then obtain the actual card at the central train station tourist center. Once you obtain the card, you put your name, the date and the time on the back of the card. The card is barcoded and each time when you visit the attraction that is included, it will be scanned.
Below are what I visited during my stay. After three attractions, I've already earned the value I paid for the Salzburg Card.
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| Salzburg tourist map |
1. Untersberg
Take bus number 25 and get off at the last stop. You can see the cable station from the bus stop
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| Cable station going to top of Untersberg |
If you don't have the Salzburg Card, you can purchase ticket in the building. If you have Salzburg Card, you can go ahead and have your card scanned. Always take note of the last descent before you take the cable car up.
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| First view of Untersberg before entering the cable car |
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| Gorgeous view as the cable car going up |
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| Sooner than you realize, you are just as high as other surrounding mountains |
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| You pass by some cliffs, but don't worry, you won't hit them |
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| Now you are really far away from the starting point |
This is a one way in and one way out hike, taking about 30 minutes or so to complete each way. The hike is not hard at all because the trail is well marked. However, still be cautious because the first part of the trail is full of gravels and it can be slippery, especially if you don't have proper footwear. The second part of the hike are with bigger rocks and could be steep in some sections, but easy to climb and easy to navigate.
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| You will see a restaurant / Inn as you walk out the cable car station |
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| First part of the path to summit is clearly marked and wide |
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| This reminds me of the song, "The hills are alive ~~ with the sound of music ~~" |
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| During steep sections, you can hold on to the railing |
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| Make sure to enjoy the view and watch out for the horse poop! |
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| As you hike to the second part of the trail, you will encounter some stairs |
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| Gorgeous rock formation |
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| This kind of black birds are everywhere with you and begging you for food |
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| An interesting point about Untersberg is that it has some mysteries. Look for the information boards along the way |
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| Finally you are at the summit with the cross |
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| At the summit, you can look back at where you started |
2. Schloss Hellbrunn - Hellbrunn Palace & Trick Fountains
This is a summer palace for Archbishop Markus Sittikus. He designed and built this palace purely for pleasure. He invited his guests over during the summer and enjoyed a fun day with water fountains and water tricks. What's amazing is 400 years old of mechanism and design still work well in our modern days. This is a perfect attraction to visit in the summer, definitely when it's really hot outside. Children especially love the trick fountains.
You can easily get to Schloss Hellbrunn by bus 25, stop at Hellbrunn. Once you get off the bus, just follow the sign and walk down the path to the entrance of Hellbrunn. Get your ticket at the ticket office and catch your trick water guided tour.
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| Entering the palace |
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| Markus Sittikus's Amphitheater |
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| Beautiful ceiling design with stones and shells |
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| Big fish in the water garden |
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| Water garden |
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| Beautiful palace to walk around |
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| Beautiful coordination of earth tone colors |
If you are a fan of Mozart, you just can't miss the Mozart's Residence and / or Mozart's Birthplace. If you are not so much of a Mozart fan, then the Residence is a great place to at least show your respect to this world famous musician. The Residence displayed a lot instruments that Mozart used and his original music scores. You can take an audio guide at the ticket booth and walk around at your own pace while learning about Mozart.
4. Salzburg Residenz Palace
5. Dom Quartier Salzburg
6. Petersfriedhof
7. Fortress Hohensalzburg
This is one of the most popular tourist attraction at Salzburg. It not only has profound history, but also has great 360 degree views of the Salzburg city from up above. You can either take the funicular up the fortress or you can take the challenge and walk up there. The funicular is free if you purchase the Salzburg card. You can get a free audio guide as you walk through the fortress.
Sound of Music with Fraulein Maria's Bicycle Tour
Coming to Salzburg just can't miss some kind of tour about Sound of Music (1965). There are lots of options for a Sound of Music Tour. You can take bus or you can take a bicycle ride, just like how Maria and the 7 children riding while singing Do Re Mi. That is the Sound of Music with Fräulein Maria's Bicycle Tour.
We met at Mirabellgarten, easy access by walking or bus. We ended at Mirabellgarten
as well.
The tour lasts about 3.5 to 4 hours. Each group is about 10 people or so. We ride to
multiple places where Sound of Music was filmed at. We listened to the sound tracks
and sang along. Our tour guide explained to us the real life stories of the Von Trapp
family and funny stories happening while filming Sound of Music at Salzburg.
Here are some of the stops during the tour:
Last but not least, this tour is quite easy and relaxing even if you are not so good at riding bicycle. The paths are flat and most of the time you are away from the busy traffic area. There is one spot where it is steep going uphill. We all got off the bike and just push it up. There is also a steep downhill section after you visited the Abbey. It's a smooth ride and rarely any car, so you can still relax and enjoy the wind blowing while riding downhill. For the busy traffic area, there are usually side walks and bike paths alone the roads. If it's too busy, you can also get off and push your bike. Everyone and the tour guide all look after each other. Besides that, you also have the bell to ring on your bike in case of any emergency.
4. Salzburg Residenz Palace
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| Residenz Palace |
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| View of the Dom from afar |
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| Magnificent interior design and decorations |
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| St. Peter's Cemetery |
This is one of the most popular tourist attraction at Salzburg. It not only has profound history, but also has great 360 degree views of the Salzburg city from up above. You can either take the funicular up the fortress or you can take the challenge and walk up there. The funicular is free if you purchase the Salzburg card. You can get a free audio guide as you walk through the fortress.
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| View of Salzburg from fortress |
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| Courtyard in the fortress |
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| The path exiting / entering the fortress if you decide to walk |
Sound of Music with Fraulein Maria's Bicycle Tour
Coming to Salzburg just can't miss some kind of tour about Sound of Music (1965). There are lots of options for a Sound of Music Tour. You can take bus or you can take a bicycle ride, just like how Maria and the 7 children riding while singing Do Re Mi. That is the Sound of Music with Fräulein Maria's Bicycle Tour.
We met at Mirabellgarten, easy access by walking or bus. We ended at Mirabellgarten
as well.
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| We meet at the side of Mirabellgarten |
multiple places where Sound of Music was filmed at. We listened to the sound tracks
and sang along. Our tour guide explained to us the real life stories of the Von Trapp
family and funny stories happening while filming Sound of Music at Salzburg.
Here are some of the stops during the tour:
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| Mirabellgarten is one of the scenes filming Do Re Mi |
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| Riding through Salzburg countryside |
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| View of Salzburg by the Abbey where Maria came from |
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| The back of a hotel which was filmed as the back of Von Trapp's mansion. Maria and the kids came back on a boat meeting the Baroness |
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| The gazebo that was filmed for the famous "The Sixteen Going On Seventeen" |
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| So beautiful and relaxing to ride in the countryside |
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| Filming location for Von Trapp's mansion where he pulled down the Nazi flag. This is also the end of the song for Maria's "I Have Confidence" |
Restaurant
Restaurant Bergstation at Untersberg @ top of Untersberg
This is a medium size restaurant where oversees the town of Salzburg from the top of Untersberg. This is a good choice for before or after your hike at Untersberg. You can sit either indoor or outdoor. On the outdoor sitting area, the restaurant can put up umbrella for you so that you won't be under the bright sun while enjoy the view and breeze at Untersberg.
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| Restaurant at the top of the mountain |
This is a medium size restaurant where oversees the town of Salzburg from the top of Untersberg. This is a good choice for before or after your hike at Untersberg. You can sit either indoor or outdoor. On the outdoor sitting area, the restaurant can put up umbrella for you so that you won't be under the bright sun while enjoy the view and breeze at Untersberg.
Barenwirt @ Mulner Hauptstrasse 8
This is a smaller size restaurant. It has traditional interior design with wood and candles on tables. The service is good and the food is very delicious. The location is quite close to Mönchsberg, so definitely a good place to have a nice dinner after all day of touring in Salzburg and before heading up to Mönchsberg for a stunning night view of the city.
Gasthaus Zwettlers @ Kaigasse 3
This is a traditional Austrian restaurant by the Domplatz. It is extremely busy restaurant and sometimes don't find a seat. I was only able to get a seat at the bar. The food is not bad and service is average.
Transportation
Salzburg public transportation is very easy to navigate around the city. It is well organized and the bus schedules are all clearly written at the bus stops. Similar to Vienna, if the bus door doesn't open, you can press the button on the door to open it. When your stop is approaching, you can press the blue button on the steel poles or handrails. There are announcements made in the bus and screens showing you the next stop as approaching it.
Useful website: Salzburg Verkehr
This is a smaller size restaurant. It has traditional interior design with wood and candles on tables. The service is good and the food is very delicious. The location is quite close to Mönchsberg, so definitely a good place to have a nice dinner after all day of touring in Salzburg and before heading up to Mönchsberg for a stunning night view of the city.
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| How to get to Barenwirt |
Gasthaus Zwettlers @ Kaigasse 3
This is a traditional Austrian restaurant by the Domplatz. It is extremely busy restaurant and sometimes don't find a seat. I was only able to get a seat at the bar. The food is not bad and service is average.
Transportation
Salzburg public transportation is very easy to navigate around the city. It is well organized and the bus schedules are all clearly written at the bus stops. Similar to Vienna, if the bus door doesn't open, you can press the button on the door to open it. When your stop is approaching, you can press the blue button on the steel poles or handrails. There are announcements made in the bus and screens showing you the next stop as approaching it.
Useful website: Salzburg Verkehr
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