Salzburg

Salzburg sits in western Austria near the German border with baroque architecture, Alpine backdrop, and Mozart everywhere. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with the old town squeezed between river and fortress covered hills. The Sound of Music filmed here and tours still run to the locations decades later. The city draws crowds year round especially in summer during the music festival. Two to three days covers the compact center and day trips into the mountains. It’s expensive but worth it for the setting. The Austrian Alps rise just outside town making it easy to combine city and nature.

Old Town and Hohensalzburg Fortress

Getreidegasse is the narrow shopping street with wrought iron guild signs hanging from every building. Mozart’s birthplace sits here now a museum with his childhood violin and portraits. The street stays packed with tourists shuffling through. Residenzplatz is the main square with the fountain and salzburg cathedral dominating with twin towers and green dome. Mirabell Palace and Gardens sit across the river with manicured flower beds and the pegasus fountain from Sound of Music. The marble hall inside hosts classical concerts. Hohensalzburg Fortress towers over everything from the hilltop as one of Europe’s largest medieval castles. You walk up steep paths or take the funicular. The views stretch across red rooftops to the Alps. Inside has museums about medieval life and torture instruments. The fortress never got conquered which is rare.

Sound of Music and Day Trips

The hills are alive with Sound of Music tours driving to Mondsee church where the wedding filmed, the gazebo, and locations around the lakes. It’s cheesy but fun if you loved the movie. Hellbrunn Palace south of town has trick fountains spraying water at visitors from hidden jets. Werfen ice caves an hour away have massive frozen formations inside the mountain. Hallstatt village nearby is postcard perfect on the lake.

Food is schnitzel, kasnocken cheese dumplings, salzburger nockerl sweet souffle, speck ham, mozartkugel chocolate balls, stiegl beer, sachertorte, coffee and cake.