The Getreidegasse is Salzburg's most famous shopping street. It has a unique atmosphere and is instantly recognisable from the tall houses bunched closely together on both sides and the traditional wrought iron signs that hang above the doors of the shops. The passages…Read More

The Getreidegasse is Salzburg's most famous shopping street. It has a unique atmosphere and is instantly recognisable from the tall houses bunched closely together on both sides and the traditional wrought iron signs that hang above the doors of the shops. The passages and courtyards adjoining the main street are very atmospheric.

The beams that can be seen still on the gables of many houses were originally used for lifting goods from the street. Structural alterations are prohibited - there are strict rules governing the preservation of the Old Town. Windows that grow smaller from the first floor upwards are typical of the houses here, as are the elegant entrances to many of the buildings.

At first sight, the buildings look small and narrow but apparently they are often surprisingly spacious inside and extend back for some distance.

There are lots of very nice shops on the street. It is a prestigious location, so many exclusive and big name brands can be found here. Neon advertising and garish signs are prohibited. Instead, the wrought iron guild signs of the different businesses tell you what you can find inside. Even McDonalds has one of these!

Stern is a good place to go for a snack and a drink. It is off the Getreidegasse, down a narrow passageway, which suddenly opens up into a large courtyard with a beergarden and off that a series of restaurants and eating areas. The food is quite good and they also have a special children's menu.

The Mozart family lived in Number 9 on the Getreidegasse from 1747 - 1773 and their son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born there in 1756. Today it is a museum. There are various things associated with Mozart - you can see the violin he played as a child, his concert violin, his clavichord, a pianoforte and portraits and letters of the Mozart family.

The museum was opened in 1880. In recent years it has been redesigned and expanded. Thousands of tourists visit every year. It was restored in 1994 and redesigned to take account of the latest developments in museum design.

Entrance costs 5.50 Euros for adults and 1.50 Euros for children. I would not recommend bringing children here though, unless they are avid Mozart fans. There is nothing hands-on and you have to do a lot of reading and digest a lot of information. It is however, quite interesting for adults.Close

The hotel has a great location - right in the centre of Salzburg's Altstadt, about 2 minutes walk from the cathedral. We found it quite easily and were able to park right outside whilst we unloaded our suitcases.The hotel has been family run for…Read More

The hotel has a great location - right in the centre of Salzburg's Altstadt, about 2 minutes walk from the cathedral. We found it quite easily and were able to park right outside whilst we unloaded our suitcases.

The hotel has been family run for several generations. The building is listed and was built in 1342. The lobby area though has been extensively modernised and there is a cinema entrance also in the lobby, which I think, detracts from the historical aspect somewhat.

It is close to the foot of the Hohensalzburg fortress and all the historical sights are just a few minutes walk away. Also there is a wealth of restaurants closeby.

The hotel has a small parking area in a street nearby, however you really do need to book this in advance. We did not do this, and were told on arrival (on Saturday morning) that it was full until Monday morning. We had to search for a parking spot on the street - eventually we found one in the New Town area on the other side of the river, but it was a bit of an ordeal. The cost for parking in the hotel's parking area was 12 Euros per day - very reasonable, and absolutely not worth trying to find an alternative.

There are a total of 45 rooms at the hotel. Some are decorated in a traditional style and some in a modern style. Our room was traditional - it had a wooden floor, 4 poster bed and single bed, wardrobe, basic television and not much else. It was immaculately clean but felt a bit basic and spartan for the price. In hindsight, I wish we had requested a modern room.

Our bathroom was lovely though - modern, large, luxurious with a huge bath and overbath shower.

The hotel is right in the Old Town so the streets are very narrow and buildings are close together, for this reason the rooms are a little dark and there is no view, but this is the price you pay for location.

There is an Italian restaurant linked to the hotel. We ate there on the first evening and had a very nice meal. It also has an intimate and cosy atmosphere.

Breakfast was very good and included in the room rate - a self-service buffet with cold meats, breads, fruit, boiled eggs and bacon. The staff were very polite and helpful and brought you alternatives, if what you required was not available at the buffet.

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel. We did experience particularly bad weather in Salzburg - lots of rain and it was unseasonably cold, so for this reason probably spent more time in our room that we would have otherwise. For this reason, I may have been a little over critical of the room and its basic characteristics. The hotel is that aside very nice - the location is second to none, ask for a modern room and book your parking in advance and I think, you would have no complaints.Close

Just 10 minutes drive out of Salzburg, the square, yellow baroque palace of Schloss Hellbrunn was built as a summer retreat for the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg back in the 17th century. This was a very important job - Markus Sitticus was a good…Read More

Just 10 minutes drive out of Salzburg, the square, yellow baroque palace of Schloss Hellbrunn was built as a summer retreat for the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg back in the 17th century. This was a very important job - Markus Sitticus was a good politician and power broker, however after walking through the gardens, you will think of him forever as a real practical joker.

Entrance to the fountains and palace costs 7.50 Euros for adults and 3.50 Euros for children. There are large car parks available. The entrance includes a guided tour of the fountains and entrance to the palace where you are given a headset for a self guided tour.

Hellbrunn and its extensive grounds are amongst the finest Renaissance architecture north of the Alps. The trick fountains are unique with no equivalent aparently anywhere in the world. Hellbrunn has enchanted visitors for nearly 400 years - a tour of the fountains is fun for young and old alike.

We strolled around the palace before our tour started for half an hour. You have to go on a guided tour. The reason becomes clear inside, as you need a human being to push the buttons and activate the water powered jokes. These were high tech status symbols in the early 17th century, but only Hellbrunns have survived.

The guide had a very dry sense of humour and spoke in English and German. Our tour group was quite large, but he had a microphone so there was no difficulty listening to the information.

The same features that once entertained the Prince Archbishops are almost unchanged. Strange and mysterious grottoes, water driven moving figures and mischievous water jets are in every nook and cranny. The imagination of the artists and architects here knew no limits. In 1730 the gardens were updated to reflect contemporary taste - the statues of gods and heroes originate from this period.

Our tour started at the stone dining table set out in the garden where all but one of the stone seats is rigged with a water jet. Sitting safely on the blank seat, the Prince Archbishop could nod to a servant and have a spurt of water sent up the backside of any guest he chose to torment!

There is a grotto where the walls, ceilings and even floors are covered in seashells. In the Neptune grotto a mask sticks out his tongue at you. There is also a grotto where a jet of water propels a solid copper crown high in the air.

There are lots of water powered mechanical scenes set in small grottoes and a truly remarkable mechanical theatre of an entire baroque city with 250 moving figures.

The guide plays tricks on the tour group as well and at some stage you will get unexpectedly wet - some more than others!

The tour lasted half an hour. It was great fun and very interesting, and everyone left a bit wetter but with a big smile.

As well as commissioning the castle, Markus Sitticus had the Hellbrunn quarry adapted to suit his needs. The product was a stage that is now known as the Stone Theatre. It is the oldest open air stage in Europe. It is rarely used for performing today but the stage carved in the rock is well worth seeing. Our son loved playing there and clambering around the winding passages.

Have a look at the view point where you can see Salzburg in the distance. You have to climb quite a few steps, but it is worth it.Close

* Summer is fantastic in Salzburg and can be very hot, but be prepared for sudden rainstorms. The rest of the year can be very pleasant too, as Salzburg sits at the edge of the mountains rather than in them. We visited at…Read More

* Summer is fantastic in Salzburg and can be very hot, but be prepared for sudden rainstorms. The rest of the year can be very pleasant too, as Salzburg sits at the edge of the mountains rather than in them. We visited at the end of May and got very changeable weather. The first 2 days it was 28 degrees centigrade and hot and sunny. The next 2 days it poured with rain and was 10 degrees. Be prepared for any eventuality.

* A Salzburg card for 72 hours costs 32 Euros (half price for 6-15 year olds). This is good value if you plan to visit the museums and cultural attractions as it gives entry to all of these plus free public transport. You can visit Mozart's birthplace, the Hohensalzburg fortress, the Residenzgallery, the trick fountains at Hellbrunn, the Baroque Museum in the Mirabel Gardens and more. You can buy it from hotels, tobacconists and tourist offices.

* There are lots of hotels in the Old Town but the prices are better in the New Town and you get the benefit of the enchanting walk and inspiring views as you cross the river. We stayed in the Old Town, but walked across the river and nowhere is far from anywhere in this compact city!

* The food is very good. Wiener Schnitzel - veal breaded and fried is lovely. The giant cakes and endless supply of cafes are also wonderful. Food is wholesome - as in the rest of Austria, it is based on local and often organic production, including mountain lamb, fish from the lakes and plenty of pork. They do not tend to serve children's portions, but are quite happy to provide you with an extra plate, so you can give your child some of your food. The Salzburg Nockerl is a towering souffle, brown and crispy on top and drenched with icing sugar.

* If you are driving, you must leave your car in the modern part of town. The Old Town is for pedestrians only. Driving in Salzburg is definitely not recommended though.

* If you plan to drive on the motorways in Austria you need to buy an Austrian motorway vignette - it varies in price depending on the amount of time it is valid for, but I think we could only buy it for a minimum of 9 days.Close

Salzburg, a baroque city on the banks of the Salzach River is one of the most beautiful cities, not only in Austria, but in Europe as a whole. It is a mass of churches and tiny streets with the magnificient Hohensalzburg Fortress looming over…Read More

Salzburg, a baroque city on the banks of the Salzach River is one of the most beautiful cities, not only in Austria, but in Europe as a whole. It is a mass of churches and tiny streets with the magnificient Hohensalzburg Fortress looming over it all. Everywhere is really full of sweet music, whether it is Mozart (born in Salzburg) or The Sound of Music (filmed in this area).

Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and the composer's association with the city continues to draw lots of tourists who come here to visit his birthplace - the Getreidehaus. Mozart did not live here though for much of his adult life - in fact some reports claim he hated Salzburg. He couldn't wait to leave his hometown and get to Vienna. Salzburg audiences did not appreciate him, he complained.

But today Salzburg appreciates him. He is the main tourism draw with a huge Mozart festival every summer, a Mozart week in January and frequent concerts in the concert hall.

Everything in the city is clustered around the River Salzach. The Old Town is on one side, the New Town is on the other and the Monchsberg and Kapuzineburg mountains are either side. Most visitors come to see the Old Town. It is a section of narrow streets (many dating from the Middle Ages) and slender houses. Here you will find the cathedral and Mozart's birthplace.

The Sound of Music settings are everywhere too - especially the fountains and steps of Mirabell Gardens.

Art lovers and museum fiends will find plenty of ways to keep themselves entertained in the city as it prides itself in being a destination for culture. The Old Town was named as a World Heritage site in 1997.

There are endless cobblestone streets to explore, outdoor markets and restaurants - something for everyone. It is one of the most romantic destinations in Europe - a chocolate box beauty of tall churches and rambling cobbled streets, topped off with a castle. Not a lot has changed since the 18th century, but it is well geared to tourists. There are charming luxury hotels, Mozartkugel chocolates and numerous classical music recitals. It is a perfect weekend break destination for those who like their city breaks with a serious dash of culture.

Our highlights during our stay were:

- taking the funicular up the steep hill to the Hohensalzburg fortress, enjoying the wonderful views of the city below and exploring the many nooks and crannies of the castle.

- strolling along the Getreidegasse with its wonderful wrought iron signs and lovely shops, browsing in the shop windows and stopping for drinks in one of the many beer gardens.

- seeing the trick fountains at Hellbrunn Palace. They are fun, interesting, historical, unusual and an absolute must-see.

- going one evening to the Sound of Salzburg Show. It is extremely touristy and a bit gimmicky but fun nonetheless. My husband is not especially a Sound of Music fan, but he still did enjoy the show.

- wandering through the wonderful Old Town streets, listening to the buskers and street performers and soaking up the atmosphere. During our visit there was some sort of choral festival - it was fantastic - choirs performing everywhere in traditional Austrian dress, and then the highlight at the end of the afternoon when they all came together outside the cathedral and sang in the square as one. It was spine tingling.Close

The salt mine at Hallein is one of the world's oldest mines, preserved for tourists on the Durrnberg Mountain, overlooking Hallein. Salt was being mined here 2,500 years ago in the time of the Celts. Later it helped the Salzburg Prince Archbishops accumulate…Read More

The salt mine at Hallein is one of the world's oldest mines, preserved for tourists on the Durrnberg Mountain, overlooking Hallein. Salt was being mined here 2,500 years ago in the time of the Celts. Later it helped the Salzburg Prince Archbishops accumulate their limitless riches.

Hallein is about 1.5 hours drive from Zell am See. It is close to Berchtesgaden and we combined our trip here with a morning visit to the Eagles Nest.

It cost us 37 Euros for a family ticket into the mine. It is open 9am until 5pm and you have to go on an organised tour. These depart regularly. The tour lasts 75 minutes, and they recommend you need about 90 minutes to do this and visit the Celtic village next to the mine. Children under the age of 4 are not allowed in the mine.

You need stout footwear and warm clothing. Inside the mine the temperature is 10 degrees all year round. You get special protective clothing to wear over your own at the entrance - a white jacket and trouses. A safety video is then shown before you enter.

Everyone, dressed in white, climbs aboard a miniature train which goes into the mine tunnels. The train ride lasts about 5 minutes then you have to walk quite a way. The ground is very uneven, it is really dark in some places and you do need sturdy shoes and to have your wits about you!

Eventually you arrive in a largish cavern with seats and they show the first of 4 films about salt and the mine itself. These are all in german with english subtitles.

After another bit of walking you arrive at the slides - this is such great fun. You slide down in groups of 2 or 3 - fast, steep and quite thrilling.

You then board a boat which glides over a salt lake while eerie music plays and lights enhance the experience.

There is then another, even steeper slide to go down and the guide points out other things of interest about the mine. You actually enter the mine in Austria, but as most of it is under German soil, you actually cross the border twice underground.

At the end of the tour an escalator takes everyone back up to the top level, we were all given a souvenir container of salt and then we boarded the little train for the ride back to the entrance.

The whole experience is very educational but lots and lots of fun.

After a snack and a drink in the cafe, we visited the Celtic village next to the mine. They claim this is a reconstruction of how Celtic life would have been. I think this is a bit far fetched and it is a little bit disappointing, but you do not pay extra to go in.Close

The Eagles Neat is actually just over the border in Germany near Berchtesgaden. It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive here from our base near Zell am See.The Eagles Nest was designed and built for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday and was…Read More

The Eagles Neat is actually just over the border in Germany near Berchtesgaden. It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive here from our base near Zell am See.

The Eagles Nest was designed and built for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday and was originally designed to be a teahouse. It was built in just 13 months - including the road up to it which is Germany's highest road. Hitler seldom used the property as he found the journey up to it very unnerving - apparently he had a fear of heights.

The road is a unique feat of engineering, as despite the great difference in elevation, there is only one hairpin bend.

The bombings and battles of World War II left the building intact and today it remains in its original state. Hitler's home - the Berghof - was blown up after the war, however, thanks to the intervention of the district President Theodor Jakob, the Eagles Nest was spared the same fate. It has been open to the public since 1952.

You drive to Obersalzberg, a small village near Berchtesgaden. There are lots of car parks there - we paid 3 Euros to park for the whole day, and you catch the bus here to the Eagles Nest. You have to use this bus as the road is closed to private vehicles.

A family ticket on the bus cost 33 Euros or it is 15 Euros for one adult. The building is only open when the buses have safe access up the mountain - usually mid May to mid October. The buses leave around every 15 minutes.

The journey up is unbelievably steep. It takes just under 15 minutes, and you get the most spectacular view of the Berchtesgaden Alps. I can understand why Hitler was not too keen on the journey though - let's just say the steep drop at the roadside is not for the faint hearted! It does not matter which side of the bus you choose to sit on, you will still get the effect of this at some stage in the journey.

At the top you have to book your return bus time down, before you enter the Eagles Nest. They recommend you need 2 hours to explore. We had such bad weather and poor visibility that an hour was sufficient for us.

You walk through a marble lined tunnel, 400 feet into the heart of the mountain. Then you ride the original elevator 400 feet straight up into the Eagles Nest. It gave me a bit of a strange chill to think Hitler and his henchmen had stood in this very lift.

We visited at the end of May - there was still lots of snow on the terraces. It is 6,017 feet high - you can walk around the grounds and if the weather was clear the scenery, I'm sure would be unforgettable. We did get a quick glimpse of the view when the clouds briefly cleared, but it was quick.

The building is actually used as a restaurant. It was absolutely packed during our visit, and we only just managed to get a table. We did enjoy the most delicious goulash soup - it warmed us up and set us up for the hair raising journey back down the mountain.Close

Kaprun is a special place for several reasons. It is a charming village in its own right, but add to that the backdrop of the towering Kitzsteinhorn and the beautiful lake on its doorstep, plus all year round skiing for beginners and advanced skiers…Read More

Kaprun is a special place for several reasons. It is a charming village in its own right, but add to that the backdrop of the towering Kitzsteinhorn and the beautiful lake on its doorstep, plus all year round skiing for beginners and advanced skiers thanks to the glacier.

There is guaranteed snow on the glacier year round, regardless of the weather. In summer there are not many places where you can ski in the morning and relax by the lake in the sunshine in the afternoon. The summer season lasts from June until September. It can rain, but temperatures are generally higher than the UK.

After exploring Kaprun, we walked along the Guggenhohenweg - a mountain path which leads you along the forested hillside and gives you lovely views over Lake Zell and the surrounding mountains.

The walk is about 3 miles and took us - at a leisurely pace plus a stop at the restaurant, about 1.5 hours. It starts across the road from the Town Hall in the centre of Kaprun. You walk steeply uphill away from the Town Hall next to a little stream, then at the top of the hill, past all the houses, there is a sign for the Guggenhohenweg.

A short, though fairly steep climb takes you to the Guggenbichl restaurant. During May it only opened between 3pm and 6pm Tuesdays to Thursdays. We went on a Wednesday and were the only customers. The restaurant has a large terrace which has the most wonderful views of the valley, lake and mountains. For this view alone, the climb up is worth it.

Past the restaurant you walk around a gate onto a forest road or track leading into the woods. At the next junction, you have the choice of following the Guggenhohenweg which continues as a narrow path through the trees, or you can walk along the forest track at a lower level and get to the same place in the end. Our walking notes told us this was the easier option - I can't imagine what the other path must have been like as we found it extremely steep and hard going - on the easier path!

It is a lovely walk - you go through the forest, clamber over rocks and stones and get glimpses of the lovely valley through the trees. Eventually you descend steeply through the pine trees and come out at Kaprun Castle. The castle is not generally open to the public but hosts various fetes and events over the summer.

From here, you join the main road - we walked along this back to our car in the centre of Kaprun.Close

It took us about 1 hour to drive to Krimml Waterfalls from our base near Zell am See.There are lots of car parks on the approach to the falls. We parked in the first one we came too and paid 4 Euros to park…Read More

It took us about 1 hour to drive to Krimml Waterfalls from our base near Zell am See.

There are lots of car parks on the approach to the falls. We parked in the first one we came too and paid 4 Euros to park there for the whole day. All the car parks seemed to charge this price.

The Krimml Waterfalls are the highest in Europe and drop 1,250 feet in 3 stages. They lie to the south of the Gerlos Pass which connects the Salzach Valley in Land Salzburg to the Siller Valley in the Tyrol. The falls open from the end of April until the end of October between 8am and 6pm. Entrance costs 1.5 Euros for adults and 50 cents for children. We bought a combined ticket to the falls and the Wasserwunderwelt museum next door which cost 15 Euros for a family ticket.

There are a lot of bars/restaurants and souvenir shops at the base of the falls - but all you can hear at first is the roar of the water.

You need to allow 3-4 hours to explore the falls area. Apparently on a sunny day, they are at their most spectacular around noon. I thought they were pretty spectacular all day long! Be sure to wear sturdy and comfortable shoes - you need to do a lot of walking here.

We headed to the middle stages of the falls first. Supposedly this is a half hour walk - it took us a good hour. It is very steep and very hard going. Our son had to be coaxed all the way. Walking down is easier - but still very hard on the knees

The views along the way are lovely. The waterfalls are amazing and there are various places where you can get closer to the gushing water, which lies under a deep layer of ice in winter.

We heard, after our visit, that a good idea is to take a taxi to the top of the falls area and then walk all the way back down. You get to enjoy the beautiful views without all the hard work. I wish we had heard this tip in advance.

The base of the falls is also very awe inspiring. You get quite wet, and even from a distance the spray is intense. It is a lovely sight though.

The Wasserwunderwelt Museum is right next to the entrance to the waterfalls. They have an exhibiton on 2 floors with explanations in german and english showing the power of water. The bottom floor has hands on exhibits and you learn about the physical properties of water. The upper floor has more information about the valley and the waterfalls themselves.

Outside there are lots of hands on water toys and games. Children (and adults) can have a lot of fun - but be prepared to get soaking wet.

The outdoor area here is very good, the indoor exhibition is average, but I would only really visit Wasserwunderwelt if you have children. Otherwise a trip to the waterfalls themselves is the main attraction here.Close

This is a lovely walk which is about 4 miles. We did it at quite a leisurely pace, taking our time through the gorge, stopping at the restaurant and doing a little bit of the fitness course for fun. The paths are hard…Read More

This is a lovely walk which is about 4 miles. We did it at quite a leisurely pace, taking our time through the gorge, stopping at the restaurant and doing a little bit of the fitness course for fun. The paths are hard surfaced track or grassy paths and there is no climbing involved. It is suitable for all the family.

The starting point is the Sigmund Thun Gorge, just outside the village of Kaprun. There is free car-parking off the side of the road at the entrance to the gorge.

Entrance to the gorge costs 3 Euros each or a family ticket costs 7.70 Euros.

The gorge was developed in 1893 as a tourist attraction with a boardwalk planned by Kaprun tourist pioneed Nikolaus Gassner. It was named after Sigmund Graf von Thun, who was govenor of Salzburg at the time.

The gorge was designated as a national monument in 1934 and closed in 1938 when the boardwalk had to be condemned. It was rebuilt in 1991 and reopened in 1992.

The walk along the boardwalk is really spectacular. You get a little wet from the spray at times, but we visited on a hot day and dried off in no time. You walk all the way through the gorge on the wooden walkway, suspended above the gushing river.

There are lots of steps to climb up and down and it can be quite slippery in places, but it is a spectacular sight. Our son was enthralled the whole time and it took us just over half an hour to walk through the gorge.

At the end of the walkway, you carry on walking for about 15-20 minutes, past the most beautiful deep blue lake, and you come to a rustic outdoor restaurant in the middle of nowhere. We only had drinks, but the food they were serving looked delicious. There was a children's playground next to the seating area.

After the restaurant, a fitness course runs alongside the path - it is fun to try out the different exercises along the way.

You then come to the Kaprun Valley - the path here is delightful, weaving through trees at the edge of woods and meadows, climbing between rocks with wildflowers at your feet. The snow-capped mountains tower ahead and the only sounds are birds singing and cowbells jingling. You can also see the cable cars of the Gletscherbahn climbing the mountain.

We walked for a couple of hours, then retraced our steps back to the restaurant for well deserved ice-creams.

This walk is really pleasant, the setting is beautiful and there is plenty to entertain children - combined with a visit to the gorge it is a great day out.Close