For two days it was this year during our summer holiday in Upper Bavaria to Austria, more precisely, to Salzburg. Since we wanted to see as much as possible during these two days, we opted for the Salzburg Card, which I would like to report…Read More

For two days it was this year during our summer holiday in Upper Bavaria to Austria, more precisely, to Salzburg. Since we wanted to see as much as possible during these two days, we opted for the Salzburg Card, which I would like to report today ...

The Salzburg Card is a kind of a card, with which you can visit free attractions in Salzburg. You pay a one-off price and then has free access to all city attractions. Plus, you can public transport, ie use the city buses for free. A bus line even on tariff limit, so you can visit more distant attractions, including the Unterberg or the zoo. A cruise on the Salzach would include. In addition, the Salzburg Card one breaks for different cultural events, which can, for example, plays, concerts or attractions in Salzburg region be. The Salzburg Card you get a book in which all the advantages listed. In it you can see anyway, what the entry would normally cost and what it saves. Moreover, one has thus simultaneously an overview of what there is to see in Salzburg to absolutely everything. If you want to visit many places of interest in a short time, will be able to save with the Salzburg Card lot of money. Whether this was so, as found in this report.

Once it became clear that we wanted to make a side trip to Salzburg, I inquired of guidebooks and on the internet about the city and what you should not miss. I quickly realized that there is much to see in Salzburg. And it was also noticed that some entries are quite high already. Salzburg.info on the website I came across the offer of the Salzburg Card and found it equally interesting. When we were in at the Tourist Information Salzburg.

The Salzburg Card can purchase either for 24 hours, for 48 hours or for 72 hours. Depending on how long you're in the city and how much you want to look at, you just have to think about what comes into question. Well, I think that the card will be charged by the hour and not valid for one day. The card is activated only when it is used at the first sight. From then on, the timer starts. If you activate the card, just as we, after 15 clock it is not just the rest of the day but just until shortly after 15 clock of the next, the second or third day. Since we were from Monday to Wednesday in Salzburg, we bought two tickets for 48 hours. For 48 hours, you pay 34 EUR. That sounds a lot, but there are also a lot of attractions that you can watch for the money. For 24 hours, you pay 25 EUR and 72 hours cost 40 EUR. Children, of course, pay correspondingly less and in the cooler months, it is also cheaper again. When you grow up the way is already over 16, then the full price will be charged. An overview of the prices I've uploaded a photo.

You can either order the Salzburg Card on the Internet, or you buy them directly in Salzburg that presents itself, yes. Many hotels sell tickets at the front desk, and if not, you get them at all tourist information offices throughout the city, that is the main railway station, the airport, the train station in Salzburg and South course at the tourist info on Mozart Square. The latter we visited. In hindsight, we would have to have to buy at the main station, because then we could go from there free bus into the old town. But since we used them only after 15 clock for the first time it was, after all, two days later, still remains valid, which was also an advantage, because we could use even outside of Salzburg, as we had already traveled further.

The Salzburg Card you have free admission to about 30 attractions. I take this opportunity to list them all or copy the report into it. Who cares what all is included simply looks after on the website. and no later than the moment of purchase to get the brochure, too, where everything is listed, with opening times and addresses so you do not also sought in vain for a place of interest, which is then already closed. More than 20 concessions within and outside of Salzburg are also found on the website and in the brochure. The link to the list I have provided below.

After we had paid twice for 48 hours, the required 68 EUR, we received two magnetic cards. On the back you need to enter its name, since the card is not transferable, however, at no interest someone has paid attention to whether the name was not on it or. The card itself is, as you can see in the photo, a normal magnetic card with a cute photo of Salzburg and the Internet address at which there is more information. The card fits easily into your wallet or in your pocket, so you have it handy for quickly. During the bus ride, the card is scanned and sent to most of the sites there are also card reader where you must put up with the Salzburg Card or draw over it. Everything runs so automatically, which is very convenient. Now one could complain that arises after the date of expiry of unnecessary plastic waste. That is certainly the case, but many keep the card as a souvenir and also safely throw not away. If you drive frequently to Salzburg and buys one card at a course that is something else.

With our tickets we went and hit the trail to the first attraction that we wanted to see. By funicular we wanted to go up to the mountain monk and look at the fortress. The trip, including a tour of the fort, the fort museum and the Puppet Museum normally costs 11 EUR, we thus had already included. Upon entering the card is scanned and thus activated. Since we spent some time at the fortress and later it already had (some museums close by 17 clock), we visited that day, only one more attraction, as Mozart's birthplace, which would otherwise cost 10 EUR. So we were both 21 EUR from 34 EUR already out. We would have certainly done more, but we were on vacation and wanted to not rush us. Finally, you want what you can see and enjoy so. So it went on until the next day.

Take the cable car ride to the Unterberg (21 EUR), the visit of the fountains in Hellbrunn (9.50 EUR), riding the Mönchsbergaufzug (3.20 EUR), the Toy Museum (4 EUR) and the Catacombs (EUR 1.50 ) came on the second day again together over 39 EUR. If we also add the coach, we have taken on both days with the card, we'd also once each in about 10 EUR. So we can say that we have to get 34 EUR about twice as much.

Surely we could have still managed a few more sights, but we wanted to rush not tell us how, but enjoy the holidays and for that it is also, in between to take breaks to sit in a sunny spot and not of museum run off to museum . But since we get for 34 EUR entrance and bus worth around 70 EUR, I think that we have used the card still good. One can of course argue that it would have without SalzburgCard not visited all of these attractions, but as we learn at least sometimes know something that you would not otherwise have made. Alone with the three monuments that we would have looked from the start but even if we do not SalzburgCard had bought, namely Unterberg, Hohensalzburg Hellbrunn we would have got over the 34 EUR, so it has been worth it.
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Located in a small valley between two hills Salzach Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria and listed as a World Cultural Heritage. History goes to the VII-VIII century, and his name he is obliged to large deposits of salt found in the district.…Read More

Located in a small valley between two hills Salzach Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria and listed as a World Cultural Heritage. History goes to the VII-VIII century, and his name he is obliged to large deposits of salt found in the district.
The first landmark on our journey was Mirabellgarden Park (Mirabellgarten). It surrounds a Mirabell Palace (Schloss Mirabell), built in the early XVII century, now is the residence of the mayor of the city. A cozy and pleasant place for walking and recreation, the park is designed in classic European style - the perfect line of lawn and walkways, beautiful fountains, statues.

After strolling through the park, we moved on, toward the Old Town. To get there, you need to go Salzach at a pedestrian bridge, offering a beautiful view of the river and the city itself along both banks. The usual tourist route through the old Salzburg is a narrow pedestrian street Getreidegasse (Getreidegasse), which runs through the center and goes to the main square - Rezidentsplats (Residenzplatz) - a great place for a leisurely stroll with his mouth open and the viewing surround you old buildings. There are many cafes, shops, souvenir shops and confectioneries. The main attraction of the street - a house where he was born and lived until 17 years Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Actually the name of Mozart - is part tourist brand of Salzburg. Only the lazy are not mentions the name in the title of his little store, cafe or product, well, or at least - do not print the portrait of the great composer on a napkin or flyers. Passing through the center, you can find Mozart in all forms - from the famous candy, which for several centuries in a row made by hand according to ancient recipes, finishing slippers classic red and gold colors.

Home town square filled with tourists, and various crew - equestrian, bicycle, car, ready for about 30 euros to bring you around the center. Looking around, we pass on, at Domplatz, the area near the Cathedral.

Kapitelplatts filled structures rather futuristic-modern form, kotrastom looking at the background of classical buildings. The huge golden ball with the boy on the top, chess, in which you can play the scene with the schedule of shows and concerts, and all that - against the background of towering at a height of 120 meters of the fortress Hohensalzburg - a symbol of the city.
Bypassing Rezidentsplats the other hand, we came to Mozartplaz, which, as you might guess, is a monument to Mozart actually.   Close

Few people from Salzburg would admit to it publicly, but the Sound of Music and the trials and life of the von Trapp family has become a huge international draw for the city. The year after the release of the movie, international tourism to…Read More

Few people from Salzburg would admit to it publicly, but the Sound of Music and the trials and life of the von Trapp family has become a huge international draw for the city. The year after the release of the movie, international tourism to Salzburg jumed 20% and soon the Sound of Music was a Salzburg attraction.

We saw a leaflet in the lobby of our hotel advertising the Sound of Salzburg dinner show and decided to try this out. It was in a room in the Stern beerhouse, just off the Getreidegasse. We booked the show that morning, paid a 16 Euro deposit and paid the remainder on arrival that evening.

We arrived at 7:00pm and they showed us to our table. There were about 20 tables all set for dinner. We got 1 drink, a bowl of soup, a choice of chicken or pork for the main course and apple strudel - this was included in the price. You could order further drinks and they had a children's menu. Our 6 year old got free entry to the show, we just had to pay for his meal.

Dinner was served at 7:30 and the show started at 8:30. It was finished by 10:00 and included a 15 minute interval. They showed a film interview with the real Maria von Trapp and then 2 ladies and 2 men performed songs from the film, a selection of Austrian folksongs and some light Mozart operetta. The show was very enjoyable - extremely touristy, but fun nonetheless.

Perhaps the most important Sound of Music spin offs are the tours offered by several companies, including Salzburg Panorama Tours. Besides showing you some of the film's locations (very briefly though), these 4 hour tours also give you a concise tour of the city.

The buses leave from Mirabellplatz. First official stop to stretch your legs is the gazebo in the park of Schloss Hellbrunn. Originally built in the gardens of Leopoldskron Palace, it was brought here to give the public the chance to take pictures. This is where Liesl sings "I Am Sixteen Going on Seventeen." The simple structure is a coveted prize of photographers.

The bus then drives past other private palaces with limited visiting rights - Schloss Frohnburg and Schloss Leopoldskron - and you have to be content with seeing these from the coach window. Schloss Leopoldskron was the site of many of the scenes by the big lake in the movie.

The bus continued past Nonnberg convent at the foot of the Hohensalzburg fortress, then left the city limits for the lovely countryside of the Salzkammergut. We had a 5 minute stop on the shores of Wolfgangssee in St Gilgen, then headed for the village of Mondsee, where, in the movie, Maria and Georg were married in the church.

We did the tour on a Monday morning - this is the day when everything in Mondsee, except one little cafe is closed. We had a walk around the church, then as it was freezing cold and pouring with rain, queued to get into this one cafe for a drink. We had an hour's stop in Mondsee and on a Monday, when the weather is inclement, there is precious little to do.

Our tour guide had a very dry and funny sense of humour. She was very good and told us lots of interesting facts and debunked myths about the movie.

We drove back past Mirabellplatz where they sang Do Reh Mi on the staircase and that was the end of the tour.

We did enjoy it, but spent a lot of time on the bus and you really only catch glimpses of most of the buildings and palaces. All the interior scenes were shot in Hollywood. You could actually visit the pavillion at Hellbrunn yourself. We did though enjoy the commentary, but I would not do this tour again.   Close

The Hohensalzburg fortress dominates the skyline of Salzburg. It is 900 years old and apparently the biggest and most fully preserved fortification in Europe. Built by Archbishop Gebhard in 1077, it served to protect the clergy and population.The fortress was the stronghold of…Read More

The Hohensalzburg fortress dominates the skyline of Salzburg. It is 900 years old and apparently the biggest and most fully preserved fortification in Europe. Built by Archbishop Gebhard in 1077, it served to protect the clergy and population.

The fortress was the stronghold of the ruling Prince Archbishops before they moved to the Residenz. It towers 400 feet above the Salzach River on a rocky edge. It crowns the Festungsberg and dominates the city.

You can walk up to the fortress - it takes about half an hour. We opted to travel by funicular. It is a near vertical ride up the rock face and takes just under a minute. The funicular leaves about every 10 minutes from the station behind the cathedral - Festungsgasse.

Work on the fortress began in 1077 and was not finished until 1681, during which time many builders had a hand in its construction.

The Romanesque walls surround the Great Hall, the living quarters still comprise the main part of the castle keep. Numerous secondary buildings and a private chapel are part of the fortifications. You can view the state apartments - once the dwellings of the Prince Archbishops.

To tour the fortress grounds without the interior rooms takes about 30 minutes. The rooms are interesting though. Audio tours are included in the funicular price - they are available in a number of languages and there is a special children's commentary as well. The entrance cost is 10.50 Euros for adults and 6.00 Euros for children aged 6 plus. A family ticket costs 24.50 Euros.

It is a fun place to visit with children. Our son enjoyed climbing all over the pile of cannonballs, seeing the torture chamber and scaling the tower. The puppet museum is also interesting, and you get to have a go with a puppet and put on your own little show.

Visiting the fortress, even if not directly interested in that itself, is a must. The view from the terrace is so spectacular. Look out for a particular area where you look down on a field with only one house in it. This was the residence of the executioner. It was believed that living anywhere near him was bad luck.

We spent about 4 hours in total exploring the inside and outside of the fortress.   Close

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

Land Salzburg (the Austrian State of Salzburg) is a name best understood with a little history. Way back when, salt was a very precious commodity and salt mines were its source. Salt deposits were not everywhere, so easy transportation from mine…Read More

Land Salzburg (the Austrian State of Salzburg) is a name best understood with a little history. Way back when, salt was a very precious commodity and salt mines were its source. Salt deposits were not everywhere, so easy transportation from mine to market was critical to the salt trade. Salzburg town had a great location for the trade-- close to Europe's largest salt mines and on the River Salzach which flows into the River Inn which is known as the Danube after it merges with that much smaller river. Topping it off, Salzburg has a naturally easy to defend location, between the mountians and the river. Protecting its salt trade with a fortified castle (burg in German), Salzburg-- the Salt Fort-- became one of Europe's most important cities. Today, Land Salzburg is noted for scenery and tourism.

I read someplace that 25% of Austria's GDP comes from tourism, and that Austria is the # 1 destination for Europeans when traveling outside their own country. Land Salzburg is Austria's tourist center, featuring histoic Salzburg city and the great scenery of the Salzkammergut (lit., 'the good salt chamber') lakes and the icy heights of the mighty Dachstein.


Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the most famous citizen of Salzburg. Mozart followed his father as the Prince Archbishop’s court composer. Mozart didn’t get along with his boss, and eventually quit and moved to Vienna. The nondescript house where Mozart was born, 9 Getreidegasse, and where he lived during his adult years in Salzburg, 8 Makartplatz, are now museums with collections of original scores, furniture, and some of Mozart’s instruments.

The first Cathedral was erected in 767, replaced in the 12th Century, burned down in 1598, with the current church finished in 1657. The Cathedral was built in Italian Renaissance stye and finished with a Baroque interior, making for an interesting structure. Mozart, and his father and Michael Haydn, played the organ in the Cathedral and led the orchestra and choir, often preforming their own compositions. The cemetery behind the Cathedral is well worth a visit. The spacious Residenz Platz and smaller Dom Platz on the other side of the Cathedral are a stark contrast to narrow Gothic streets of the old town. The Prince Archbishop’s place (Residenz) and castle (Hohensalzburg) are moderately interesting for their interiors and museums. Mozart performed in the Conference Hall, Residenz.


Across the river, Salzburg’s once grandest sight, the 18th Century Mirabell Palace was largely destroyed by fire in 1818, but the gardens, with their views of Hohensalzburg across the river, should not be missed. Take some time to stroll the attractive streets of both the old town and the newer, 16-17th Centuries, town across the river around Mirabell.

Schloss Heilbronn, in the suburbs beyond the airport, is an entertaining place to visit. If I tell you why, it will spoil the fun.

Austria is my favorite country in Europe. I’ve visited Austria on 16 vacation trips, including three visits to Salzburg, and the bottom line is that I don’t much like Salzburg. The popular tourist areas of Salzburg for the most part do not look like Austria. Visit only Salzburg and you will have seen Austria. You will miss Europe’s best country to visit. But Salzburg is the gateway to one of Europe's top tourist areas, the Salzkammergut. The Salzkammergut is a district of lakes and mountians. Covering an area about 50x60 km (30x36 miles), few places on Earth pack so much scenery into such a small area as does the Salzkammergut (Zalts-kammer-goot). Although it can be visited by local bus, by car is really the only way to fully appreciate the scenic variety found here, in the heart of the Alps. It is best to enter the Salzkammergut from the north so that the scenery builds from the rolling hills of the pre-Alps with their pretty lakes to a crescendo in the high mountians and glaciers of the mighty Dachstein and the Totes Gebirge. North of the Hallstattersee, a certain amount of driving in circles is needed to see all that is worth seeing.

The most scenic road in the lake district is Bad Ischl to Gmunden, but also take in Gmunden to Attersee town via the east shore of Lake Attersee, from Mondsee town to St Wolfgang via the east side of Lake Mondsee, and the west side of Lake St Wolfgangsee. (Note that the directions given for these drives are the way to go for the best views along each lake, although it is well worth driving both north and south along each lake, where possible). Every visit to the lake region of the Salzkammergut should end in bad Ischl, for here is where the grand mountian scenery begins. After a short visit to this quiet old spa town (see the Emperor's Hunting Lodge), we always head south on Rt 145 to the Snack Bar just off Rt 145 between Bad Ischl and Bad Aussee for one of the greatest Alpine views, but it’s not in any guide book I’ve ever seen. It is worth a major detour to see. Leave Bad Ischl going toward Bad Aussee. The highway begins to climb a mountain. About two-thirds the way to the top, the road makes a hairpin turn to the left. You will see a parking lot on your left, tucked into the bend in the road. Park here. Walk to the downhill corner of the parking lot nearest the highway to the tunnel under the road. The best views are from the terrace in front of the snack bar. Below, ringed by cliffs and high mountain walls lies the famous Lake Hallstatt. At the far end of the lake towers the mighty Dachstein, its glaciers sparkling in the midsummer sun.

Now come the High Alps. For a complete tour, continue on to Bad Aussee, another pleasant spa resort where you can see the shack where the composer Mahler spent his summers writing symphonies. Visit the Grundelsee, Toplitzsee, and Kammersee, accessible only by a boat trip across the Toplitzsee. Nearby is the pretty Althousersee (if you haven’t caught on yet, –see is the name of a lake) and the road to the summit of the Loser for panoramic views. From Bad Aussee, go west along the Traun river to the Trippenstein cable car for a ride to the top of the mighty Dachstein itself with vast panoramic views of mountains, glaciers, and the Hallstattersee.

Now to one of the most famous picturesque villages in the world. Everybody knows Hallstatt before going there because this little village on the shores of the Hallstattersee is probably pictured on more travel posters than any other place in the world. Pass by the first turnoff for Hallstatt because you will never find a parking place at this exit unless you are staying in town at a hotel with a parking lot. Continue north. The highway enters a tunnel. Watch for parking signs turning off to the right inside the tunnel. The town’s main parking lot is carved out of the inside of the mountain from which it is short walk to the center of town. There are scenic boat rides on the lake. Everybody takes pictures of the church, the best views being from the north of the church. Just off shore are found some of the oldest human settlements in Europe, estimated to be about 30,000 years old.

Continue north from the parking lot, and turn left on Rt 146 to Gosau, then head south toward the Gosausee through a quaint little farm valley. The Gosausee is one of the most spectacular Alpine lakes. We like it even better than the Hallstattersee for sheer scenic beauty. Continue up river to the equally spectacular setting of the Hintergosausee. At the far end of the lake looms the rocky crags of the mighty Dachstein.

Returning from the Gosausee to Gosau, continue west on Rt 166 and Rt 162 to the expressway south of Salzburg. This dive, Rts 166 & 162, is one of the most pleasant in the Alps, not the grandest scenery, but scenery that feels right for a drive thorough the Alps.

For a longer trip in the Salzkammergut, go south on Rt 166 from the intersection with Rt 162 and follow the more northern road from Eben in Pongau to Aich, with a trip up the Hunnerkogle cable car for a dead on look from 9,000 ft. at the 10,000 ft summit of the Hoher Dachstein itself.

There are waterfalls, ice caves, and salt mines to visit at several locations along the route.

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