Whether you’re planning a family vacation or a romantic holiday in Austria, a visit to the enchanting baroque city of Salzburg is a must-do. To see all that this lovely town at the foot of the Austrian Alps has to offer would take more than a mere day. If your stay in Salzburg is too short to discover all the treasures of Mozart’s birthplace, make these city attractions are on your top list:

The Sound of Music sites

The Sound of Music was famously filmed in Salzburg in 1965 and has drawn tourists to the area ever since. Fans of the musical will want to hit up some of the many sights that served as a backdrop to the movie.

Visit the beautiful Mirabell Gardens where Maria and the Von Trap children sang ‘Do-Re-Mi,’ or go to the famous Sound of Music Pavilion where ‘I am 16 going on 17’ was sang. Various Sound of Music tours are offered but may leave you pinched for time later in the day.

The Old Town

Take a taxi to the Old Town of Salzburg where you can lunch in a café before shopping in the winding streets. Music and history enthusiasts alike enjoy touring the birthplace and residence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Pick up some of the popular candy called Mozart-kugel to take home as souvenirs. For more history, stroll through the Salzburg Cathedral Hohensalzburg and the Fortress , known as one of the largest castles in Europe. Here you can walk along the water and view the beautiful vistas that the city has to offer.

The Augustiner Biergarten

No matter the season, the Augustiner is the best place to relax after a long day of touring the city. The abbey was founded in the early 1600’s by Augustinian hermits and is now popular for its beer that is made on the premises.

Come here with a group of friends, grab a seat at a table and make friend with whomever you wind up sitting next to. Instead of ordering a beer, purchase a token that allows you to grab a stein of your size. Then rinse the stein at a fountain and get in line for you drink. Bringing your own food is allowed, so plan on making this your dinner stop too. Pick up anything from cheese and crackers to a pizza and make a picnic of it.

One tip: always leave change with the restroom maid, no matter how many times you go in and no matter how much money you’ve already left her…she’s EXTREMELY irritable!

Photo originally posted by .liquid.lblue.ocean

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About the author

Venere Travel Blog writer andrea bearce

Andrea Bearce is a freelance writer who obsesses over travel, food, wine, culture and great books. She currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas but is determinately dreaming on moving somewhere far more glamorous.

2 responses to “24 hours in Salzburg”

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  1. Katie says:
    February 7th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Andrea,
    Great tips. I was in Salzburg back in 2002 and loved going to all the sights of The Sound of Music. I didn’t waste time and money participating in the tours. A group of us did just what you said, go find all the sights yourself.

    PS: I too want to move to a much more glamorous place than Chicago. :)

    a presto,
    Katie :)

  2. Steve and Carol Hughes says:
    February 7th, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Andrea, good review, We were in Salzburg between Xmas and New Year 2006 for five days and took in a lot of the sights. A trip with Panorama tours on the “Sound of music” tour was great as Sue, the hostess, was really funny. A visit to Hellbrun Zoo is also well worth the time. In the backdrop is the mountain, Untersberg where the opening scene`s of the film were filmed. The pavilion used in “16 going on 17″ is also there.
    A great place to visit and one that we will be visiting in the very near future.

    Best wishes,

    Steve and carol.

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