by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:5th January 2018

Home of Wolfgang & the Von Trapps…

When planning our road trip to Croatia from the UK, we deliberately built in a handful of stopovers along the way — places where we could pause, explore, and soak up a little local culture. One of those stops was the musical and endlessly elegant city of Salzburg, nestled between mountains and shaped by centuries of history.

Salzburg is best known for two things: being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and for providing the unforgettable setting of the Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music. Even if neither dominates your playlist, Salzburg’s beauty and atmosphere make it a destination in its own right.

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Where is Salzburg?

How to get to Salzburg

- By Train
Salzburg is very well connected by rail. Salzburg Hauptbahnhof has frequent direct trains from Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck, and beyond.

- By Car
The city sits close to the A1 motorway, linking Vienna and Munich. Parking is best done in public garages on the edge of the Old Town, as the historic centre has restricted access. A motorway vignette is required for driving on Austrian autobahns.

- By air
The nearest airport is Salzburg Airport, located just 4 km west of the city centre. It serves a range of European destinations, with regular bus and taxi connections into the Old Town.

Discovering Salzburg with Limited Time

Making the Most of a Short Stopover
As a stopover destination, we only had a few fleeting hours of daylight to discover Salzburg. With time against us, we headed straight toward the Salzach River, following the lively Linzer Gasse, one of the city’s most characterful pedestrian streets.
An ornate hanging clock and sign decorate a historic building along Getreidegasse in Salzburg. These decorative signs are a distinctive feature of the city’s Old Town streetscape.
Scheffer
Linzer Gasse in Salzburg photographed at night, with illuminated shop signs and church towers glowing against the dark sky. This atmospheric street is known for its historic charm, local shops, and evening strolls.

Linzer Gasse at night

Linzer Gasse is lined with independent shops, boutiques, and traditional businesses, each marked by beautifully crafted ornate shop signs. These decorative signs are a feature throughout Salzburg and add a sense of old-world charm as you wander toward the river, tempted by local delicacies, chocolates, and bakeries.

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Mirabell Palace and Gardens

A Sound of Music Moment
Before crossing the river into the Old Town, we wandered into the colourful Mirabell Palace and Gardens, created in the 17th century.
A stone lion sculpture overlooks the Mirabell Palace Gardens, framed by manicured greenery and seasonal flowers. This elegant garden is one of Salzburg’s most romantic and photographed attractions.
A lion in the Mirabell Palace Gardens
Although the planting here is relatively modest, the gardens are strikingly formal. Carefully arranged pathways draw your eyes toward elegant statues and water features, while above it all Hohensalzburg Fortress watches from the hillside, a constant and dramatic presence.
The Mirabell Palace Gardens in Salzburg with brightly coloured flower beds and fountain. In the distance, high on the hill, you can see the city's Castle.
The Mirabell Palace Gardens

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Do-Re-Mi in Salzburg

A Sound of Music Moment
Fans of The Sound of Music will instantly recognise Mirabell Gardens as the filming location for the iconic “Do-Re-Mi” scene. Even if the Von Trapps aren’t quite your thing, it’s hard not to appreciate how perfectly the gardens lend themselves to cinema.
The Pegasus fountain in the Mirabell Palace Gardens, Salzburg, Austria
Pegasus in the Mirabell Palace Gardens

UNESCO World Heritage Status

The Historic Centre of Salzburg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, recognised for its exceptionally well-preserved Baroque cityscape, church domes, palace squares, and the dramatic presence of Hohensalzburg Fortress above the Old Town.

Exploring Salzburg’s Altstadt

Bridges, Baroque Streets and Historic Squares
It was time to head into Salzburg’s Altstadt (Old Town). Crossing the Makartsteg Bridge, decorated with love locks, we left the newer side of the city behind and stepped into a maze of historic lanes and elegant squares.
The Salzach River flows through Salzburg, offering scenic views of the Old Town and surrounding hills. Riverbanks and footbridges provide some of the city’s most photogenic walking routes.
The Salzach river through Salzburg
Salzburg is a city its residents are clearly proud of. The Baroque façades, pastel colours, and beautifully maintained buildings create a harmonious streetscape, while the ornate shop signs add personality and tradition at every turn.
Visitors stroll along Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s famous shopping street lined with wrought-iron signs and historic façades. This lively Old Town street is best known as the location of Mozart’s birthplace.
Strolling along getreidegasse
Pastel-coloured buildings surround Hotel Altstadt Café in Salzburg’s historic centre, with visitors strolling through the charming pedestrian streets. This area captures the relaxed atmosphere and traditional architecture of Salzburg’s Old Town.
Hotel Altstadt

Mozart’s Salzburg

Tracing the Life of a Musical Genius
Salzburg’s most famous son is, without doubt, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his presence is woven throughout the city.
Mozart’s Birthplace stands out with its bright yellow façade on Getreidegasse in Salzburg. This historic house marks where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 and is now a popular museum.
Mozarts birthplace
His birthplace on Getreidegasse is one of Salzburg’s most visited attractions, along with his later residence. While these places are undeniably popular, they provide valuable insight into Mozart’s life and the environment that shaped one of history’s greatest composers.
Mozart’s Residence in Salzburg showcases the composer’s later family home, set along a quieter street near the Old Town. Today it offers insight into Mozart’s life, music, and family history.
Mozarts house

Where to stay in Salzburg

Mercure Salzburg City

Our accommodation was at the Mercure Salzburg City. The main deciding factor was secure parking, which is invaluable on a road trip.

The hotel offers two car parks — one underground and one at street level behind a barrier — both priced at €13 per night. We chose the outdoor option, as the underground car park looked a little tight for a larger car.

While we would have preferred to be slightly closer to the Old Town, the 10–15 minute walk was manageable, and the area was quiet and peaceful at night.

Salzburg’s Squares and Daily Life

Mozartplatz, Residenzplatz and Domplatz
Despite the grey skies, we continued exploring. Salzburg’s Plätze (squares) are ideal places to pause and observe daily life. Mozartplatz, dedicated to Mozart, is a calm and elegant space surrounded by historic buildings.
The statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart stands proudly in Mozartplatz, one of Salzburg’s most iconic squares. Surrounded by historic buildings, it celebrates the composer’s lasting legacy in his birthplace.
The statue to Mozart in Mozartplatz
Just a short walk away lies Residenzplatz, a larger square beside the cathedral, centred around a magnificent Baroque fountain built in 1661.
Salzburg Cathedral dominates Residenzplatz with its grand Baroque façade and twin green domes. This historic landmark is one of the most important sights in Salzburg’s UNESCO-listed Old Town.
The cathedral from Residenzplatz
Passing through the archway into Domplatz, you’re greeted by the imposing façade of Salzburg Cathedral.
Salzburg Cathedral viewed from Domplatz, showcasing its grand Baroque façade and twin towers under a dramatic sky. Located in the heart of the Old Town, the cathedral is one of Salzburg’s most important historic and religious landmarks.
The cathedral from Domplatz
A cathedral has stood on this site since 774, but the current structure was rebuilt in the 17th century in grand Baroque style after repeated damage and reconstruction.

Salzburg as a Road Trip Stop

Thanks to its compact size and good parking options, Salzburg works well as a short stopover on a European road trip. Many key sights are walkable, making it easy to explore even with limited time.

Kapitelplatz and Castle Views

Fortress Backdrops and Hidden Fountains
Through another archway to the south, we entered Kapitelplatz, where the view opens dramatically toward Hohensalzburg Fortress and its funicular railway.
The modern art peice 'Sphaera', a figure of a man standing on a large golden orb in Kapitelplatz overlooked by Salzburg Castle in the early evening.
The castle from Kapitelplatz
Tucked slightly away is the Kapitelschwemme Horse Fountain, an impressive 18th-century structure inspired by Roman fountains and once used for washing horses.
Baroque Kapitelplatz Horse Fountain (Kapitelschwemme) in Salzburg, Austria, illuminated at dusk with sculpted figures and flowing water. This historic fountain sits at the base of the old town and reflects Salzburg’s rich architectural and artistic heritage.
Kapitelschwemme

Hohensalzburg Fortress Facts

Perched high above the Old Town, Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. Dating back to 1077, it has never been captured by enemy forces.

A Detour into History: St Peter’s Cemetery

Catacombs Beneath the Fortress
No visit would feel complete for me without exploring a local cemetery, and Salzburg’s St Peter’s Cemetery is one of the most atmospheric we’ve encountered.
Headstones in the St Sebastian's Cemetery in Salzburg, Austria
Among the graves
Set at the foot of Festungsberg, the cemetery sits in the heart of the Old Town, with catacombs and crypts carved directly into the mountainside.
Family crypts below the rockface in the St Sebastian's Cemetery in Salzburg, Austria
Carved into the hillside
The distinctive wrought-iron headstones are unlike anything we’d seen before, blending artistry with remembrance. With burials still taking place today, the site feels very much alive with history.
St Peter’s Abbey rises above the historic cemetery in Salzburg, with ornate gravestones and flower-filled plots set against Baroque church towers. This peaceful corner of Salzburg’s Old Town highlights centuries of religious history and architectural beauty.
St Peter's Abbey

So Much More to Discover in Salzburg

A City That Deserves More Time
Sadly, our time in Salzburg was far too short. It’s a city that rewards slow exploration, and we left knowing there was so much more to see and experience.
The spire of the Franciscan Church rises above the narrow streets of Salzburg’s Old Town, framed by historic stone buildings. This medieval church is one of Salzburg’s oldest landmarks and a key stop on any walking tour of the city.
The spire of the Franciscan church
A historic Salzburg building decorated with a large painted mural depicting traditional figures and craftsmanship. These ornate façades are a distinctive feature of Salzburg and add character to its UNESCO-listed Old Town.
Stunning buildings

Local Fayre in Salzburg

Traditional Food and Beer
Although undeniably touristy, Gary and I couldn’t resist the Zipfer Bierhaus. Gary opted for bratwurst with sauerkraut, while I chose schnitzel, both washed down with a well-earned local beer.
A traditional Austrian sausage dish served with potatoes, sauerkraut, and mustard in a Salzburg brauhaus. This hearty local meal is a classic example of Salzburg cuisine and an essential food experience when visiting Austria.
A sausage fest in a Brauhaus

Taste of Salzburg

Traditional Salzburg cuisine includes Wiener schnitzel, bratwurst, knödel (dumplings), and sweet treats like Salzburger Nockerl. Local beer halls and historic inns are some of the best places to sample regional dishes.

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