Salzburg is a charming and historic city at the base of the Austrian Alps. Best known as the birthplace of Mozart and home to the Von Trapps (the Sound of Music family), but there is much more to discover. So, if you haven’t considered visiting, here are seven inspiring reasons to spend a day in Salzburg, Austria.
This post is all about the seven inspiring reasons to spend a day in Salzburg, Austria.
One
Beautiful Baroque Buildings in the Historic Center
For over 500 years, Salzburg was ruled by prince-archbishops who had a thing for Italian architects and outdoing their predecessors. The result is a historic centre brimming with beautiful Baroque buildings.
While the city was bombed during World War 2, most of the city’s old town remained intact and looks very much as it would have when Mozart walked these cobbled streets over two hundred years ago.
The Salzburg Cathedral, Mirabell Palace and Kollegienkirche are notable baroque buildings to visit.
Two
An Impenetrable Medieval fortress
Hohensalzburg fortress looms above Salzburg’s historic district. You can’t miss it. Crowning Festungsberg mountain, Hohensalzburg, is the best place to take in the city below and the Alps beyond. The fortress’ bastions offer panoramic views. While beautiful at any time of day, it’s a magical place to watch the sunset. Just make sure to enter the fortress before the museum closes.
You can visit by walking up the hill (~20 minutes) or via the fortress funicular at the station behind Salzburg Cathedral.
The building of Hohensalzburg started in 1077 as a fortified residence for the Archbishop and continued through different phases until the structure you see today was completed in the 16th century. Set atop a 500-meter-high mountain with imposing curtain walls, the fortress was only besieged once, not by foreign invaders, but by locals, who failed to overcome its strategic positioning and structure.
Three
Oldest Restaurant in the World
Stiftskeller St. Peter’s has been welcoming diners since at least 803, the year it was first documented in writings by a liege of Charlemagne. And you can still eat in the original structure located in the Benedictine Archabbey of St. Peter. Both Mozart and Christopher Columbus dined here.
The perfect ending to a meal at Stiftskeller is with a Salzburger Nockerl, a warm, sweet soufflé with spectacular meringue peaks.
Four
Silent Night
In 1815, priest Joseph Mohr wrote the words to Silent Night in Salzburg as a poem. Then, in 1818, on Christmas Eve, he needed a carol for midnight mass and visited his friend Franz Xaver Gruber, who set the poem to music in a few hours. “Stille Nacht” was performed that night for the first.
There has been a Christmas market in Salzburg since the 15th century. Today’s Christmas market in Cathedral Square has a joyful vibe, with mulled cider, yummy treats and little huts adorned with lights, selling, ornaments, jewellery, candles and more! Check out dates and times here.
Five
Getreidegasse
Even if you only spend one day in Salzburg, there is enough time to wander down Getreidegasse, a charming pedestrian shopping street famous for its ornamental, wrought iron guild signs.
The most famous stop on the street is number 9, the house where Mozart was born. Several high-end international fashion brands have shops here. But you’ll also discover local treasures, like Sporer Likör & Punschmanufakur. Sporer has been selling brandy, schnapps, bitters and liquors for over 100 years from their charming shop at 39 Getreidegasse. Their bottles with old-world labels are very giftable.
Six
Sound of Music
Fans of the Sound of Music can go all out with a four-hour Sound of Music tour, visiting filming locations in and around Salzburg. Or for free you can visit a few locales within the historic center.
Dance around the Pegasus Fountain or Dwarf Garden at Mirabell Palace while singing “Do Re Mi.” Visit the beautiful St. Peter’s Abbey Cemetary, where the Von Trapp family hide when fleeing the Nazis. Then, head over to the Horse Pond at Karajan Square and the magnificent baroque fountain in Residenzplatz Square.
Seven
Birthplace of Mozart
A visit to Salzburg would not be complete without at least a stroll past Hagenaguer Haus at number 9 Getreidegasse, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. This is also where Mozart learned to play the violin and piano, and the prodigy composed his first pieces of music. Today, it is one of Austria’s most visited museums.
You can also visit Salzburg Cathedral, where Mozart was the organist for two years. Have a coffee and a delectable pastry at the historic Cafe Tomaselli that Mozart and his wife frequented. And for all classical music lovers, a concert is a must. One of the most unique experiences is a Mozart Dinner Concert, where a costumed string quartet performs while you dine by candlelight on a “Mozart-era” menu.
With so much history, beautiful sights, music and delicious food, Salzburg is a wonderful city to visit for at least a day or maybe linger a little longer.
