Mozart’s birthplace and the setting for The Sound of Music, Salzburg packs an old town’s worth of Baroque architecture, a fortress-topped skyline, and Alpine scenery into a city small enough to see on foot in a day or two.
Why visit Salzburg
The Altstadt (old town) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its narrow lanes lined with grand facades, churches, and the house where Mozart was born in 1756. Above it all sits Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of the largest surviving medieval castles in Europe, reachable by funicular. The surrounding lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut region – familiar to anyone who’s seen The Sound of Music – start right at the edge of town.
Getting to Salzburg by train
Salzburg Hauptbahnhof sits on the main line between Munich and Vienna, with direct high-speed connections to both in around two hours. It’s also a convenient stop for travellers heading further into Austria or south toward Italy.
Top things to do in Salzburg
- Take the funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for panoramic views over the city
- Visit Mozart’s Birthplace on Getreidegasse, now a museum
- Explore Mirabell Palace and Gardens, a filming location from The Sound of Music
- Wander the Altstadt’s squares and Salzburg Cathedral
- Cross the Salzach river to the Kapuzinerberg for a quieter hillside walk with city views