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Things to do in Salzburg

About Salzburg

The city may be best known as the home of the Von Trapp family in the classic film The Sound of Music. There are many Sound of Music tour buses to choose from, however many of them cost between $60 - $100, depending on the length of the tour and the time of year. If you’re a student traveler but also a Sound of Music super-fan, you can plan your own tour around the city.

• Residenzplatz Square located in the Old Town and is the backdrop for part of Maria's song, "I Have Confidence." Many different museums and the Salzburg Cathedral surround the square. During the summer, the square is a lovely place to take a moment to relax.
• One of the most popular visitor attractions is the city’s oldest Christian cemetery, Petersfriedhof. This cemetery was the inspiration for the scene where the Von Trapp family is hiding behind thick iron bars trying to escape Nazis. While the actual scene was filmed on a movie set, you can still take some impressive pictures for Instagram.
• The most popular filming location in the city is Mirabellgarten, the garden where Maria and the Von Trapp children run around singing "Do-Re-Mi." Reenact one of the most beloved scenes in American film and release your inner Van Trapp.
• If you have time, visit the tiny town of St. Gilgen, which is just thirty minutes outside of Salzburg. Here the opening scene of “The Hills are Alive” was filmed. Stroll around the town and pretend to be Maria because you know locals are totally used to it. The actual hill the film was shot on is on private property, but no one has to know that when you post on Instagram.

Places of Interest in Salzburg

Before the Von Trapps, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his ingenious music placed Salzburg on the map. See where the music prodigy was born and spent the early part of his life at Mozart’s Birthplace. The family home is now a museum and costs €9 for students. If you decide not to tour the home, be sure to stop by the building; it’s hard to miss since it has “Mozarts Gebursthaus” gilded on the side.

Throughout the year, there are many different Mozart concerts performed. If you have the chance and the luck, you may be able to find cheap last-minute tickets. It’s a wonderful chance to hear great musicians as they pay tribute to their native son.

If you wish to continue your Mozart-themed afternoon, head over to the cozy local restaurant Café Mozart. Here you can enjoy local cuisine, such as schnitzel or soups as well as pasta for a very reasonable price – between €9 and €15. There’s something for everyone at the restaurant. Be sure to save room for apple strudel!

Culture and History of Salzburg

The city of Salzburg is known for its life-like marionette puppets, which are featured in “The Lonely Goatherd” scene of The Sound of Music. The Marionette Puppet Theatre of Salzburg performs daily plays for audiences of all ages. The season program can be seen on their website. They’ve previously performed "The Sound of Music," "The Little Prince" and Salzburg native Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Tickets to these performances can be quite expensive, but if you're willing to sit in the far back of the theater, you can get tickets at €20. If you are traveling to Salzburg during the low season, you may be able to snag tickets at an even lower price by walking up to the theater a few hours before the performance.

Nightlife in Salzburg

If you need more motivation to travel to Salzburg, the city has many wonderful natural points and is surrounded by beautiful nature just begging to be explored. You can take a stroll down the Salzach River or discover the many other parks and squares hidden along tiny winding streets throughout the city. See how many you can find without getting lost! Speaking of winding streets, be sure to wander along Getriedegasse, a long shopping street near the old town. Here you can find shops of all sorts – high-end luxury brands, local stores, average souvenir shops and the not-so-average souvenir shops. No matter much you have to spend on trinkets, it’s worth the time to experience. Fortress Hohensalzburg is an easy twenty-minute hike. The old Baroque fortress is an interesting place wander around and soak in some Austrian history. During the summer, the fortress hosts festivals and outdoor plays while in the winter, there is a cozy Christmas market.

Discover Salzburg through Macy's eyes

Hej! I am an American grad student studying and living in Sweden. Being a grad student, I have perfected the act of budget traveling. I have a fierce passion for cute dogs, film festivals, coffee and traveling. Join me as I work towards my personal goal of visiting all 28 EU countries before I graduate in June 2019! Feel free to pop over to my personal blog, Little Mouse. Big World, to read more about my travels while balancing grad school life.