Salzburg Things To Do – Attractions and Must See

Salzburg Things To Do

Salzburg is a delightful city in Austria. Perhaps best known as the birthplace of Mozart, today it continues to charm visitors in search of the sound of music.

Despite being one of the smaller cities in Europe, Salzburg still has a lot to see and explore. Take a guided tour around the city to see where Mozart lived and worked. The city at the heart of Central Europe offers marvelous gardens, ancient castles, wonderful shopping and even a towering fortress.

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The Fortress

One of the must-see things to do when here is a visit to the city’s fortress. The Hohensalzburg Fortress looms over the entire city and serves as its centerpiece. While it can be reached on foot, most people choose to take the working funicular up the steep hill. The Fortress was built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard. It remains the largest fully preserved fortress in all of Europe. Once you’re there, you can see much of the city including the city Cathedral, the festival halls and the Salzburg State Theater. Inside, you’ll find exhibits on the history of the castle and how medieval wars were conducted.

City of Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born here in 1756. The world famous composer’s house can be seen in the center of the city where it has been preserved as a museum. Inside the large yellow house, there are portraits of the entire family as well as instruments he played and the house’s original furniture. Today, visitors in search of his music can find it at the State Theater. City officials have also preserved the family’s second house. This house is much larger than the first. Here, you’ll additional exhibits that demonstrate life back then as well as a garden and a cafe. You can see both houses for a single price. If you want to get even more Mozart, Salzburg Museum offers more information about his music and his life. This is also a great way to understand the history of the region from the early settlement to the present day.

The Sound of Music Tour

Mozart is not the only famous musician associated with the city. Many viewers around the world also know this city as the place where the Sound of Music was filmed. A four hour tour brings visitors to the many varied locations shown in the movie. Travelers can see places where the Von Trapp family sang including St Gilgen and Mondsee where the movie’s wedding scenes were filmed. The tour also includes the Mirabell Palace and Gardens where many of the outdoor scenes took place. The palace and gardens were started in 1606 and have continued to be maintained today. The elaborate gardens offer magnificent river views and shady spaces to relax. This is the present home of the city’s mayor.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Salzburg Travel Guide
• 12 Days in Salzburg, Austria
• Where to Stay in Austria: Lodging Tips

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Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Salzburg.