An elegant city immersed in natural beauty. March 19, 2024.

The Sound of Music…

Salzburg means something like “Salt-mountain” in German. This city, in medieval times was famous for providing salt to central Europe. This salt trade attracted a lot of wealth, and that in turn made Salzburg a center for the arts and culture. The first opera outside of Italy was performed here, and it is the birthplace of the most famous musician of all time: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It’s also the famous setting of the classic film The Sound of Music. Indeed, taking in some classical music during your stay in Salzburg is a must. Classical music concerts can be found almost daily throughout the city, The Salzburger Dom (“Dom” is German for ‘domed church’) is a safe bet for a concert, and is conveniently located in the city center.

What to see & drink

Salzburg isn’t huge. Its historic city center is an easy day trip from Munich- only about 2 hours away via train. You can get fantastic views of this whimsical city from every angle, grab some great coffee, and even do a little hiking. Cafe Tomeselli considers itself the first coffee house in Europe (and a favorite haunt of Mozart and his wife). You can also grab an afternoon aperitif here if coffee isn’t your thing. Austria learnt the art of coffee making from the Ottoman Turks – legend says that coffee beans were found in the ruins after the Siege of Vienna in 1683. Personally, I think the best cup of java can be found at 220 Degrees. A chic, modern coffee house and a great place to get an upgraded coffee experience. A short walk down elegant Getreidegasse street and you can get to Sporer – a classic little schnapps shop. Getreidegasse will also take you past Mozart’s Birthhouse, but to see the Mozart Museum(set in the house where he lived as an adult, map) you will actually need to cross over the Salzach river. Any bridge will do.

What to eat

So after all the coffee and booze and walking… you’ll be looking for some classic Austrian cuisine to fill you up. I can recommend Zwettler’s Wirtshaus – an upscale gastro-pup with something for everyone and a cozy, homey feel. Bärenwirt is also well known about travelers for it’s traditional Austrian fair — schnitzel and sausages. When eating out in Austria, you gotta try its most famous dessert – Kaiserschmarrn. When made right, this heavenly dessert made will make you salivate. It’s made of shredded souffle style pancakes usually served with cranberry sauce or apple sauce.

Quick tips!

– Salzburg is an easy city, not too big, but lots to see and experience. In Winter or Summer – it’s a great destination. Christmas culture is big in all German speaking cities but Salzburg really sparkles.

– Salzburg is also a great place to grab souvenirs if you are on a larger Austrian/German journey and you forgot to get some in Vienna or Munich.

– Salzburg is also a jumping off point for people who plan to visit the charming little lake town of Hallstatt.

– Uber and Google Maps work here in Austria, unlike in neighboring Germany. More on that in the soon-to-be-written German Guide here on ThoseDamnTourists.

-Visitors should be skeptical of the numerous ‘cannabis’ shops sprinkled throughout Salzburg – some products may be synthetic or simply CBD.