Wander Wednesday: A Day in Salzburg
I’m going to start off this #wanderwednesday by letting you know that one day in Salzburg is not nearly enough! Alas that was all we had time for, so here is a quick guide to getting the most out of your day.
You can check out my google maps list with saved spots from our trip here.
Sound of Music
If you don’t care about the Sound of Music, this one-day itinerary is not going to be for you 🙃 As a little girl, my mom played the movie all the time, so seeing Salzburg was a bucket list item for the filming locations alone. We planned out our day to make sure we hit all of the major “must sees”.
Hellbrunn Palace Park
OPENING HOURS VARY: Visit their website for more info
Our first morning stop was Hellbrunn Park to see the original Sound of Music pavilion. You know the famous “Sixteen Going On Seventeen” routine. The pavilion was moved to the park in the ’90s to be publicly viewed. We made sure to go here first to avoid crowds.
Schloss Leopoldskron
AKA “The Sound of Music House” is now a luxury hotel. The grounds are only open to hotel guests, but you can walk around to the lake and view the hotel from there. Guided tours are also available. We didn’t have time on this trip, but it’s on my list for the next time.
Café Tomaselli
OPENING HOURS: Monday-Saturday: 0700 – 1900 Sunday: 0800 - 1900
Salzburg is also the birthplace of the famous composer Mozart. For this trip, one of my bucket list items was eating at the cafe he frequented. The cafe has been operating since 1703 and is one of the oldest still running coffee shops.
We stopped in for breakfast and missed the lunch rush. It was starting to get busy as we left around 1100. The menu items are a bit pricey, but the latte and snacks we tried were delicious. It was a beautiful spot to start our day in the middle of the city.
Mirabell Palace & Garden
OPENING HOURS: Mirabell Palace: 0800 – 1800 Gardens: 0600 - Dusk
Salzburg is also the birthplace of the famous composer Mozart. For this trip, one of my bucket list items was eating at the cafe he frequented. The cafe has been operating since 1703 and is one of the oldest still running coffee shops.
We stopped in for breakfast and missed the lunch rush. It was starting to get busy as we left around 1100. The menu items are a bit pricey, but the latte and snacks we tried were delicious. It was a beautiful spot to start our day in the middle of the city.
Fortress Hohensalzburg
OPENING HOURS: May – Sept.: 8.30 – 20.00 Oct. – Dec.: 9.30 – 17.00
Our final stop was the fortress that had been following us all day. We walked up to the Fortress after the palace and took the tour. It was very kid friendly and had beautiful views. We stopped and had a late afternoon snack here before heading out.
I was able to try the famous Mozart chocolate liqueur and then immediately went out and bought two bottles of it. The creamy chocolate drink is fantastic.
Extra Information
Parking: If you arrive early, plenty of parking garages are available. They fill up towards the afternoon. We parked here, which was excellent as you walked underground and right past the famous theater from the Sound of Music movie.
Food & Drink: As we were traveling with kids, we stuck to quick snacks and places we didn’t need reservations for. We survived on croissants, pretzels, and coffees all day. If we were to go again without kids, there were so many great spots to try!
Research: Make sure you do your research before heading out. There were so many “Sound of Music” tours that don’t have great reviews. Make sure you have a list of what you want to see so that you can fit it all in!
Thanks for traveling along with me! If you have other tips about sightseeing in Salzburg, leave a comment below! I’d love to share more tips on Instagram.
