Not Just Mozart & Lederhosen!
Salzburg lies close to the Bavarian border of Germany in the foothills of the Alps, it is divided in two by the Salzach river and lies between the Mönchsberg and the Kapuzinerberg hills.
The Altstadt (Old Town) is charming being dominated by Baroque towers and church spires, watched over by a magnificent fortress, the Festung Hohensalzburg which sits on the top of the Mönchsberg. The historic centre has been a Unesco World heritage site since 1996.
Salzburg is probably most famous for the composer Mozart and the setting for the Sound of Music but there is much more to interest its visitors than that.
All the main places of interest are accessible on foot indeed it is a pleasant way of exploring the town, discovering all the side streets, hidden cafes and shops.
Staying at the Radisson Blue Altstadt Hotel on Rudolphskai we recently re-visited Salzburg in March 2022, the weather was unexpectedly warm so the jumpers we had packed remained in the suitcase!
The hotel is in the heart of the Altstadt so central for all the sights and places of interest.
This is how we spent the week:
First thing was to purchase a 48-hour Salzburg Card which gains you access to lots of attractions, sights and public transport. If you intend to take the cable car up to Untersberg, which is a must whilst you are in Salzburg, the card will pay for itself just in that one activity. You can buy a 24hr , 48hr or 72hr card. Your hotel reception will usually have a stock of cards.
Day 1 – Saturday: Arrived early afternoon, took a walk to find our bearings and somewhere to eat later
Day 2 – Sunday Morning: We took the No 5 bus to Grödig and the Untersbergbahn to take the cablecar to the top of Untersberg. There are a variety of buses you can take from the Altstadt to Grödig some are more direct than others, the No 5 takes you through some of the small villages whilst the No 25 which we took back to town takes a direct route along the main road.
Follow this link to read about our Walk on Untersberg
Sunday afternoon – walked to Gstättengasse and took the Mönchsberg lift up to the Museum of Modern Art where you have a panoramic view of the town. The lift takes 30 seconds to travel the 60 meters to the top! Inside the lifts are animated art pieces built into the walls.
Day 3 – Monday: Took the funicular up to the fortress, Festung Hohensalzburg. Aside from the amazing views there is lots to see, there is also a café, restaurant and a shop. We walked down from the fortress rather than taking the funicular, it can be a bit difficult underfoot but perfectly safe if you’re careful. It is a very pleasant walk down taking you through the cemetery of St Peters Church with its beautiful wrought iron grave markers and the famous catacombs.
N.B – everything we did on Sunday & Monday was covered by the Salzburg Card!
Day 4 – Tuesday: Leisurely walk around Mirabelle Gardens and the newer part of the town
Day 5 – Wednesday: Took the No 10 bus (which is the same bus that takes you to the airport) to Hangar-7 which is sited on the edge of the airport and owned by the founder of Red Bull. It houses the historical Flying Bulls aircraft and a collection of F1 cars. There are also changing exhibitions, café & restaurant. Entry is free, you just wander in and enjoy! We were very lucky to see the Red Bull Alpha Jet taking off!
Day 6 & Day 7 – Long Walks along both sides of the river exploring the sights and local life.
We walked a total of 31 miles during our stay and took in some amazing sights, although this was our second visit to Salzburg we still found new places to explore.
Some of the cafes and restaurants we tried:
Cafe Glockenspiel in Mozartplatz– perfect place to people-watch, whilst being overlooked by a statue of Mozart! The Flatbread with spicy hummus, peppers, tomatoes, rocket & cottage cheese was delicious! This became a regular place for a refreshment break in the afternoon!
Spaghetti & Co on Getreidegasse – we liked it so much the first time we revisited later in the week, fabulous pizza, Prawn & chilli pasta & Salmon Fillet on a bed of Spinach with a cream sauce were all amazing! Getreidegasse is the most famous shopping street in the old town, it is also where you will find Mozarts Geburtshaus (birthplace).
Alter Fuchs on Linzergasse – local bar / restaurant serving Austrian food – authentic Wiener Schnitzel didn’t disappoint!
Sausage Stands – you’ll find these all over Salzburg selling a selection of Austrian sausages served like a hot dog or with bread. They are extremely popular with the locals, and you’ll always see a queue waiting to be served! They are clean, hygienic and use good produce so don’t miss the chance to indulge!