Travel to Salzburg

Travel to Salzburg

Once home to the famous Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg is a haven for Baroque music and architecture, and it is here you will find the exquisite scenery of the all-time favourite musical, The Sound of Music. The city is a historical hub boasting a rich history and beautiful idyllic countryside that encompasses the valleys along the Salzac River.

Transportation to Salzburg

Salzburgs WA Mozart Airport, located three kilometres from the city centre, has scheduled flights to major European cities such as Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Amsterdam and Zrich as well as to Dublin and Brussels. It also provides an even greater number of charter flights. In addition, the city is well-covered by comprehensive rail connections, with frequent east-west trains servicing Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck and Zrich, including twice-daily high-speed InterCityExpress trains, regularly known as ICE services. Salzburg also acts as an important hub for southbound trains through the Alps into Italy. Bus number 77 operates to and from the airport and Salzburgs main rail station.

The city is also easily reached by car from all directions. You can take autobahn A8 from the west; the A1 if you are coming from the east; and the A10 from the south. Route 20 connects the north and the west of Salzburg, while route 159 services towns and cities in the southeast.

What to see

Offering lush green hills, romantic parks and enchanting gardens, Salzburg also hosts many architectural wonders. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Baroque town boasts charming open plazas, remarkable buildings, pretty fountains and bustling markets. Known as Mozart town, Mozart look-alike buskers can be seen on almost every corner. A visit to the Mozart-Wohnhaus, a museum housed in Mozarts birth home, where his famous masterpieces from between 1773 and 1787 were composed, is also a must-see.

Other places not to be missed include the Italian Baroque-styled glory, the Dom; the citys cathedral; St Peters monastery and cemetery; the 11th century Festung Hohensalzburg, one of the largest castles in Europe; and the Mozartplatz Square, the heart of the Old Town in Salzburg, which hosts many important memorials, with the centre of interest being the Mozart Memorial.

Day trips

Salzburg is a base from which to make daytrips, as there are many things to see in the surrounding areas. Hellbrunn Palace, with its pretty parks and trick fountains, nestled at the base of stunning Hellbrunn Mountain, is only a short drive away; while the Bad Drrnberg Salt Mine in Hallein, an old mine with mining activity dating back for 4,500 years, is an interesting place to visit. Another fascinating sight is the Eisriesenwelt Hhle in Werfen, boasting the largest ice caves in the world.

Activities and leisure

Situated in the famous Mirabellgarten, Schloss Mirabell is among the popular places to visit in Salzburg. The palace was refurbished for the filming of The Sound of Music, in which the scene where Maria and the children sing Do-Re-Mi. Only the gardens with many colourful flowerbeds are open to visitors and they offer great relaxing areas, perfect for a stroll. A true Sound of Music fan will enjoy The Sound of Music Tour, which operates a bus tour filled with the musicals melodies that goes to all locations in the film.

For party-goers, nightlife here is also lively, with a variety of pubs, bars, cafs and restaurants.

Safety issues

Pick-pocketing is one of the main problems in Salzburg, so take extra care of your bags. Also, be careful when you join outdoor activities and when you are on the road. Language barriers and unfamiliar routines can create complications. It is advisable to take out travel insurance.