In college, I spent two weeks singing my way through Spain with our university choir. After our choir trip, I spent one week traveling through southern France and northern Italy toward my final destination (and a place that would quickly become one of my favorite places on Earth), Salzburg, Austria. I studied in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart (so cool!), for six weeks. If you are looking for an amazing place in Europe - a place that isn't filled with tourists, and can show you some amazing history, beautiful scenery, yummy food, incredible music, and some great culture of - I recommend Salzburg, Austria. So underrated.
Here is a list of my absolute favorite parts of Salzburg.
10. Festung Hohensalzburg (Salzburg Fortress)
The fortress sits at the top of a hill overlooking the city. It is a wonderful, beautiful place to see the city, learn some history, and enjoy some breathtaking scenery. Although a bit on the touristy side, it is well worth the extra money for the tour.
9. Sound of Music tour
For those of you that do not know, The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg. Yes, you can pretend to be Juile Andrews and run around the fountain singing Do a deer. If you are looking for something a little less touristy, I recommend looking up the stops for the tour and heading to the places yourself. It is a very cool experience. What's even cooler is watching the movie again after you have been to Salzburg.
8. Mozart Gerburtshaus (Mozart's Birthplace)
Of course this had to make the list. I am a huge Mozart fan. But, even as a Mozart fan, I only recommend talking to the house and standing outside. There is something very inspiring about standing outside for a bit. When I was there, there was a violinist on the street playing some Mozart. Very cool. The inside museum is very cool, but it might be better to save your money for something else... maybe gelato.
7. Eisgrotte Gelato
Yum. Yum Yum Yum. It is slightly embarrassing how much gelato I ate during my time in Salzburg, and Eisgrotte was my favorite, no questions asked. This is a must. The shop is located at Getreidegasse 40.
6. Sporer
This is a liqueur manufacturer and store in on Getreidegasse. It is a very cool atmosphere and environment. You can taste test some of their wines and liqueur. Sporer is located in Salzburg's narrowest house and dates back to 1407. Sporer is known for their orange punch. The owner still uses his grandmother's recipe from 1927. It is worth a visit.
5. Augustiner Braustubl (Augustine Beer Garden)
This, along with the other beer gardens in Salzburg, has an amazing atmosphere. There are food vendors, big TVs to watch soccer, and tons and tons of people. Plus, the beer is brewed by the monks! This is a must if you are looking for culture.
4. Food carts
Okay. This is the best food that I got during our trip. If you pass a food cart in Salzburg... stop what you are doing and get yourself a mettwurst.
3. Sabah Kebab
It might sound weird to get non-Austrian or German food when you are in Salzburg, but Sabah Kebab quickly became my classmates and my favorite place to get food - especially late at night! This kebab is not what us Americans would imagine. There is no food on a stick. This kebab is more along the lines of a gyro. And it is delicious. And cheap.
2. Music in the churches
Even if you are not a religious person, the churches in Salzburg are a must. They are gorgeous, historic, and have many free concerts. Because Salzburg is such a musical city, there are many talented musicians and students who will perform for free. There are frequent music festivals and the acoustics in these churches are to die for. Check it out.
1. Hiking Untersberg
This famous mountain is featured in The Sound of Music. It is also the border between Berchtesgaden, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. The view from the top is priceless and something that I remember forever. I dream of going back. I frequently find myself daydreaming of the view. Even if you are not much of a hiker, you can ride to the top of the mountain and see plenty. For those of you who are a bit more adventurous, hiking Untersberg is my favorite thing I did on my entire two month trip.
If you have been to Salzburg, are planning a trip, or have questions, please let me know! I would love to hear about your experiences, answer your questions, or just chat about our shared experiences. Think I should add something to the list? Let me know!
Happy traveling,
Emily
Here is a list of my absolute favorite parts of Salzburg.
10. Festung Hohensalzburg (Salzburg Fortress)
The fortress sits at the top of a hill overlooking the city. It is a wonderful, beautiful place to see the city, learn some history, and enjoy some breathtaking scenery. Although a bit on the touristy side, it is well worth the extra money for the tour.
9. Sound of Music tour
For those of you that do not know, The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg. Yes, you can pretend to be Juile Andrews and run around the fountain singing Do a deer. If you are looking for something a little less touristy, I recommend looking up the stops for the tour and heading to the places yourself. It is a very cool experience. What's even cooler is watching the movie again after you have been to Salzburg.
8. Mozart Gerburtshaus (Mozart's Birthplace)
Of course this had to make the list. I am a huge Mozart fan. But, even as a Mozart fan, I only recommend talking to the house and standing outside. There is something very inspiring about standing outside for a bit. When I was there, there was a violinist on the street playing some Mozart. Very cool. The inside museum is very cool, but it might be better to save your money for something else... maybe gelato.
7. Eisgrotte Gelato
Yum. Yum Yum Yum. It is slightly embarrassing how much gelato I ate during my time in Salzburg, and Eisgrotte was my favorite, no questions asked. This is a must. The shop is located at Getreidegasse 40.
6. Sporer
This is a liqueur manufacturer and store in on Getreidegasse. It is a very cool atmosphere and environment. You can taste test some of their wines and liqueur. Sporer is located in Salzburg's narrowest house and dates back to 1407. Sporer is known for their orange punch. The owner still uses his grandmother's recipe from 1927. It is worth a visit.
5. Augustiner Braustubl (Augustine Beer Garden)
This, along with the other beer gardens in Salzburg, has an amazing atmosphere. There are food vendors, big TVs to watch soccer, and tons and tons of people. Plus, the beer is brewed by the monks! This is a must if you are looking for culture.
4. Food carts
Okay. This is the best food that I got during our trip. If you pass a food cart in Salzburg... stop what you are doing and get yourself a mettwurst.
3. Sabah Kebab
It might sound weird to get non-Austrian or German food when you are in Salzburg, but Sabah Kebab quickly became my classmates and my favorite place to get food - especially late at night! This kebab is not what us Americans would imagine. There is no food on a stick. This kebab is more along the lines of a gyro. And it is delicious. And cheap.
2. Music in the churches
Even if you are not a religious person, the churches in Salzburg are a must. They are gorgeous, historic, and have many free concerts. Because Salzburg is such a musical city, there are many talented musicians and students who will perform for free. There are frequent music festivals and the acoustics in these churches are to die for. Check it out.
1. Hiking Untersberg
This famous mountain is featured in The Sound of Music. It is also the border between Berchtesgaden, Germany and Salzburg, Austria. The view from the top is priceless and something that I remember forever. I dream of going back. I frequently find myself daydreaming of the view. Even if you are not much of a hiker, you can ride to the top of the mountain and see plenty. For those of you who are a bit more adventurous, hiking Untersberg is my favorite thing I did on my entire two month trip.
If you have been to Salzburg, are planning a trip, or have questions, please let me know! I would love to hear about your experiences, answer your questions, or just chat about our shared experiences. Think I should add something to the list? Let me know!
Happy traveling,
Emily