Salzburg is the birthplace of the great composer, Mozart, and is a beautiful city where everything is about “Mozart”. From chocolates to wines to restaurants to toys, everything in Salzburg is paying tribute to the Great musician. The city has unavoidable charm. It is an Austrian city bordering Germany overlooking the Alps. New and the old city of Salzburg are divided by the Salzach River. Although I stayed only for one day, it stayed with me.
Here is my list of things to do in Salzburg.
- Mönchsberg Lift: The elevator takes you up to the deck with best panoramic views of Salzburg City. There is a café at the top where you can enjoy some hot coffee and snacks overlooking the wonderful views.
- Hohensalzburg Castle: located atop a small hill, Hohensalzburg Castle is also known as High Salzburg Fortress. Construction of this castle started in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein and had undergone numerous changes, transformations, and expansions. With a length of 250 meters and width of 150 meters, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe. There is a Funicular Cable Car which is used by tourists to reach the top of this fortress. You can also climb up the castle on foot.
- Salzburg Old Town: A definite best way to explore the old town of Salzburg is on foot. Altstadt or Old town is one of the largest UNESCO World Heritage sights (in terms of area). Old townhouses are present at most historical sites including Mozart’s birthplace. With buildings constructed in Medieval and Baroque architecture, beautiful squares, and quaint side-streets, the old town is a great place to take a walk.
- Mirabell Palace and Gardens: Built in 1606, Mirabell Palace was built by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich Raitenau for himself and his mistress Salome Alt. it was originally called Altenau Castle which changed to its current name after Salome Alt and her family was expelled from the castle. The castle has beautiful geometrically-arranged gardens which make for a perfect evening.
- Salzburg Cathedral: It is a centrepiece of Salzburg which is a Baroque cathedral built in the seventeenth century. Saint Rupert founded this church in 774 on ruins of a Roman town. The Cathedral was built in 1181 and was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century.
- Getreidegasse: It is a narrow and popular shopping street with beautiful buildings and shop windows. The street houses global and local brands.
- Mozarts Birthplace: Mozart, the classical composer was born in Salzburg and his birthplace has now become one of the most visited monuments in the world. This house is located in the Old Town. The city also houses various museums and concert halls dedicated to the musician.
- Mozartplatz Square: It is the main square of the city of Salzburg with an ornate bronze statue of Mozart. The statue was unveiled in presence of Mozart’s son in 1800s.
