The unknown principality turned 4th-largest city of Austria is the historic birthplace of Mozart and location of Sound of Music. It surpasses all expectations, surrounded by mystic mountains, prolific greens, rolling hills, dashing architecture and sunny-yellow palaces. Mozart-figurines, like red-coated ducks, and scantily dressed pasture-girls, make for a touristy feel. But the breathtaking views allay any reservations about coming to this hidden gem.
View from Modern Art Museum
View of Mountain from Bus 25
Begin the views from the Modern Art museum, then another from the castle. A final view of the land can be seen from the Untersberg mountain, which can be reached via the terminal stop of Bus 25. At the fortress, an amateur string quartet blasts Eine Kleine Nachtmusik for the touristy crowd and goes way off-script from the website which advertises an orchestra. Another way to peruse the countryside is to take the 10-line to the airport, but get off two stop earlier at Hangar 7, the testosterone-filled exhibition of Red-bull planes, helicopters and racecars.
Hangar 7
View from Untersberg mountain
Museums are largely boring and bare-boned (Salzburg Museum, Mozart’s Residence Mozart’s Birthplace, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac), but they are free with the Salzburg Card. It was 23€ for 24-hours, the best city-card deal on my exchange and includes everything mentioned in this blog. For some Sound of Music, the Mirabel gardens and the Hellbrunn Palace are both filming locations and have the manicured pastures of the film.
View from the Fortress
Mirabel
Salzburg food is as uninspiring as it was in Vienna. The advice here is to go for the cheapest, closest thing. Andreas Hofer Weinstube is a safe bet if you want traditional Austrian cuisine. More impressive is the beer, which often includes the hometown brewery Steigl but also a wide range of Belgian ones at Alchimiste Belge, a smoky student pub.