The Hills Have a Hold on Me: A Sound of Music Kid in Salzburg

From Hallstatt, we continued our Europe by train Girls’ trip to Salzburg. Salzburg is an Austrian city near the border with Germany, framed by views of the Eastern Alps and divided by the gentle flow of the Salzach River.

On one side sits the medieval and baroque Altstadt (Old Town), a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with narrow lanes and ornate church domes. Across the river lies the Neustadt (New Town), slightly newer but still unmistakably historic in that very European way where “new” often still means centuries old.

Salzburg is famous for many things: its elegant Baroque architecture, its musical heritage as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the world-renowned Salzburg Festival of opera and classical performances. But for many visitors—including us—there is one more reason that draws people here year after year.

The Sound of Music.

For Sari and me, the movie was part of our childhood. We grew up singing along to the songs and dreaming of the Austrian landscapes that appeared on screen. Visiting Salzburg—and joining the Sound of Music Tour—had been sitting quietly on our bucket list for years.

So when our girls’ train trip through Europe brought us from Vienna to Hallstatt and finally to Salzburg, this stop felt a little bit like stepping into a familiar story.

Getting to Salzburg

By Train

Salzburg is well connected by train and easy to reach from major cities in Central Europe.

• From Vienna: about 2 hours 15–30 minutes
• From Hallstatt: about 2 hours 15 minutes

The main station is Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, located in the northern part of the city.

The station is well equipped with everything a traveler might need: taxi stands, lockers, ATMs, a tourist information office, and plenty of food options. One small tip: if possible, use the restroom on the train before arriving—the station toilets charge a fee.

From the station, the Old Town is about 15–20 minutes on foot. If you’re traveling with heavy luggage, the bus or a taxi will make the journey easier.

Getting Around Salzburg

Salzburg is a wonderfully walkable city.

The historic Salzburg Altstadt is largely pedestrian-only, which makes strolling through the narrow streets both peaceful and scenic. Only residents with permits and taxis are allowed to drive into the Old Town, and even deliveries are restricted after 11 a.m.

Public transport in Salzburg relies primarily on buses—there is no metro or tram system—but the network is efficient and easy to use. Buses run every 10 to 20 minutes and connect the city center with surrounding attractions.

Tickets can be purchased from machines at bus stops using a credit card.

Many excursion buses depart from Mirabellplatz, making it a key hub for day trips outside the city.

Where to Stay in Salzburg

Altstadt (Old Town)

For first-time visitors, Altstadt is the most atmospheric place to stay.

Most major attractions are within walking distance, including Mozart’s birthplace, the cathedral, and the fortress. The narrow streets open into charming historic squares, making it a wonderful area simply to wander without a plan.

Neustadt (New Town)

Located across the Salzach River, Neustadt offers a slightly calmer atmosphere while still being close to the main sights.

You’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes here, along with one of the city’s most famous landmarks from the Sound of Music film: Mirabell Palace and Gardens.

Staying here gives you easy access to Old Town while avoiding the busiest tourist streets. This area is where we chose to stay. Our Hotel, Mercure Salzburg City is less than 1km to Mirabelle Palace and we can easily walk to to the Old Town by crossing the Makartsteg bridge.

Nonnberg District

Perched on a hill overlooking the Old Town is the quieter Nonnberg district.

This area is home to:

• Hohensalzburg Fortress
• Nonnberg Abbey

The abbey is where the real-life Maria von Trapp lived before marrying Captain Georg von Trapp.

What to Do in Salzburg

Mirabell Palace and Gardens

Several iconic scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed in Mirabell Gardens.

This is where Maria, played by Julie Andrews, danced with the von Trapp children while singing the famous song “Do-Re-Mi.”

Today the palace houses the city administration and is also one of Salzburg’s most popular wedding venues.

Walking through the gardens, it’s hard not to hum the song—even if you promise yourself you won’t.

Makartsteg Bridge

From Mirabell Gardens I walked toward Old Town and crossed Makartsteg, a footbridge over the Salzach River.

The bridge is named after the 19th-century painter Hans Makart, who was born in Salzburg and became famous for his work in Vienna.

Today Makartsteg is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists and is covered with hundreds of love locks—romantic, photogenic, and slightly chaotic in the way love tends to be.

Salzburg Old Town

Crossing Makartsteg leads directly into the shopping streets of the Old Town.

From here we continued walking past:

• Salzburg’s Rathaus (City Hall)
• University of Salzburg
• The path leading toward Hohensalzburg Fortress

The streets here feel like a maze of pastel buildings, hidden courtyards, and charming shop signs—one of those places where wandering without a strict plan is half the fun.

Hohensalzburg Fortress

Towering above the city skyline is Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Europe.

Built in the 11th century, the fortress symbolized the power and authority of the Prince-Archbishops who once ruled Salzburg.

Today visitors can reach the fortress by funicular or by walking up the hill. From the top, the panoramic views over Salzburg’s rooftops and the surrounding Alps are spectacular.

Opening hours typically run from early morning until evening, with extended hours in summer.

The Sound of Music Tour

If you grew up with the film like we did, the Sound of Music Tour is almost mandatory.

Each year, around 300,000 visitors come to Salzburg to see the filming locations connected to the story of the von Trapp family.

The film, released in 1965, tells the story of Maria, a young novice who becomes governess to the seven von Trapp children before eventually marrying their father.

Some of the famous filming locations include:

• Mirabell Gardens – the “Do-Re-Mi” dance scene
• Schloss Leopoldskron – the von Trapp family home in the film
• Hellbrunn Palace – garden scenes
• Nonnberg Abbey – Maria’s convent
• **St. Gilgen / Wolfgangsee – opening landscape scenes
• Mondsee Basilica – the famous wedding scene

We chose to join the Original Sound of Music Tour by Panorama Tours.

Our experience on the tour—and all the filming locations we visited—deserves its own story, which I’ll share in the next post.

Final Thoughts

Salzburg may be famous for Mozart, baroque architecture, and classical music, but for some visitors—especially those who grew up singing along to an old musical film—the city carries a slightly different kind of magic.

Walking through Mirabell Gardens, crossing the Salzach River, and looking up at the fortress above the Old Town, it’s easy to understand why Salzburg feels almost theatrical.

The mountains frame the city like a stage set.

And somewhere in the background, if you listen carefully enough, you might still hear the hills singing.