Salzburg, Austria: A Symphony of Baroque Splendor

Mozart’s birth house and residence: Two buildings just across the river from each other, each containing assorted Mozart artifacts and history. Unless you are a serious Mozart aficionado, choose one or the other, as there’s no compelling need to do both.

Salzburg Cathedral: Salzburg’s cathedral in the Old Town is where its hometown hero, Mozart, was baptized and served as the church’s organist.

Hohensalzburg Fortress: The fortress on top of the hill, unmissable from anywhere in town. You can either hike or take a funicular up to the top and take either a self-guided or organized tour of the castle. Organized tours provide much more insightful historical information. Don’t miss the torture chamber!

Getreidegasse: THE pedestrian shopping street in the Old Town, famous for its storefronts and decorative signs.

Mirabell Palace and Gardens: Mirabell’s impressive gardens are most famously the site of the filming of the Do–Re-Mi sequence in The Sound of Music, but they are a marvel to wander through or sit and relax. The palace itself is a wonderful complex to explore. Mozart performed here, but the complex currently houses the offices for Salzburg’s mayor and administration.

Sound of Music tour: Numerous providers offer Sound of Music–themed tours to take visitors to visit locations where the movie was filmed. Yes, it will likely be a bus or van full of people singing all the movie’s songs, but it’s a cultural obligation.

Schloss Hellbrunn : Schloss Hellbrunn’s claim to fame is its (in)famous collection of trick fountains, a wonderful romp for kids of all ages to try and avoid getting sprayed by surprise water fountains.

St. Peter’s Abbey and Cemetery: St. Peter’s is the longest continuously operating abbey in the German-speaking lands, having been in operation since the year 696. Its cemetery is a quiet, reflective spot just below Fortress Hohensalzburg.

Salzburg Festival: If you find yourself in town in late July through August, don’t pass up the chance to take in some of the greatest musicians and orchestras performing at the Salzburg Festival. Recitals, chamber music, opera, and symphonic programs showcase some of the best classical music anywhere in the world.

Mozartkugel: You’ll see the mass-produced, gold-foil-wrapped Mozartkugel chocolate balls everywhere—in every gift shop and storefront—but here in Salzburg you can visit the original. Cafe-Konditorie Fürst runs five small artisanal chocolate shops around town, where they still handmake the original version of these Mozart chocolates (along with a huge assortment of other goodies). Look for the original Mozartkugel wrapped in silver foil and you’ll know you’ve found the real thing.

Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln: Augustiner beer garden and restaurant attached to the monastery. Traditional Austrian/Bavarian beer garden with traditional food and a marvelous outdoor seating area under the trees.

Cafe Tomaselli: Salzburg’s most well-known traditional Austrian coffee house—the best of the Viennese coffee scene in Salzburg.

Barenwirt: Casual establishment—one of the oldest in Salzburg. They serve first-rate traditional Austrian cuisine and are known for their Austrian fried chicken.

Ikarus: Located in Hangar-7, which is also home to a Red Bull exhibition space, this two-Michelin-starred restaurant has just three set menus to choose from, offering a creative array of upscale culinary options.

Esszimmer: Located just around the corner from Barenwirt and Augustiner, Esszimmer has a Michelin star and is a local landmark for upscale food.

Gasthof Goldgasse: Located in the Hotel Goldgasse, this restaurant is known for its traditional dishes based on recipes from the early 1700s!