Travelling solo: Salzburg

The hiiiills are aliiive! 🎶🎶

I'm sorry, I had to. 

Following my day in Berlin, I had another long journey south through Germany (including a change in Munich) into Austria. Salzburg to be precise. 

The only stop on my journey which is not a capital city, Salzburg is the second city of Austria, very close to the German border; and named so because of the salt mined in the nearby mountains, which was referred to as "white gold". 

Getting around:

The bus route is handy from getting between A and B, especially if you wanted to head into the lakes. However, if you're looking around the Old Town, you'd need to walk around as they don't allow many vehicles there. 

Attractions:

I could not have a lie in for my full day here; as I needed to get to the tourist bus stop for 9am. My highlight of my day here had to be The Sound of Music Bus Tour. Finding out this existed was the thing that made me say YES to a day in Salzburg! Besides the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, it was the only activity I pre-booked before I left. 

Lasting around 4 and a half hours, hop on the branded bus that takes you to the landmarks where the 1965 film version of The Sound of Music was filmed. All the outdoor scenes were filmed on location either in or around Salzburg: from the lake where the boating scene was filmed, to Nonburg Abbey (which has been there since 714AD), the gazebo that set Sixteen Going On Seventeen and Something Good, and the back of the Von Trapp's villa. 

But there was another additional surprise; and that was being taken into the Austrian Lakes! About half an hour from Salzburg is the small town of Mondsee. In this adorable postcard-worthy town, is the Basilica Mondsee, which is where the wedding scene between Maria and the Captain was filmed (as Nonburg Abbey where they really got married was too dark and not grand enough for Hollywood's taste). 

We got to stop in Mondsee for around 45 minutes, which is just enough time to grab some Sound of Music souvenirs (this is the best place to do it as you're not as likely to find them in the centre of Salzburg itself), as well as some baked goods and a cold drink before getting back on the bus. 

We got to have frequent breaks for photos, and, here comes the cheesy bit, a good old singsong. They end the tour in the gardens where Do Re Mi was filmed, leaving you to peruse the fountain, the green arch, and the stairs on which Julie Andrews hits that high note. 

After you've left the garden, if you want to carry on for one more bit of Sound of Music-related stuff, then visit the Marionette Museum. Not only will you find out more about this Salzburg tradition, but also meet some characters like those you see in The Lonely Goatherd scene of the film. 

I then definitely recommend going into the Old Town, which is charming and has so much character. Meander through past all the cute shops, and also Mozart's birthplace. (Side note: they're obsessed with Mozart in Salzburg; many landmarks of the city are named after him, you can get Mozart-branded souvenirs everywhere!) 

Your main priority should be heading straight towards the Festung Hohensalzburg, or the Salzburg Castle. 

You can walk up to the top, but it is extremely steep, so I would personally advise taking the cable car to the top. The basic ticket you can buy covers the trip there and back, access to the castle, as well as most of the exhibitions in the fortress. And of course, the panoramic view of the city and the hills surrounding Salzburg. 

If you do get time to do so, get into the Mountains and check out the Salt Mines. I didn't have time but it is something I have heard very good things about, and will definitely want to do if I return. 

Food:

If there is one thing you need to eat in Austria, it is Sacher torte, and the café at the top of the castle did a fabulous one. This rich chocolate is a chocolate lover's dream, and is often served with a very generous dollop of whipped cream! 

Sticking with cake, apfelstrudel is the other must-try, and I was lucky to grab some whilst in Mondsee. And, if you are lucky to have a travel companion, then try the Salzbueger Nockerl, a traditional Austrian soufflé made for two or more people. 

I did not survive on cake though (unfortunately); I needed some proper food at some point. That came from a restaurant round the corner from the Mozartplatz, where I got to have my first goulash of the trip - beef to be precise, along with delicious dumplings. If you don't fancy schnitzel (again), this is what I would 100% recommend. 

***

Along with Amsterdam, Salzburg is one I wish I had planned an extra day for, and is one of my favourites. It's one I truly recommend to anyone. My next stop, thankfully a much short journey than coming/going from Berlin, is to the other side of the bacon-rasher, to Vienna, the Austrian capital.