Regina Winkler, host at the Romantik Hotel Die Gersberg Alm, and Michaela Hirnböck-Gmachl, host at the Romantik Spa Hotel Elixhauser Wirt, provided us with many personal tips for a stroll through Salzburg that are suitable for every season
Day 1
The Salzburg Cathedral in Baroque styleMORNING. It‘s best to start a tour of Salzburg where tradition meets urban lifestyle – in one of the legendary coffee houses. Tomaselli, Fürst or Bazar? Not only these institutions are worth a visit. Make your plans for the day over an “Americano“. Fortified, we stroll from the Nonntal towards the cathedral, through one of the oldest districts. You’ll find art and original items here, and the venerable Funder bakery in Linzergasse is a great place to stop for a snack.
In front of his birthplace: Mozart is presentMIDDAY. Of course Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is omnipresent in his native city. Visitors find traces of him on every street corner. Mozart‘s birthplace in Getreidegasse and his home on Makartplatz are also a must on our Salzburg visit. A place of rest, where you can pause for a moment, is the old cemetery at the St. Sebastian Church on the right bank of the Salzach, where you will find the graves of the Mozart family (he himself died at only 35 in Vienna, where he is buried).
Store signs in the GetreidegasseEVENING. After a shopping spree through the Getreidegasse or the Outlet-Center Himmelreich (page 49) in the late afternoon the traditional Wilder Mann inn offers a rustic setting for Austrian home cooking. After that, a drink is just the right thing. We switch to the Salzach side and get one of the coveted tables on the stone terrace – with sensational views. The rooftop terrace is a popular spot in summer, but even in winter, mulled wine is served there at the “standl“ booth.
Day 2
View from the castle to the cityMORNING. On the way to Mönchsberg you will get charming insights into hidden corners of the old town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996). You can also easily take the elevator (inside the mountain!). Once at the top, don’t miss the view of the old town. Or even better: Enjoy Austrian delicacies in the m32 restaurant with the best panoramic view. Then it is only a few minutes by foot up to the Hohensalzburg fortress, the city’s landmark.
The DomQuartier shows Baroque artMIDDAY. We still want to take the ultimate Salzburg photo. The best place for it is the Mirabell garden with the Hohensalzburg fortress in the background. Now for some culture. On a guided tour of the festival halls (every day at 2.00 p.m.), we get to know these famous venues. Continue on to the DomQuartier, a spectacular museum complex. Worth seeing not only because of the exhibits, but above all because of the magnificent views of Baroque Salzburg.
Classical concert at Mirabell PalaceEVENING. The perfect visit to Salzburg must include a concert. The Castle Concerts in the Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace are de rigueur. Even the Mozart family made music there. Finally, culinary delights: We find very good cuisine in a tasteful ambience at the Gasthaus Goldgasse. Salzburg in winter – a recommendation? Yes, especially in the run-up to Christmas: Decorated streets, the scents of mulled wine and baked apples combine to produce a very special magic.
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