Austrian Alps Travelers Recommend

It’s no surprise that Salzburg has been such a draw for tourists over the last several hundred years. Sitting on the Salzach River and a stone’s throw away from the Bavarian Alps, the local geography is breathtaking. But it’s not just the landscape that drives people there – the city is rich in exciting history. Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and where he performed his earliest concerts as a child prodigy, it boasts a wide array of beautiful Cathedrals which dominate the skyline of the old city and – of course – it was the setting for Julie Andrews’ Oscar-winning musical phenomenon, The Sound of Music. For many people, the greater musical draw to Salzburg is The Sound of Music. Tours take place frequently and often burst into song, so make sure you’ve warmed up your vocal chords! You’ll be taken to the Von Trapp house and shown the boating lake, the Cathedral where Julie Andrews tied the knot with Mr. Von Trapp and many other noticeable locations.

Hop on the famous Sound of Music bus tour to see the original settings for the film, and learn unknown facts about the filming of the classic musical. Be sure to bring your vocal chords with you, because you’ll be treated to sing-a-long renditions of the classic songs all day. The tour starts at the Schloss Leopoldskron, which was used for the exterior of the Von Trapp house, and is the location of the boating lake where the young actress playing Gretl nearly drowned when the Von Trapp’s boat capsized on screen. The glass rotunda used for “I am Sixteen, Going on Seventeen” was originally located in the garden of this great house, but so many people broke in to re-enact the scene that it has now been moved and put on public display. The tour then heads out to the Lake District and the small town of Mondsee. This is home to the cathedral where Maria and Colonel von Trapp tied the knot. It is also a great place to buy an apple strudel, and sample the Austrian countryside.