Help with walking tour of Salzburg and how to walk to and from Hohensalzburg Fortress

Take the funicular up, walk across the Monchsberg, and walk down from the fortress.

The place to take the funicular up is really out of the way from were we will be coming and going to? Only way I would rearrange plans to take funicular up is if it is just that steep that no one recommends it at all. To go up funicular we would have to circle back on ourselves from Leopoldskron to come back in town to go up it. So I just thought it would be better to walk up from there.

Salzburg is not really a large town in the old town area. It's possible that you are over-thinking this.

We walked to the Hohensalzburg fortress when we were 65 and 68. It was strenuous, but far from impossible. Halfway up, there are several restaurants which give you the chance of having lunch, catching your breathe, and eating with a great view of the town.

You can take the elevator up and walk along the ridge to the fortress. Or do the reverse - walk the path to the elevator after the fortress visit and take the elevator down. It’s well marked and fairly flat once you’re up there. Dirt paths, easy walking. I don’t remember how long it takes. Maybe 30 minutes?

From the fortress end of town you can walk up or down. Near the funicular there’s a path, it’s a bit to your left if looking at the funicular from the bottom. It’s obviously steep, but there are stairs and it’s paved/concrete. It’s fine if you are in decent shape.

I know of two ways to walk up to the fortress, one being the Monchberg, and the other from around by the Kloster Nonnberg. The later is not always open, and doesn't get the same number of people. You can always take the train, which I recommend if you have any issues climbing a hill, because the Monchberg is a steep hike. The Monchberg is (I think) steeper and wider, and the views are out over the city, the other side is narrower and longer, and the views are over the mostly residential part of town. Be advised it's a pretty good walk to go all the way around if you go down via the backside. Most tourists never walk those streets.

What amazes me is how few people actually walk the rest of the fortifications, on the other side of the river. To me those are much more interesting.

Kudos to you if you get everything on your list done in a day (I couldn't). Bonus points if you can walk up the Monchberg to the top in less than 30 minutes.

It sounds like if I take the monchberg lift up and start my walk at modern museum then the walk to the fortress will not be that steep and rather flat to get to the fortress vs walking to the fortress up the route from Nonnberg to fortress? Does this sound accurate?

If you do the Monchberg walk you can also walk down the road and visit the Augustiner Bräu. It opens 14:30-15:00 depending on the day. Big beer halls and Biergarten. It's self-serve and unique, with several Imbiss style places for food. You grab a Bierkrug from the rack, rinse it off and get in the line for the beer. It can get packed. You can then walk back into the old city. The Monchberg walk has some small hills, but nothing difficult (on top). Good views from the Modern Museum too. I would recommend the Festungsbahn up to the fortress, but not sure you can separate it from entrance into the fortress (euro 15). If you walk up to the fortress from the Monchberg walk there is a good incline (I walked down to it). If memory serves me, I don't think you will encounter steps until you are in the fortress. I've never made it to the Schloss Leopoldskron or taken the Monchberg lift.

"Does this sound accurate?"

Yes, that's exactly what we did (parking our rental car in the huge lot close to the lift.)

The entrance to the lift up to the trail and the art museum is a short walk from the easy-to-find Herbert von Karajan Square and the Pferdeschwemme (Horse Pond). (But you might walk right by the lift entrance coming from your lodging before getting to the Pond.)

Great views at the top, and the walk is mostly level and very pleasant. (We are mid-70s, average fitness; no problems with the hike.) As you approach the base of the fortress the trail puts you on the paved walkway to the ticket window; you'll pass under the funicular. That last stretch is somewhat steep, but it's not long. We were disappointed with the tour of the fortress, but when-in-Rome....

Bonus: there's no charge for the funicular trip back down into the old town if you decide not to walk.