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Salzburg tips

Looking for suggestions on how to spend our time in Salzburg (I realize it’s not in Germany, but posted in this forum since it’s part of Rick’s Germany book). I haven’t done too deep of research yet, but since the advice me offered here is so good, I figured I’d ask first before going too deep.

Our family of 6 (4 kids: 11, 13, 14, 17) will be spending 3 nights in Salzburg. This will be our most “relaxed” time and mid-point of our 15 days of traveling (traveling with other family a couple places in Italy before flying into Munich and doing our 8-9 days in Germany). We will be traveling from Munich and Dachau. Since it’s a short drive (1hr 45 min), right now we’ll probably plan on arriving in time to eat dinner there our first night (although, I may end up shifting some things to allow us a little bit more time in Munich, eat dinner there, then arrive to Salzburg later in the evening).
I plan on us having 2 full days to tour the Salzburg area. We will leave early the third morning to head towards Füssen.

  • I would like to do a Sound of Music Tour. I don’t quite have a good concept of the differences between the different SOM tours, what is and isn’t covered, and the type of terrain. I am looking for a good tour suggestion. Our family has enjoyed doing bike riding, so if there is a good bike riding tour for this (& isn’t too strenuous), I’d appreciate that suggestion.
  • I would like to visit the Hohenwerfen Castle and experience their Falconry show (flight shows 11.15 a.m. and 3.15 p.m.). I’m wondering if this needs to be on a separate day from the SOM tour?
  • I’d like for us to be able to do something more “naturey” while in Salzburg, but not too strenuous (probably approximately 2.5 mile limit if a hike is suggested). I’ve heard the Ice Cave mentioned (although maybe too strenuous for our group?), I’ve read somewhere about Gollinger Wasserfall and the Salt Mine. Rick mentions biking along the river (maybe we do that instead of SOM being in bikes, if there’s a better tour that doesn’t involve bikes), Hellbrunn Palace, and evening concerts. At the moment, I wasn’t planning on doing Rick’s Salzburg Town Walk, but I would be interested in knowing if there is something on that walk that is a must-see.
    • We need to budget time to do our laundry while here as well! Any suggestions on how to do this efficiently? Services worth paying for so that we aren’t sitting by a laundry mat?

I welcome your suggestions on how to potentially budget and spend our two full days in Salzburg (and maybe 1 additional short evening). Thank you in advance!

Posted by
1929 posts

Take the kids to Hanger 7.

Do walk the city as the sun goes down, or better, sit up on the wall of the fortress and watch the city light up. You can take the train down. For nature, go around the fortress and visit Hans-Donnenberg-Park. Lots of paths to walk and usually a couple soccer games too.

Check with your hotel staff about laundry.

Posted by
19 posts

@KGC, I looked up Hanger 7. It looks really neat, but according to their website, they are unfortunately closed from Jan 2025 to June 2025 for "an extensive refresh."
Thanks for the evening tips about the fortress and Hans-Donnenberg-Park. We'll definitely be sure to go to both! I just read in Rick's book that there's a cafe and restaurant either side of the upper funicular station. Any idea if the food is OK there?

@geovagriffith, I had mention the Salt Mine(s) as a possibility. Is it worth it? Do you suggest that?

Posted by
3114 posts

We used Bob's Special Tours for a SOM tour in December 2022 and had the best time! They use vans, so the guide and then max 8 people or so. Our guide was Jonathon and he was excellent. Before the tour that morning, we were having breakfast in a hotel and explained to our server that we were in a bit of a rush as we had tour. A couple near us asked, and turned out they did the same tour the day before and had the same guide and raved about him, FWIW. Anyway, the tour is very good and only about half a day.

We also did a cooking class with Edelweiss Cooking School. We made apple strudel and cookies, and they served a goulash lunch while everything was cooking. It was a lot of fun!

That trip was myself and our daughter and son's fiancee. I only mention this as it shows that both were great for a variety of ages.

I haven o idea what you have planned for Munich, but Mike's Bike Tours there is very good. We did a day tour to Neuschwanstein and it included a bike ride. Another day we just rented bikes from them there in Munich and rode all over the English Garden and beyond. So that might be of interest to you there.

Posted by
2718 posts

I do the salt mines each time I go to Salzburg. lots of fun. It was better in 1970 when you went into the mine higher and did more of the slides, But it still is lots of fun these days.

I’ve done the Panorama SOM tour 3 times. Many of the sites are in the old town so you don’t see them on a bus tour. I like to watch the movie again to refresh my memory. The website salzburg.info shows where many of the sites are.

The ice caves are great and I think your kids would be fine. I would have been o.k. at 11. It will take all day. I don’t know if I would do it on a short trip. My first time I was cycling and overnighted in Werfen; the other time I was in Salzburg for a week. If you decide to go, don’t forget to pack gloves and a warm hat

Posted by
9291 posts

We had an unplanned lunch at the cafe at the top of the funicular. Yes it was fine. The view made it worthwhile.

Posted by
4208 posts

I’ve heard the Ice Cave mentioned (although maybe too strenuous for
our group?)

I wouldn't expect this to be too strenuous for your group unless someone is significantly outside the range of typical stamina/ability for people their age.

Posted by
6 posts

For the short time you'll be there in Salzburg and all of the things you want to see and do while there you might want to consider hiring a local certified Austrian Tour Guide. There is so much to see. Salzburg is a walking city..bring comfortable shoes..!! Elisabeth von Trapp

Posted by
2751 posts

On the way to/from Hohenwerfen, I highly recommend stopping in Hallein to ride the sommerrodelbahn Keltenblitz. You’ll all love it, and the views are great. It’s very close to the salt mine in Hallein. Your group might enjoy that as well. But I don’t think I would try to do all three on the same day.