I will be spending one day in Salzburg, arriving in the morning, leaving in the evening. Rick Steves' recommends the Sound of Music Tour, and it does sound fun. However, it costs €35, or €30 if you mention Rick Steves. This is a hefty price for me as a budget traveller. I only planned to spend at most €65 (sleep, food, transport, sights, souvenirs) a day, and doing this tour really blows my budget.
Should I? Has anyone who has taken this tour give an opinion? Is it worth the €30?
Hi. I went on this trip and loved it. But, I love the movie. The scenery is gorgeous, but if you have a car, you can probably see that without the tour. I would say it would depend on how much you are interested in the movie as to whether it is worth it. At the beginning of the movie, when they show random scenes of Austria-- if you would like to see some of those places in person-- then the tour takes you there.
My answer is the same as Heather's. I was skeptical but went on the tour because my wife is a big SOM fan, and I enjoyed it! But if money is tight, it is a splurge you can pass on--unless you are a big SOM fan.
I enjoyed the tour thoroughly (10 yrs ago, but I imagine it's still the same)...but as others have said, it depends on how much you liked the movie/music. My friend, who had grown daughters, said, "What other movie can four generations of women enjoy this much?" The tour itself is touristy but fun... but we followed up on a tip from our guide & trekked up past the fortress in Salzburg to the atmospheric old church where Maria was REALLY married & experienced 5:00 vespers sung by the REAL nuns.
Jean: Yes, did that too, I liked going to the church where she really got married.
I went on that tour November 2006. I loved it a lot! I had a wonderful tour guide.
When they took us up in the mountains, being there early November, there was thick snow up in there. It was so beautiful, the pictures I took I made into Christmas cards. It was breathtaking! I would even go on that tour again if I'm ever back in Salzburg. It would be more fun to see it again during a different season, like when the flowers are in bloom in the spring or summer.
I would say, go for it!! Good price for such a beautiful tour.
Daryl, my wife and I did this tour last Aurust and thoroughly enjoyed it; however, we could afford it. And Rick was right, midway in the tour, some american ladies began singing "do rae me." Dorsey
We took our teenagers on this tour and we all loved it! If you are a big fan of the movie, you should definitely consider it. You go to the church from the movie where Maria was married, the gazebo Lisl danced in, Leopoldskron (the baron's home in the movie), the street that the children rode their bikes on, and the Mirabell Gardens where they sing "Doe a deer". Plus the drive through the Austrian alps was breathtaking-we have our video of me coming over the ridge (a la Julie Andrews) and singing "The hills are alive". Then you still have plenty of time to walk the winding streets of Salzburg, like the Getreidegasse, and tour Hohensalzburg Fortress.
I love visiting Salzburg but have never taken the tour. If you love the movie, you will like the tour. I tend to avoid patently tourist things in favor of local pursuits. I just wanted to say whether you decide the tour is for you or not, Salzburg is a great city and shouldn't be missed.
The SOM tour is the delight of all the P.T. Barnum (there is one born every second) promoters. There is very little authenic SOM about the tours. You can see plenty of SOM sights (like Mirabell Gerdens) just by walking from the train station to the old town. Get the DVD of SOM, the one with Robt. Wise's commentary, and you will understand just how phony the tours are. Lisl never danced in the gezebo shown on the tour. The dance was done on a "gezebo" set in a sound stage in Hollywood. Leopoldskron was not used in the filming of the movie. The waterfront patio was a set recreated next door and the house in the reverse shots was not on a lake. You can see all that you need to see with a well planned, independent tour on your own.
We really enjoyed the tour of the lakes surrounding Salzburg. This helped us escape the 24-hour TV replays of "The Sound of Music". While you can, we're sure, find stuff enjoyable in that tour, there is much to do otherwise that would both save you money and enrich your trip
Daryl...
my now husband, did this as a single guy traveling by himself and LOVED IT!
I went to Salzburg 14 years ago with my friend. We did it and loved it. Our parents also took the tour on separate trips and also loved it. It's cheesy but fun! We also found some of the sites around Salzburg which are shown in the Do Re Mi song and took photos of ourselves. Even now it makes us laugh! Try and save money on other stuff and DO it!
Not taking the sound of music tour in Salzburg is like taking a vacation in Florida and not going to the beach ! What's the point !
