Join in the celebrations in Salzburg the backdrop for this iconic film, with our expert's favourite things to see and do.
With its baroque palaces, fountain-splashed gardens and alpine views, the city of Salzburg is enough to make you yodel out loud.
The Alpine city first caught the world’s gaze 60 years ago when it starred as the backdrop for Hollywood blockbuster The Sound of Music, in which governess Maria (Julie Andrews) taught the young von Trapp kids to sing and Austria’s beauty was loudly broadcast to the world.
Salzburg is pulling out all the stops in 2025, with events, exhibitions, productions and a free walking trail app ticking off film locations on a 90-minute loop of the city.
The clincher is the star-studded anniversary week in late October, with a gala dinner at the Felsenreitschule. But whenever you go you can embrace The Sound of Music magic by devising your own self-guided tour.
From morning through to night, we tell you where to go and what to do in Salzburg.
In the early hours, see the first light turning the Alps pink and make the short, steep walk up to the Benedictine Nonnberg Abbey, arriving by 6.45am to hear the soul-stirring sound of nuns chanting Gregorian chorales at daybreak. One of Europe’s oldest working abbeys, you’ll recognise it as spot where the nuns waltzed to mass, sung about problems like Maria, and Mother Abbess belted out Climb Ev’ry Mountain.
Nearby, 220GRAD is a terrific pitstop for coffee and brunch before you head to the tangled alleyways of the World Heritage baroque Altstadt, where Mozart was born in 1756.
At the historic centre’s heart is Residenzplatz Square. It’s where Maria sings I Have Confidence, splashing in the marble fountain festooned with four snorting horses.
You can take a tour of the Residenz, a chandelier-lit palace that’s home to Old Masters including Rembrandt and Rubens.
If you find yourself on the right bank, riverside Café Bazar also serves a fine cup of coffee and an excellent breakfast. Opened in 1882, the terrace is great for city skyline views.
Close by is the baroque Schloss Mirabell, its gardens a riot of roses, parterres, fountains and sculptures – look for the palace steps, Pegasus statue and the dwarves of the Zwerglgarten, where the von Trapps learned to sing Do-Re-Mi.
From nearby Mirabellplatz, it’s a quick bus ride to Hellbrunn, a lemon-fronted, 17th-century summer palace built in Italianate style with trick fountains and follies. The palace is gearing up to open The Sound of Music Museum next year, but for now, content yourself by wandering the manicured, pond-dotted park. It’s home to the pavilion where Rolf and Liesl sing and twirl to Sixteen Going on Seventeen.
Book a table at the Blaue Gans, one of Salzburg’s oldest taverns, going strong since 1350. The menu serves regional produce in dishes like tender lamb from the Hohe Tauern mountains with endive cream and pine nuts, and Austrian Tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish). Opposite is the Pferdeschwemme, an ornamental baroque pond, featured in My Favourite Things.
Another option, on the left bank, involves a walk or cycle ride to Schloss Leopoldskron, where lakefront WeiherWirt is ideal for alfresco dining (try its famous fish soup). You’ll get knockout views of the rococo palace, which appeared in the film when Maria and the von Trapps row across the lake and fall in the water; its Venetian Salon inspired the ballroom where the kids sing So Long, Farewell.
The palace is hosting the Sound of Music Salzburg – Insight and Outlook exhibition, spotlighting the history of the von Trapp family and the making of the movie, with film memorabilia and photos. It’s the prelude to the museum opening at Hellbrunn in 2026.
After lunch, head to the Felsenreitschule Theatre, dramatically carved into the sheer cliffs of Mönchsberg. You might recall it as the backdrop for the Salzburg Festival in the film, where the family wows with its renditions of Edelweiss and So Long, Farewell.
From here, it’s just a couple of minutes’ stroll to St Peter’s Abbey, founded in 700 AD. The von Trapps hid behind the tombstones in its atmospheric cemetery, with its ornate headstones, wrought-iron crosses and cave-like catacombs.
Wander along the turquoise Salzach River to Augustiner Bräustübl, a brewery founded by monks in 1621. Shaded by chestnut trees, the 1,400-seat beer garden – the city’s biggest – is a lively spot for foamy homebrews as the sun drops behind the Alps.
If it’s glamour you’re after, take the lift to Mönchsberg and book a table at Michelin-starred The Glass Garden. Here chef Simon Wagner impresses with ingredient-led dishes, such as wild-caught sole with beurre blanc, served under a glass dome with vistas over rooftops to the mountains beyond.
Or, for an enchanting view of the fortress glowing on the hillside and the jagged Alps, reserve an early table on the terrace at Imlauer Sky. Begin with a cocktail before moving on to bright flavours from regional trout with orange-fennel salad and expertly prepared steaks. Save space for Salzburger Nockerl, a light soufflé with raspberry sauce.
The icing on the cake is scoring tickets for the UNESCO World Heritage Salzburger Marionette Theater. From May to August, the red curtain lifts on a miniature stage here, with puppeteers performing The Sound of Music with a life-sized Mother Abbess and marionettes dancing to songs from the film. Opened in 1913, the theatre is as opulent as a real one, and the detail in the costumes and stage sets is staggering.
Join our Lakeside Austria – Magical Zell am See tour based in Zell am See with a day exploring Salzburg and Sound of Music sights.
Save 10% on all Worldwide and Europe holidays departing between November 1, 2025 and January 31, 2027. This offer applies to tours of any duration and hotel stays of 14 nights or longer.
*T&C's apply
Treat someone special to a Saga Magazine subscription – 12 inspiring issues for just £29.95. Every issue is packed with real-life stories, exclusive celebrity interviews, insightful articles and practical tips on health, finance, travel, and more.
Plus, enjoy two free gifts: a classic Parker Jotter Pen in a festive cracker and a puzzle book. A thoughtful gift that entertains all year round.
Whether your perfect beach holiday is just sun, sea and sand, or if you like a bit of sightseeing, shopping or snorkelling thrown in, one of these might be your ideal destination.
Jetting off to Italy’s ‘Eternal City’? We reveal the best places to visit in Rome, from ancient temples to al fresco dining with a view.
Autumn on Europe’s rivers is always spectacular. We’ve got the best cruises to try in 2025.
