Salzburg is a city of unparalleled beauty. Boasting a fairy tale old town steeped in history, a dominating medieval fortress and the most amazing and picture perfect backdrop you could ever imagine, Salzburg is one of Europe’s most loveliest and popular cities. As the birth place of Mozart and the home of The Sound of Music, this enchanting city offers plenty of opportunities to admire its elegant buildings, graceful domes and photographic mountains from a range of known and unknown lookout points and vistas. Here is a run down of some of the best views in Salzburg and how and where you can find them.
Mirabell Palace & Gardens
One of the most popular sites in Neustadt (New Town) and notable for its Sound of Music “Do-Re-Me” scenes, this beautiful baroque masterpiece built in 1606 by the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg is the perfect place to get a good view of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. In fact if you stand at the top of the steps made famous in the Sound of Music, you can get a pretty impressive shot of the gardens with the fortress in the background and the fountain of Pegasus in the foreground.
How to find it: Mirabell Gardens can be found in the Neustadt district of Salzburg. It is located next to the Mirabellplatz which can be reached by bus numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14
Kapuzinerberg
One of Salzburg’s best sites of Altstadt & Neustadt can be found just off the Linzer Gasse. This hidden lookout point is incredibly easy to find but is often missed and overlooked by regular tourists and you’ll hardly find anyone up there. Head up here at sundown for a staggering sunset behind the fortress and a good picture of Old Town lit up.
How to find it: Just look for the gateway passage that has a sign on the top reading “Zum Kapuzinerberg” which is located on the right side of the Linzer Gasse if you are coming from the river. This passage takes you steeply up a hill where you will reach a monastery. This is where you’ll find the best view. From there you can take the staircase leading down to the right of the monastery through the romantically lit backstreets down to the Linzer Gasse again.
Crowne Plaza Hotel Pitter
Recently opened, this brand new sky restaurant and bar at Hotel Pitter in Neustadt offers its visitors an almost 360 degree panoramic view of Salzburg. You can enjoy culinary delights such as pizza, steak and local dishes at reasonable prices while admiring the views from the 6th floor right across the city. Also if you’re a guest at the Hotel Pitter you’ll enjoy extensive views over Salzburg even while you’re working out in the gym.
How to find it: Hotel Pitter is located on the Rainerstraße close to the Congress Hall, Mirabell Gardens and a short walking distance from the main train station in the Neustadt district.
Hohensalzburg Fortress
This view is without a doubt one of the best you’ll find in Salzburg. Although it can be found to be incredibly touristy, the fortress that dominates the Monchsberg hill offers absolutely two of the best look out points in the city. Whether you take the funicular or brave the walking route, you’ll begin to get a good view over and across the rooftops of Salzburg’s Altstadt as you ascend to the fortress.
Once you reach the fortress and paid your admission you’ll gain access to the castle and fortress grounds as well as the option to join an audio guided tour around the interior and the bastillions. However make sure you leave plenty of time to discover the two terraces, both the front terrace with a view over the city and the splendid back terrace that offers extensive breath-taking views over Southern Salzburg, the alps and the Hellbrunn Palace in the distance.
How to find it: The Hohensalzburg fortress is hard to miss but the entrance to the funicular can be easily missed. From the Residenzplatz, walk through an arched arcade that is attached to the front corner of the large Salzburg Cathedral on the right. This leads you into another square. On the side of the square directly in front of you is a narrow street called Festungsgasse. Walk up this street and you will reach the lower funicular station. Alternatively you can take the walking route up to the fortress which can be found marked with green signs to the left of the funicular entrance. You must first climb some steps and follow the directions for the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It should take you no more than 10 -15 minutes.
Museum der Moderne Terrace
Instead of taking the traditional route back down from the fortress, follow the directions to the Museum der Moderne Terrace. This scenic 2km walk will take you across the top of the Monchsberg hill through a peaceful forest, past romantic houses and castle ruins. This romantic and enchanting stroll is not strenuous and its offers yet another chance to view the historic Altstadt below as well as opportunities to see the Alps in the distance. This is a fantastic walk to time with the sunset at the fortress, as the dusk lights and the sun setting behind the mountains makes for stunning pictures.
How to find it: Walk to the bottom of the fortress entrance and walk straight past to the left of the the top station of the funicular. You’ll pass beneathe the funicular track and then a tunnel beneath a building. Follow the track until you reach a fork in front of a building with a castle like tower. Take a left, walking next to the stone wall and then passing under a stone archway over the path. Continue through the forest following the path and the directions towards the Moderne Terrace.
Disclaimer: My trip through Central Europe has been sponsored by Go Real Europe, and the detailed instructions I have used throughout my visit in Salzburg have been kindly put together by Go Real Europe to help discover the city easier through self guided tours. Please note that the directions in this post are just a snippet of the detailed instructions and directions you will receive if you travel with Go Real Europe.
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