Three days in Salzburg, Austria
Capturing Moments: Strolling to Salzburg's Charm after a Train Ride
I travelled from Munich, Germany to Salzburg by train. The journey was quite enjoyable. To soak in the local atmosphere, I decided to walk to my hotel. Along the way, I took some photos, which I've uploaded below. It was my first time in Austria, and surprisingly, the cleanliness matched that of Australia. The green hills in and around the town reminded me of the hills back in Western Australia where I live.
During my 3 days in I discovered that Salzburg's history is still very much alive in its vibrant streets, and the 900-year-old fortress overlooking the old town provides breath taking panoramic views.
1st glimpse at the Train Station
Selfie at Salzburg Train Station
Mozart was born in this city
Random photo along Salzach river
Day 1 in Salzburg, Austria
On day one I explored the city area before doing day trips from Salzburg on day 2 and 3. The places I am going to recommend can be explored in any order and at any pace.
I started my day from arriving at following places.
Mirabell Castle & Gardens
If your hotel is situated close to the train station, you have the advantage of saving time while simultaneously exploring two attractions. A walk through Mirabell Gardens serves as an ideal path to reach Hohensalzburg Fortress. The Gardens transcend being merely a location; they embody a true masterpiece of art. Should your stay in Salzburg extend beyond a day, a return visit to this splendid place is almost inevitable.
Hohensalsburg Fortress
Exploring this fortress from middle ages is an amazing experience. This fortress offers breath-taking panoramic views from the top tower of the fortress. There's a museum in the fortress and a dungeon for all the dirty peasants. Scary stuff. For the best photo opportunities, head up to the top to capture the beautiful views, making your visit a truly memorable one.
After exploring Mirabell Gardens and Hohensalzburg Fortress, you might find yourself hungry. With more ground to cover, it's a good idea to refuel your body with some authentic Austrian food when you come down from the fortress.
Residenzplatz
Architectural wonders that will wow you. A setting that makes you feel so happy and history that will inspire you. This place is the main square of the city and is also used for Christmas markets and music events.
Mozarts Birthplace
Even though I had Symphony 40 as the ringtone on my old Nokia mobile phone years ago, but I still didn't know Mozart existed until I got here. He was an influential music composer from the 17th century.
Kapuzinerberg
It's a lookout point with a restaurant. It's a nice place to switch from city to the nature. It's a good hike which isn't far from the city centre. The walk in the woods is really nice and invigorating.
Hangar-7
It's a building in Salzburg with a collection of historic planes, helicopters and formula one racing cars. Dietrich Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull, is the owner. This place might also give you wings.
Now that you've explored all of these amazing places, it's time to satisfy your taste buds with some authentic Austrian cuisine. Don't waste your time looking for fast food chains like McDonald's, embrace the local food scene. After a long day of exploring, return to your hotel room for some well-deserved rest. Tomorrow you are going to fairy-tale valleys.
Day 2: Daytrip to Hallstatt from Salzburg
Today is the day of daytrip to this Instagram worthy little village called Hallstatt.
How to get to Hallstatt from Salzburg?
You can reach there by various modes of transportation. You can use rail, bus or car rental. Third option is expensive one but more comfortable. Taking the train is the easiest and fastest method to travel to Hallstatt. From Salzburg Main Station, take a train to Attnang-Puchheim Station, where you can change to a local train to Hallstatt. It takes about 2.5 hours to complete the journey. Opting for a bus journey is the cheapest of them all and I naturally went for that and the other plus is that the bus takes you right into the town unlike train which drops you on the other side of the lake and then you have to take a ferry to arrive into the town.
I bought the return bus ticket from the ticket vending machine at Salzburg, train station. Just type in Hallstatt as your destination and Salzburg would already be selected as an origin point. The bus number is 150 which you have to take at the bus station just at front of Salzburg train station. Look for the bus stop that says Line 150 among the other bus numbers. This bus runs every hour. When you sit in the bus make sure you take any window seat behind the driver side, you'd get the best views along the journey.
Hallstatt, Austria
Now when the bus arrives at Bad Ischl after approximately 1hour and 15minutes, you get off here. Wait for the bus 542 which runs every 20 minutes. Again look for the bus stop here which says Bus 542. It's not far from the where bus 150 drops you off. Bus 542 is only a half an hour journey and it will take you to the Hallstatt Gosaumühle where you get another bus 543. You dont have to look for the bus stop here as both buses park side by side. Bus 543 will only take 10 minutes to take you to the fairy tale town Hallstatt. All catching buses could look difficult as a stranger but it's easier than it sounds. In a nutshell just three buses Bus 150, Bus 542, and Bus 543. For coming back just follow the same route in reverse.
I promise you'd get best views on this journey even if you are the person without any aesthetic sense.
Things to do in Hallstatt
Walk around, take photos & visit markets
Take a boat tour for different perspective
Visit skywalk platform for panoramic views
Visit the Hallstatt Salt Mines: More than 2,000 years have passed since the Hallstatt salt mines first opened. Visit the spectacular underground chambers and learn about the history of salt mining on a guided tour.
Explore the World Heritage Museum: The museum is housed in one of Hallstatt's oldest buildings and offers an interesting insight into the city's history.
Enjoy local cuisine: A notable local dish is the Hallstatt trout, which is served with freshly baked bread and regional ingredients.
Above activities are suggestions only and you can change them anyway you like depending in your time availability and interests. I took the bus back to Salzburg the way I came here.
DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO BERCHTESGADEN
Berchresgaden is in Bavaria, Germany, but it makes more sense to do a daytrip to this breathtakingly magical place from Salzburg, Austria. As it's less than 35 kilometres from Salzburg.
How to get to Berchresgaden from Salzburg?
The bus line 840 leaves from Salzburg train station to Berchtesgaden Germany. Opting to go via bus is the cheapest option. When you buy the ticket make sure you buy day ticket for the bus 840 as day ticket would also include the transportation on bus 838 that takes you to Documentation Centre and 841 that takes you to Konigssee. And from Documentation Centre there is a shuttle that takes you to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. But Eagles Nest is only open from May to October.
If you trust your legs and don't mind walking then take the bus. In Berchtesgaden, point of interests are little far apart from each other, therefore I decided to rent a car and drove there. You can opt for any option, depending on your circumstances.
Maria Gern, Berchtesgaden
Things to do in Berchtesgaden
Lake Konigssee is one of prettiest lake in Berchtesgaden. It is surrounded by beautiful picturesque mountains. Take a boat tour.
Malerwinkel is a tranquil forrest area and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, including the Watzmann, and is a popular destination for hikers.
Berchtesgaden National Park offers a range of hiking trails for all levels. Choose a trail that suits you and enjoy the mesmeric scenery along the way.
Explore the historical town of Berchtesgaden: Explore the city centre, visit the Salzburg Museum, and the old salt mines. Several historic structures can be found in Berchtesgaden's town centre, including the market square, town hall, and St. John's Church. Explore the neighborhood's streets and take in the ambience.
Try local cuisine: Traditional foods from Berchtesgaden, like schnitzel, kaiserschmarrn, and leberknodel, are well-known. Eat at local eatery to experience the regional flavours.
I was pretty tired by the end of it. I am pretty sure the memories of this place would never skip your brain too. I drove back to Salzburg just before the dark, returned the rental car, and went to sleep straight away. Whichever mode of transport you chose to come here just do the same thing in reverse order and arrive in Salzburg to have a wonderful sleep as I did. If you're ready to travel to Innsbruck the next morning, click the next button with Innsbruck written on it.