Salzburg, Austria 2026

May 17, 2026 to May 19, 2026

DAY ONE, SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2026

We flew from Copenhagen Airport to Munich Airport and took a train to Munich Central, then a train from Munich Central to Salzburg Central.

Train from Munich Central to Salzburg Central

At Salzburg Central, we purchased two Salzburg Cards (for attractions and public transportation), got a look at the Princess Elisabeth (Sisi) statue in front of Salzburg Central, and took a bus to our accommodation.

Princess Elisabeth (Sisi) Statue at Salzburg Central

Steinterrasse Rooftop Terrace:

We had great views, dinner, and drinks on the Steinterrasse Rooftop Terrace at the top of the Hotel Stein.

Enjoying our Great Seats at the Steinterrasse Rooftop Terrace

View of Old Town Salzburg

View of Salzburg Cathedral and Fortress Hohensalzburg

View of Salzburg Church Spires and the Alps

View of the Mönchsberg Elevator and Museum of Modern Art

Mirabell Gardens and Palace:

After dinner we explored Mirabell Gardens and Palace. The palace was built about 1606 on the shore of the Salzach river north of the medieval city walls, at the behest of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich Raitenau. It was rebuilt in a lavish Baroque style from 1721 to 1727, according to plans designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt.

Aerial View of Mirabell Gardens and Palace (Wikipedia)

The gardens were made accessible to the public under Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria. Up to today, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Salzburg. Several scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed here. Maria and the children sing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ while dancing around the Pegasus fountain and using the steps as a musical scale.

Heroic Statues at Mirabell Gardens and Palace Entrance

Mirabell Gardens Great Fountain

Aeneas saves Anchises and Hercules Wrestling Antaeus by Ottavio Mosto

Rape of Helena and Rape of Prosperina by Ottavio Mosto

Pegasus Fountain (Pegasusbrunnen)

Dwarf Garden

Dwarfs from the Dwarf Garden

Schlosskonzerte (Palace Concert) – Marble Hall – MIrabell Palace:

We enjoyed an evening concert at the Marble Hall of Mirabell Palace.

Angel’s Staircase

Marble Hall in Mirabell Palace

Concert Program

DAY TWO, MONDAY, MAY 18, 2026

Old Town Salzburg Walk:

We started our Old Town Salzburg Walk by walking from our accommodation to the Mozartsteg Bridge.

Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozartsteg Bridge

Once we crossed the bridge to the Old Town Salzburg side, we saw the remains of the old town wall, called Michaelstor.

Remains of the old town wall, called Michaelstor

Along the right side of the old town wall was a piece of modern art called Connection by Manfred Wakolbinger.

Connection by Manfred Wakolbinger

From the Mozartsteg Bridge we walked south to the next square, Mozartplatz, with a statue of Mozart in the center.

Mozart Statue in Mozartplatz

Mozart Statue in Mozartplatz (detail)

From Mozartplatz we walked west to Residenzplatz, home to the Neue Residenz (Salzburg Museum – Glockenspiel), Residenz of Salburg (the former palace of Salzburg’s rulers) and the Residenzbrunnen fountain.

Neue Residenz (Salzburg Museum – not open until 2027) and Glockenspiel

Residenzbrunnen Fountain

Residenz Entrance on Residenzplatz

Residenz (DomQuartier Museums):

We took a break from our Salzburg Walk to explore the Residenz and surrounding buildings. This complex is composed of the DomQuartier Residenz Museums which include the Prunkräume (former State Rooms of the Residenz), the Residenzgalerie (Art Gallery), the Dommuseum (Cathedral Museum), the Kunst- und Wunderkammer (Chamber of Curiosities), and St. Peter’s Museum.

The DomQuartier Residenz Museums are accessed via an inner Residenz Courtyard.

Residenz Courtyard

Hercules Fountain in Residenz Courtyard

Prunkräume (former State Rooms of the Residenz): We first toured the former State Rooms of the Residenz, starting with Carabinieri Hall.

Carabinieri Hall

The Carabinieri Hall features spectacular Baroque ceiling frescoes painted by the Austrian artist Johann Michael Rottmayr. Created around 1689, these large-scale paintings masterfully depict allegorical scenes of the four classical elements.

The central ceiling panel portrays Neptune calming the seas, representing the elements of water and air.

Central Panel – Neptune Calming the Seas

The Northern Panel depicts Vulcan’s workshop, representing fire.

Northern Panel – Vulcan’s Workshop

The Southern Panel shows the Calydonian Boar Hunt, representing earth.

Southern Panel – Calydonian Boar Hunt

From the Carabinieri Hall, we cycled through the rest of the former state rooms. The Council Hall is interesting as it was where Mozart gave his first concert to the Archbishop and his guests at the early age of seven.

Knights Hall

Conference Hall

The Antechamber

The Audience Hall

The Study (Retirade)

The Bedroom

The Beautiful Gallery

The Throne Room

The Blue Room

The White Hall

Residenzgalerie (Art Gallery): Up one floor from the the Prunkräume (former State Rooms of the Residenz), the Residenzgalerie focuses on 16th to 19th century paintings.

Residenzgalerie

Highlights of the collection:

A Basket of Flowers by Jean-Baptist Monnoyer (1636-99)

Allegory on Charles V as Ruler of the World by Peter Paul Rubens (c, 1604)

Amalie Makart, The Artist’s first Wife by Hans Makart (c. 1871)

Anna Hüffel, daughter of Anton Einsle by Anton Einsle (c. 1870)

Children at the Window by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1853)

Dreaming Shepherdess by François Boucher (c. 1763)

Old Woman Praying by Rembrandt (c. 1629-30)

Penitent Mary Magdalene by Mateo Cerezo the Younger (1663)

Self-Portrait by Federico Barocci (c. 1600)

Sleeping Child by Bernardo Strozzi (after 1610)

Still Life with Oysters, Lemons and Grapes by Cornelis de Heem (1660s)

The Young Postillion by Johann Baptist Reiter (1846)

Young Drinker by Gerard van Honthorst (c. 1625)

Dommuseum (Cathedral Museum): The Dommuseum (Cathedral Museum) is situated high above the south side-aisle chapels of the Salzburg Cathedral. We were allowed out on a balcony overlooking the cathedral.

Views into Salzburg Cathedral from the Dommuseum (Cathedral Museum)

The permanent exhibition shows mainly art-works from the Salzburg Archdiocese, dating from between the 8th and 18th centuries.

Dommuseum (Cathedral Museum)

Highlights of Dommuseum (Cathedral Museum) objects:

Ostensory of Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau (1596)

Otensory of Prince Archbishop Max Gandolph Graf Kuenburg (1680)

Chalice of Prince Archbishop Max Gandolph Graf Kuenburg (1679)

Eucharistic Dove (ca 1200-25)

Precious Ostensory by Ferdinand Sigmund Amende (1656-1731)

There were also several memorials and shrines of saints.

Shrine with St. John of Nepomuk (ca. 1455)

St. Rupert, St. Chuniald, and St. Cislar (ca. 1440)

Virgin on the Crescent by Johannes Lencker (1620-25)

Kunst- und Wunderkammer (Chamber of Curiosities): This collection once belonged to the Archbishop Wolf Dietrich. His collection of natural and man-made wonders is displayed in their original cabinets, each one designating a different category; shells and coral, globes and scientific devices, rosaries, ivory and horn, an ocean life cabinet, an amber cabinet, and so on.

Kunst- und Wunderkammer (Chamber of Curiosities)

Ocean Life Cabinet

Ocean Life Cabinet (detail)

Old Town Salzburg Walk (Continued):

We now returned to the Old Town Salzburg Walk. We exited the Residenz and immediately turned right to enter through the Skyway between the Residenz and the Salzburg Cathedral.

Skyway between the Residenz and the Cathedral

In front of this skyway is a modern bronze sculpture entitled “The Cardinal” created by Italian artist Giacomo Manzù in 1969.

“The Cardinal” created by Italian artist Giacomo Manzù in 1969

Upon passing through the skyway, we found ourselves in Domplatz (Cathedral Square). The Marian statue in the square was undergoing repairs so we were unable to take pictures.

Salzburg Cathedral:

We now temporarily left our Salzburg Walk to explore the Salzburg Cathedral. The cathedral facade starts with Jesus at the top, flanked by Moses and the Prophet Elijah. Next are angels with the crown of the cathedral, followed by the Four Evangelists.

Jesus at the top, flanked by Moses and the Prophet Elijah
next are angels and the crown of the cathedral
followed by the Four Evangelists

Angels and the crown of the cathedral

The statues along the bottom of the cathedral facade are St. Rupert (salt cask on pedestal), Peter (with his keys), Paul (with his sword), and St. Virgil (with Salzburg’s First Church on pedestal).

St. Rupert (salt cask on pedestal), Peter (with his keys), Paul (with his sword), and St. Virgil (with Salzburg’s First Church on pedestal)

Notice the dates over the doors: in 774 , the first church, built in Romanesque style, was consecrated by St. Virgil, an Irish monk who became Salzburg’s bishop. It was destroyed by fire in 1167, rebuilt, and then burned again in 1598. It was replaced in 1628 by the one you see today. The year 1959 marks the completion of repairs after a WWII bomb severely damaged the dome.

Before entering the cathedral, we circled counterclockwise to the right to the arches along the southern facade. Here we found the haunting “Pietà (or ‘Cloak of Conscience’)” by Anna Chromy.

“Pietà (or ‘Cloak of Conscience’)” by Anna Chromy

Then we purchased tickets and entered the cathedral (even with the Salzburg Card, there was a minimum €5 donation per person).

We first explored the chapels on the left side on the cathedral. We started with the Baptistery, where Mozart was baptized.

Baptistery

All of the chapels on the left side of the cathedral have specific altars and beautiful ceilings.

Baptistery Ceiling

St. Anne’s Chapel Ceiling

Transfiguration of Christ Chapel Ceiling

Chapel of the Cross Ceiling

After the Chapel of Cross, we walked into the left transept of the cathedral, we has stairs down to the cathedral’s crypt.

Stairs down to cathedral crypt in left transept

We walked down and explored the cathedral crypt. There were two crypt chapels and a Zehneckraum (ten-cornered room) in the crypt.

Crypt Chapels

Zehneckraum (ten-cornered room) in the crypt

There was also a room with small stick figures casting shadows across the wall.

Small stick figures casting shadows on the wall

We returned to the left transept and walked to the nave to see the high altar.

Cathedral High Altar

The high altar features images of the Salzburg’s two patron saints, St. Rupert and St. Virgil. On the left, St. Rupert carries a barrel of salt in his hand, and on the right. St. Virgil carries a model of the first cathedral.

St, Rupert and St. Virgil on the High Altar

The high altar was surrounded by the cathedral dome.

Cathedral Dome

Cathedral Dome (detail)

You’re surrounded by four organs (actually, five – counting the biggest organ, over the entrance). Mozart served as organist here for two years, and he composed several Masses that are still played today.

Two of the Five Organs

Directly under the dome, Roman-numeral plaques commemorate the visits here by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and 1998.

Plaques Commemorating Pope Paul II’s Visits

In the center of the nave, a modern pulpit stands out.

Modern Pulpit

Old Town Salzburg Walk (Continued):

We returned to our Old Town Salzburg Walk. Exiting the cathedral to the left, we passed into Kapitelplatz.

We first encountered a giant chessboard and an art installation of a man on top of an orb.

Giant Chessboard

Sphaera by Stephan Balkenhol

The square is dominated by the Hohensalzburg Fortress above.

Kapitelplatz and Hohensalzburg Fortress

On the left side of the square, there is a Neptune Statue and Pond.

Neptune Statue and Pond

We exited the square on the right through a wrought iron gate, entering a small square with a bakery, a Waterwheel (Wasserrad) and the Alm River Canal (Almkanal), and a statue of Johannes Nepomuk.

Stiftsbäckerei St. Peter (Bakery)

Waterwheel (Wasserrad) and the Alm River Canal (Almkanal)

Statue of Johannes Nepomuk

We went through another set of wrought iron gates and entered St. Peter’s Cemetery (Petersfriedhof).

This cemetery, one of the oldest in Salzburg, is tended by descendents of the deceased. Graves are leased (renewed every ten years), and not owned.

St. Peter’s Cemetery

St. Peter’s Church adjoining St. Peter’s Cemetery

Margarethenkapelle (Margaret’s Chapel) adjoining St. Peter’s Cemetery

We found the grave of Mozart’s sister, Marianne (nicknamed “Nannerl”) and Michael Haydn, Joseph Hayden’s brother.

Grave of Mozart’s Sister and Michael Haydn (Brother of Joseph Haydn)

We exited St. Peter’s Cemetery through an archway and a green door and then explored…

St. Peter’s Church and Monastery:

The first Abbey Church of St. Peter was built in 696 by Rupert, Bishop of Worms. Today’s Abbey Church was built in the 12th century and remodelled several times over the centuries, and today combines elements of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles.

St. Peter’s Church and Monastery

St. Peter’s Church

The St. Peter Stiftskulinarium restaurant (to the right facing the church) is known these days for its Mozart Dinner Concert. But apparently Charlemagne ate here in the year 803, making it (perhaps) the oldest restaurant in Europe.

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium restaurant

As we entered the church, we saw a Romanesque tympanum (from 1250) over the inner doorway. Jesus sits on a rainbow, flanked by Peter and Paul. Beneath them is a stylized Tree of Life, and overhead, a Latin inscription reading, “I am the door to life, and only through me can you find eternal life.”

Romanesque tympanum (from 1250)

We then entered the nave of the church.

Nave of St. Peter’s Church

The ceiling paintings feature St. Peter receiving the keys from Christ (center painting), walking on water, and joining the angels in heaven.

Nave Ceiling Paintings

St. Peter receiving the keys from Christ (center ceiling painting)

The High Altar has a painting depicting the Immaculate Conception, and St. Rupert stands on the left holding his salt cask.

High Altar

Painting depicting Immaculate Conception
(St. Rupert with his salt cask on the left)

The right aisle contains St. Rupert’s Tomb, which is adorned with a painting of Salzburg, circa 1750.

St. Rupert’s Tomb

St. Rupert’s Tomb (detail of the city of Salzburg, c. 1750)

We noticed these unusual doorknobs on our way out of the church.

Skull and Fish Doorknobs

Old Town Salzburg Walk (Continued):

We returned to our Old Town Salzburg Walk. We passed through another courtyard with cherry trees and a fountain of St. Rupert (with salt cask).

Nancy and a blooming cherry tree

St. Rupert Fountain with Salt Cask

The next square we reached was Toscaninihof, named for Arturo Toscanini, who was a musical director of the Salzburg Festival in the 1930s. Here we saw the back end of the large Salzburg Festival Hall complex.

Back end of the large Salzburg Festival Hall complex

A photo on the wall showed the size of the Festival Hall theaters (they can sit 5,000 people).

Photo on the wall of the Salzburg Festival Hall theaters

Looking to the left, we saw the partner to the man on the orb in Kapitelplatz, this one entitled “Woman in the Rock”.

Woman in the Rock by Stephan Balkenhol

Now we turned north and passed into another square, Max-Reinhardt-Platz, where we got a better view of the Salzburg Festival Halls.

Max-Reinhardt-Platz and the Salzburg Festival Halls (on the left)

We saw some interesting sculptures (and a fresco) in Max-Reinhardt-Platz, then made our way on the right past the large Catholic Kollegienkirche.

Masks by Jakob Adlhart

Fresco on University Building

Wild Man Fountain (Wilder-Mann-Brunnen)

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller Statue

Pickle Sculptures (Catholic Kollegienkirche in the Background)

The next square is called Universitätsplatz, home to Salzburg’s open-air produce market.

Universistätsplatz

Universistätsplatz has a Market Fountain (Marktbrunnen) for washing fruit and vegetables. The fountain includes a sundial that shows both the date and time.

Market Fountain (Marktbrunnen)

We walked to the end of Universitätsplatz, then circled around to reach Salzburg’s main shopping street, Getreidegasse.

Getreidegasse

All along Getreidegasse, traditional signs show off what they sold.

Getreidegasse traditional signs

We were getting hungry, so we stopped for lunch at Cafe Mozart, renowned for their special dessert, the Salzburger Nockerl. Huge, pillowy, and sweet, this unique soufflé is named after the city of Salzburg, and the three towering peaks dusted with powdered sugar represent the three hills around Salzburg – Mönchsberg (Monk’s Mountain), Kapuzinerberg (Capuchin Mountain), and Festungsberg (Fortress Mountain).

Salzburger Nockerl at Cafe Mozart

Just past Cafe Mozart, at Getreidegasse #9, we made the last stop on our Salzburg Old Town Walk…

Mozart’s Birthplace (Geburtshaus):

Mozart was born here in 1756. It was here that he composed many of his boy-genius works. Inside we saw paintings of his family, letters, and personal items.

Mozart’s Birthplace (Geburtshaus)

We started on the third floor and made our way downstairs.

The Mozart Family Kitchen

Family Tree

We started with a room dedicated to Mozart’s parents and grandparents.

Biographies of Mozart’s Father and Mother

Mozart’s Father’s Application for a Fixed Salary

Mozart’s Maternal Grandmother Successfully Applies for Pension

The next room had portraits and biographies of Mozart and his sister.

Young Mozart Performing

Biographies of Mozart’s Sister and Mozart

Portraits of a Young Mozart

Portrait of Mozart’s Sister

Mozart at the age of seven playing the cembalo
(from Daines Barrington – Account of an Very Remarkable Young Musician, 1781)

Subsequent rooms showed musical instruments (such as young Mozart’s viola, his square piano, and his pianoforte) and oher portraits.

Mozart’s Childhood Viola

Wollfgang Amadeus Mozart by Doris Stock, Dresden (1789)

Mozart at the Spinet by Anton Romako (1877)

Mozart’s Small Square Piano

Mozart at a Square Piano by Eduard Adolph Massman

Mozart’s Fortepiano

A special room was dedicated to “Online Mozart”.

Mozart Online Room

The last rooms were dedicated to Mozart’s family, his time in Vienna and his Operas.

Carl Thomas and Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart (Mozart’s Two Sons)

Constanze Mozart (Mozart’s Wife)

Mozart’s Life in Vienna

Mozart’s Operas

The Magic Flute Opera

DAY THREE, TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2026

Today was a short day, because we had to take a train to Vienna in the afternoon to prepare for our plane trip back to Denver on May 20, 2026.

In the morning, we took a bus from our accommodation to…

Hellbrunn Palace:

Hellbrunn Palace is an early Baroque villa of palatial size, located in Hellbrunn, the southern countryside district of the city of Salzburg, Austria. It was built in 1613–19 by Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, and named for the “clear spring” that supplied it.

Hellbrunn Palace

Today, the palace is filled with eclectic exhibits that say much about the man who built it, Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, who liked to pull tricks on his guests (see the Hellbrunn Trick Fountains next).

Prince’s Room

Markus Sittikus at Three Years of Age (1577)

Markus Sittikus with Hellbrunn and Cathedral by Arsenio Mascagni (1618)

Chinese Room with Globe

Unicorn Hall

Stuffed Unicorn

Majoica Designed Stove (over 400 years old)

Models for Trick Fountains Room

Frescoed Ballroom

Music Room

Carnival Room

Hellbrunn Trick Fountains:

The famous Hellbrunn Trick Fountains are considered a true spectacle, which can still be experienced today just as they were over 400 years ago: Mystical grottoes, water-powered figures and treacherous spray fountains await you.

Our first stop was the Roman Theater, where Emperor Augustus overlooks a Royal Table. Without warning, guests at the table are sprayed with water from under their seats.