This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you.
In a word– stunning. That is Salzburg, Austria. Out of all the cities in the world, it has to be one of the most beautiful in terms of architecture and location. Set amidst the mountains and divided by the Salzach River, not only is it scenic with its medieval and baroque buildings, it is easily walkable, and there is so much to see and do if you use it as a home base and take day trips. Here are just some recommendations if you have a couple of days. If you have more time, I would add Hallstatt to your itinerary and spend two days on the lake, and, of course, if you have even more time, take the train to Vienna and stay there for a few days. Vienna, with its world-famous cafes and wine tasting tours in the Wachau Valley, is a jewel of a city with so many options. What can I say? Austria is one of my absolute favorite places to visit!
Day Trips in the order that we did them:
- Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest ( Kehlsteinhaus) and Documentation Center:
My goal in Salzburg on my second visit was to research important WWII history for the unit I teach, so I hired a private guide via Viator to teach me all about Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. You don’t have to do that if you simply want to see it and to learn. You must visit the documentation center, though, because it provides context about the region and its importance during the war. The Eagle’s Nest, or Teehaus, was the vision of Hitler’s personal secretary, Martin Bormann, who had it built as a 50th birthday present for Adolf Hitler. Visit this website to give you a preview of the center.
My favorite website for tours is Viator.
2. Mauthausen: rent a car and go for the full day
Not many people know of this notorious concentration camp located in the town of Mauthausen in Upper Austria. Most people have heard of Dachau, Buchenwald, or Auschwitz. This little-known camp, though, was known among prisoners as one of the worst camps, one that no one wanted to be transferred to due to the horrific work detail in the granite quarries. It is a haunting, foreboding place with heavy energy to it. I researched that camp along with its many sub-camps before our trip and did not hire a guide. Instead, we rented a car and drove there from Salzburg. It is an easy hour-and-a-half drive, and once you are there, it is free to enter. If you would rather take the train from Salzburg to Mauthausen and take a bus or taxi to the center, that is an option, too. Once you arrive, you can join a guided tour, just get the audio guide and tour the camp by yourself (what I did), or download the guide on your phone through an app. The information for all of these options is on the website. If you visit, make sure to really spend some time in advance researching the camp to understand the background.
Note about driving in Austria: Just like in Germany, if you are driving slower, stay to the right unless you want to see a high-powered car flashing its lights at you in your rearview mirror. Truth be told, I was nervous driving there because Austrians drive super fast, but when Lindsay yelled at me, “Dude, stop being so scared. You drive on 285 in Atlanta every day,” that jolted me back to reality. Their roads are no scarier than the ones we drive in big cities across the U.S., so go for it!
3. Explore Salzburg and Visit the Castle
Walking this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the birthplace of Mozart, doesn’t get old. Around every corner and down each meandering alley is something interesting to see. Linnie and I took a horse-drawn history tour of Old Town first, and then we walked and explored the rest of the time. Make sure to try some delicacies like apple strudel with vanilla sauce and Mozartkugeln, small, round sugar confections made of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat covered with dark chocolate. Make sure to visit the castle on the hill, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, for a priceless view of the city. It is a little hike that will help work off all the delicious Austrian pastries and cakes.
4. Sound of Music Tour
“The hills are alive with the sound of music…” That song, that movie… it captivated me as a child and still does to this day. Julie Andrews, twirling in a lush grassy meadow high atop a rocky peak, filled me with complete joy as I sang along trying to hit the impossibly high notes. In a strange way, I knew at a young age that one day I would leave my town to explore those mountains, those meadows. When I found myself in Salzburg, Austria, and learned there was a Sound of Music tour, I was over the moon. I loved it so much that I actually have taken It twice! The tour takes you to all of the filming locations in the movie, and the guide provides commentary and history about them. It is a day of delight!
