Hey, what’s up?

Welcome to part three of my Austrian adventure! This time, we’re diving into Salzburg—Mozart’s birthplace, the setting of The Sound of Music, and, as I quickly discovered, home to an unreasonable number of stairs. If you’re just joining in, feel free to check out parts one and two for some context. Otherwise, let’s get straight to it!

After our day trip to Hallstatt, we crashed into bed the moment we got back. And by “crashed,” I mean we barely had time to register how tired we were before passing out. The next morning, I may or may not have accidentally gifted my mum the mystery virus I had been battling. (Scientists, if you’re reading this, could you please eradicate all viruses? I promise the world would be a happier place.)

Since we were moving on to our next destination, we checked out a little later than planned. In my last post, I promised a hotel review, so here goes. We stayed at a place called Gasthaus Sonnenblume, which, charmingly enough, was located on top of an Asian restaurant. The room itself was spacious and comfortable, but nothing particularly special. I’d give it a solid 6 out of 10—functional, decent, but with definite room for improvement. (Kind of like me before coffee.)

The first place we visited in Salzburg was Hohensalzburg Fortress—a massive medieval stronghold perched on top of a mountain. These days, it’s basically a museum, but back in the day, it probably served as the ultimate “do not disturb” sign for invaders. The fortress offers breathtaking views of Salzburg city and the Alps, and we were incredibly lucky—it was a sunny day! No battling wind, rain, or rogue umbrellas, which meant plenty of great photos.

Inside, the fortress gave off Greece vibes—not that I would know, since I’ve never been to Greece (so don’t take my word for it). We climbed up to the watchtower and were rewarded with a panoramic view of the city that was absolutely jaw-dropping. If I had any lingering symptoms from my mystery virus, the sheer beauty of the view temporarily cured them.

There are two ways to reach the fortress: you can either climb the hill (if you’re feeling adventurous) or take the funicular that runs every 10 minutes. There are various ticket options available on their website, but since both my mum and I weren’t feeling 100%, we opted for the funicular both ways. It cost us around 14 euros each, and honestly, worth every cent. Oh, and speaking of easy transport, we took an Uber to drop off our bags near the station, and our driver was an absolute legend—he drove us straight to the funicular entrance. No uphill struggles for us!

Now, the real highlight: I found bookmarks! And not just any bookmark—one worthy of my growing collection. When it comes to pure beauty, Hallstatt and Innsbruck definitely win, but in terms of souvenirs, Salzburg stole my heart.

Next, we visited DomQuartier, which is essentially a massive museum. And by massive, I mean we actually got lost inside. It’s a museum dedicated to music, art, and architecture, with entire sections showcasing Salzburg’s rich cultural history. They even have an event called Evening with Mozart, which sounds fancy, but unfortunately, we had to skip it since our train to Vienna was leaving at 5 PM.

The entrance fee was 15 euros per person, and let me tell you—it was worth every cent. They even had costumes you could try on for free, complete with a photoshoot area. (Because if you didn’t dress up like 18th-century European nobility while in Salzburg, did you even go to Salzburg?) The museum also highlighted the influence of the archbishops back in the day, which was quite fascinating. If you enjoy history and art, this place is a must-visit.

After the museum, we strolled around Salzburg’s Old Town and made a stop at Mirabell Gardens. Here’s my honest take—unless you enjoy looking at bare tree branches and maintenance workers raking leaves, don’t visit in winter. The name Gardens is a pretty big clue that spring is the best time to go, when everything is in full bloom. But hey, at least we got some fresh air.

We also visited the Salzach River, where we took in the breathtaking sight of crystal-clear water running right through the city. One thing I’ve noticed about Austria—everything is spotless. The cities are clean, the streets are tidy, and even the public toilets are well-maintained (which is practically unheard of in England, unless you’re in a hospital, JK!). The people here might not be as chatty as the Brits, but they’re definitely winning in the hygiene department.

Before heading to the train station, we made a quick stop at ATIB Mosque to do our prayers. Then, it was off to catch our train to Vienna. The journey took about 2.5 hours, giving us plenty of time to relax and reflect on our Salzburg adventures.

Fun fact: Austrians call Vienna Wien (pronounced Veen), which took me a moment to process the first time I saw it on a sign. Also, I recently learned that people from Salzburg are called Salzburgers—which sounds like a fancy European burger but is actually just a very normal way to describe a local. Unique and slightly amusing!

When we arrived in Wien, we checked into an apartment that—spoiler alert—was the best place I’ve ever rented. But I’ll save that review for my next post because this place deserves a proper introduction.

Alright, that wraps up part three of my Austrian travels! Hope you guys enjoyed reading about my Salzburg adventure. Stay tuned for the next chapter—Vienna awaits! See you in the next post!