Austria's easiest city will have you and your kids singing for more!
Gorgeous palaces, expertly manicured gardens just begging for kids to frolic, an unmatched musical heritage wafting through the old town all overlooked by a centuries old castle -- that's Salzburg in a kugel.
Mommy AK and I have been in love with Salzburg since our first trip in 1997 and have been back five times since--both with and without kids. Here is a short list of great attractions for making your trip to Salzburg with kids a joy.
Salzburg Fortress -- Perched high on a hill overlooking Salzburg's Old Town sits the Hohensalzburg Fortress, Central Europe's largest and best preserved castle. With it's strategic position on top of a crest overlooking the city and Salzach River, the fortress acts as a siren call for kiddos. Open year round, you can hike up the winding streets and staircases to the entrance, or for a less strenuous option you can ride the fortress funicular (“Festungsbahn”) from the Festungsgasse. There are self-guided audio tours and escorted tours available to give you the more than 1,000 year history of the fortress -- featuring information on the various leaders that undertook the expansion of the fortress over the years. The kiddos especially loved the torture chamber -- shocking -- and the archer notches. There are concerts held in the evenings, which may be of interest to a child with an appreciation for classical music. It's also a magical time to visit with the city's lights twinkling below.
Concert at the Burg -- Most evenings throughout the year, the Mozart Chamber Orchestra of Salzburg performs in the Golden Hall of Hohensalzburg Fortess. Hearing the amazing works of Salzburg's favorite son in a centuries old castle is about peak classical Europe as you can get. The performance is a walk-through of the most familiar and approachable of Mozart's catalog with a few other fun classical bits thrown in for good measure. See what I did there? Just remember, this affair can draw an older audience so while it is not an overly stuffy affair, it might not be the best for younger kids.
Mozart's Birthplace -- The childhood home of Salzburg's most famous son has been beautifully preserved and includes some sheet music and instruments of the young prodigy. It's also the kind of museum that you can breeze through in 30 minutes which is perfect for antsy kids and is an easy to-do as part of a day spent wandering the Old Town.
Stiegl Keller -- Just down the hill from the 'Burg, Stiegl Keller is the home of the most popular beer in Austria and the most popular Austrian beer throughout the world. The namesake brew is a helles (aka light lager) which is the same style that made Budweiser and Miller the go-to of American beer drinkers for decades. That is not a knock on Stiegl or the American macros but just an indicator of how approachable this particular beer is. But don't for a second think watery and thin. Stiegl is full bodied, full flavored and the keller is full of fun and a great spot to get traditional Austrian fare like wiener schnitzel and goulash. The outdoor patio is a great spot for family photos and an amazing view of the city below.
Sound of Music Tour -- Of all the silliness that Salzburg offers, the Sound of Music Tour is by far the silliest...and the most fun. You'll be whisked across town and into the countryside to see nearly all of the filming locations around town from the Mirabell Gardens to the tree-lined lane where the Von Trapp children played. You'll even see the famous gazebo where Rolf and Liesl stole a kiss. Did I mention that the tours turn into a group sign-a-long? They do. The little ones will love it. Older kids might roll their eyes at first, but they'll join in before too long.
Salzburg Toy Museum -- Featuring vintage Austrian toys and some fun hands-on activities, the Salzburg Toy Museum is a great break from museums and sight seeing. There is also a slide that goes between floors and can launch little ones at a pretty good speed -- which made Mom a bit nervous, but I absolutely loved. Plus at the end there is a huge room of blocks and kiddie construction bits that could keep the industrious little ones occupied for hours.
Mozart Balls -- Not a place to see, but a thing to eat. You'll find Mozart Kugel (aka Mozart Balls) all over Salzburg. Old town is overrun with Mozart Balls. Little old ladies are always handling Mozart Balls. My wife is a big fan of Mozart Balls as well. While Schlitz is the beer that made Milwaukee famous, Mozart Balls made Salzburg famous. I totally made that up last bit, but the kids think it is one of my best Dad jokes, so I'm sticking with it. Plus, if you have boys, see how long they can go without giggling about Mozart Balls.
Lastly, if you are looking for a place to stay, we highly recommend the Hotel Krone 1512. We have stayed at this hotel four times and absolutely love it. The rooms are tidy and the breakfast is perfect for fueling up before a day in the Alps. We especially love the apartment which is perfect for families. We've often said that if we could ever move to Salzburg we'd love to make that apartment our home.
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