We were only in Salzburg for 2 nights, leaving us around 24 hours to explore and enjoy the gorgeous city. This was the perfect amount of time to enjoy a few delicious meals and see some highlights but not enough time to really get to know Salzburg. I would recommend having 2 full days to explore Salzburg if you have time but if you’re only there for 24 hours, here are the highlights from our trip!
Stay: If you’re looking for a combination of an historic location rich in Salzburg and Sound of Music history combined with wonderful service and newly renovated rooms, then staying at Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron. Located just a 5 minutes drive from historic Salzburg, this was the perfect hotel for our small group. Built in 1736, the inn is on the edge of a small lake and includes incredible views of the mountains from the rooms and the veranda. Dubbed as the Sound of Music palace it was the setting for many of the movie’s outdoor scenes along with the ballroom scene. We stayed in the Meierhof rooms which were just renovated this year and are incredible. They allow guests to have a boutique hotel experience complete with wonderful bathrooms, heavenly beds and Restoration Hardware like aesthetics while staying in such a historic location. In addition, the breakfast which was included with our rate was served in the gorgeous ballroom and was fit for a king! We had our choice of eggs three ways, pastries, yogurt, oatmeal and assorted fruit each morning along with numerous juice and coffee options. I have to say though that our favorite moment at the hotel was relaxing with a glass of champagne on the back veranda while exploring the gardens and enjoying the sunset.
Eat: We enjoyed two casual dinners while in Salzburg, one at a gastro pub and the other at a bier garden. We enjoyed a delicious dinner our first night in Salzburg at Zum Fidelen Affen, or the Jovial Monkey. Located in Old Town Salzburg, their menu includes soups, snacks, salads and the best wiener schnitzel of our entire trip! The restaurant doesn’t take formal reservations but you or your hotel can call in advance to put your name on the list. They take pride in serving Trumer Pils, an Austrian Pils, along with other local specialties such as wheat beer and cola or radler. 
After a full day of explorin Salzburg, Augustiner Brau was the perfect place to enjoy our last night in Salzburg as it’s relaxed environment allowed us time to sit back and relax. For three hours we laughed with locals, enjoyed the fresh air, tried a few new beers, and ate an assortment of Austrian food available via their food hall. This world famous beer institution has been in operation since 1621! The outdoor beer garden space seats more than 1,500 under the trees while the indoor space can accommodate 900 which means you’ll always be able to find a seat here regardless the season! The Marzen beer, which was 3 euros per liter stein, was our favorite of the two beers they offered on tap due to its rich flavor. 
See: We saw and learned a great deal about Salzburg and the Sound of Music during the Original Sound of Music tour through Panorama Tours. The 4 hour bus tour took place in English and allowed attendees to see many of the movie locations such as Mirabell Gardens, the lake, the gazebo, abbey, lake district, and Mondsee, where the wedding took place. We loved that the tour shared so much history about Salzburg and the Lake District versus just revolving around the movie. Our tour guide had wonderful English and was so friendly that everyone was willing to ask him questions throughout the tour and join in song during the bus ride. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a bus tour this much before nor seen so many grown men, including Bo, belt out the Sound of Music tunes! The tour also includes 5 stops so there is plenty of time to stretch legs and explore the various sites. The outdoor beer garden seats up to 150 people while the indoor spaces, both smoking and non-smoking,
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I’m heading to Salzburg in a few weeks – thanks for the recommendations! I’m even more excited now!
When we did the Sound of Music tour it took us to some alpine slides afterwards and it was AWESOME! Not sure how it played into Sound of Music but totally fun! Loved dancing and singing around the Gazebo!
That sounds awesome Abby! Maybe we didn’t get that because the cooler weather??
I absolutely love following your blog! You’re doing everything I did when I lived abroad in Switzerland, and it’ so nostalgic to see your posts. I stayed in Salzburg when Oktoberfest was going on (clearly everything in Munich was booked). So, after a day of inebriated beer-hall touring, my gang and I did the Sound of Music tour. And lemme tell ya – that was the perfect order – because the sing-a-longs on the bus and film scene recreations at every stop were a lovely distraction from my hangover.
Haha Kate we may have done the exact same thing! Those beers were stronger than we expected! Oops 🙂
Salzburg is definitely a place that I want to visit- especially because of the sound of music! The bus tour sounds awesome.
It was fabulous Caroline!!!