There are some places you visit because they’re beautiful.
And then there are places that already feel like part of your story long before you arrive.
For us, Salzburg was that kind of place.
Three girls who grew up watching The Sound of Music somehow found ourselves standing beneath the Salzburg Fortress, staring out over the city we had dreamed about since childhood. A city we knew through songs, movie scenes, and the comforting nostalgia of rewinding the same VHS tape over and over again.
And honestly?
The second we arrived, we fully committed to the bit.
Three Days in Salzburg & One Very Important Mission
We spent three days in Salzburg, Austria, with one dedicated entirely to visiting The Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg, another dedicated to sights a little further outside of the city and the last day visiting the cute little lakeside town of Mondsee.
And if there’s one piece of advice I can give you before planning your own Sound of Music pilgrimage, it’s this:
Start EARLY.
Every single day we were out by 8 AM, and it made all the difference.
Not only did we get softer light and quieter streets for filming and photos, but we also experienced so many locations before the tour buses and crowds arrived. Salzburg early in the morning feels peaceful, cinematic, and almost frozen in time.
It was magical.
Salzburg Feels Like Stepping Into the Movie
One of the most surreal moments was standing near Salzburg Cathedral and walking the same streets Maria danced through while singing “I Have Confidence.”
The city somehow feels exactly how it does in the movie — charming streets, baroque architecture, mountain views in every direction, church bells echoing through the old town, and an almost storybook kind of atmosphere.
And naturally, we reenacted everything.
There is simply no dignified way for three grown women to visit Salzburg after a lifetime of loving The Sound of Music. The dramatic twirling was inevitable.
Frohnburg Palace & Our Main Character Moment
Walking up toward Frohnburg Palace honestly felt surreal.
This was the exterior of the Von Trapp family home, and seeing it in person immediately unlocked decades of childhood nostalgia. We dramatically recreated scenes, sang snippets of songs, and laughed our way down the lane like we belonged in the movie ourselves.
One practical tip though:
There are very limited restroom options near Frohnburg Palace.
Since the palace is now part of a college campus, your best chance for a restroom is to visit the restroom at Hellbrunn Palace near the famous gazebo (as seen in the SOM film. More info below.) prior to walking the lane towards Frohnburg. Another option is to use a restroom at Frohnburg, if you’re able to access the university buildings while they’re open. Otherwise, plan ahead before heading there because there really isn’t much nearby.
Trust me on this one.
Mirabell Gardens & Recreating Do-Re-Mi
If you grew up loving The Sound of Music, Mirabell Gardens is one of those places that instantly hits you emotionally.
The moment we stepped onto the famous Do-Re-Mi steps, we completely lost all composure.
There was spinning.
There was singing.
There were multiple takes of us trying to dramatically skip in sync.
Did we look ridiculous?
Absolutely.
Did we care?
Not even a little.
And honestly, that carefree joy became one of my favorite memories from the entire trip.
Hellbrunn Palace, Trick Fountains & 16 Going on 17
One of our favorite stops was Hellbrunn Palace, home of the famous gazebo from “16 Going on 17.”
Yes, we reenacted the scene.
Yes, we laughed the entire time.
And yes, three grown women dramatically pretending to dance around a gazebo in Austria is apparently healing for the soul.
But beyond the gazebo itself, Hellbrunn Palace ended up being one of the best places to slow down and spend a few hours.
We highly recommend doing the Trick Fountains Tour while you’re there. It’s quirky, funny, interactive, and honestly such a refreshing break from nonstop sightseeing. Expect surprise water features, hidden fountains, and a lot of laughing.
It also ended up being one of the easiest and most convenient places during our Salzburg filming locations days because:
- There’s a café onsite for lunch and coffee breaks
- Plenty of seating and shaded areas
- Reliable restroom/WC access
- Beautiful grounds to wander and relax
After multiple early mornings and nonstop walking around Salzburg, this stop felt like the perfect reset point in the middle of the day.
Nonnberg Abbey & A Quiet Pause
After the energy and laughter of reenacting scenes all over Salzburg, visiting Nonnberg Abbey felt entirely different.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Still.
Standing outside the abbey where Maria was a novice before joining the Von Trapp family added such a meaningful layer to the experience. It reminded us how much heart and emotion exists beneath all the nostalgia and music in the story.
It ended up being one of the calmest and most reflective moments of our trip.
A Day Trip to Mondsee & The Wedding Church
One of our three days in Salzburg was dedicated to venturing out to Mondsee, and I cannot recommend adding this to your itinerary enough.
The drive itself is stunning, with lakes, mountains, rolling countryside, and tiny Austrian villages that somehow look even prettier in real life.
And then we arrived at Mondsee Basilica.
The church where Captain Von Trapp and Maria’s wedding scene was filmed.
Walking through those doors honestly felt emotional in a way I wasn’t expecting. It was one of those moments where childhood memories and real life suddenly overlap, and for a second it almost doesn’t feel real.
The church is absolutely beautiful inside, but beyond that, Mondsee itself is incredibly charming and worth slowing down to enjoy.
We wandered the lakefront, explored the village streets, grabbed a coffee & snack, took photos, and just soaked in the peaceful atmosphere.
It was the perfect ending to our Sound of Music adventure.
Why This Trip Meant So Much
This trip wasn’t really about perfectly recreating movie scenes.
It was about joy.
About friendship.
About whimsy.
About letting yourself be playful again.
Somewhere between the twirling, laughing, singing, and completely committing to our ridiculous reenactments, I realized how healing it is to simply let yourself have fun.
Travel doesn’t always have to be serious or polished or curated perfectly.
Sometimes the best moments come from fully embracing the silliness.
And honestly?
That’s exactly what Salzburg gave us.
A chance to step into a piece of childhood magic and make new memories inside it.
Tips for Visiting Sound of Music Filming Locations in Salzburg
- Start your days early (around 8 AM) for quieter filming locations and fewer crowds
- Wear comfortable walking shoes because you’ll cover a lot of ground
- Plan restroom stops ahead of time, especially near Frohnburg Palace
- Build in downtime at Hellbrunn Palace for lunch and rest
- Spend at least 3 days in Salzburg if you want to fully enjoy the city and filming locations
- Don’t skip Mondsee — it’s absolutely worth the day trip
- Most importantly: lean into the fun
Yes, you may feel ridiculous reenacting scenes in public.
Do it anyway.
You’ll never regret the memories.
Until the next adventure, may your days be filled with lots of joy, laughter and wonderful memories 🙂
~Krista
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