Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg or Vienna?

The question that is wracking everyone’s brain this year is Salzburg or Vienna? Salzburg is filled with Sound of Music themed attractions and medieval architecture and Vienna is home to art and culture. After reading several articles written by locals, saying that Vienna should be paved over to build a parking lot for Salzburg, I chose Salzburg over Vienna, and I made a mistake. Don’t get me wrong, Salzburg was beautiful and Sound of Music fans would go crazy here, but I am not a huge fan and thus I was bored. I arrived at the end of February and the sun was shining, people were out and about and the food was tasty. However, I really missed out on the cultural opportunities I would have experienced in Vienna. I wish I would have had to opportunity to stand in the back of one of Vienna’s operas. I would have loved to experience the grandeur and wealth that runs rampant in Vienna.

Though I was rather disappointed in my choice to skip Vienna, I should still give Salzburg the credit it deserves. This was the third city that I visited on my solo trip and by the time I checked into my hostel (Yo-Ho International Youth Hostel), I was exhausted. I asked the bartender downstairs to recommend a place to eat and he sent me to Die Weiss. Being from Seattle, one of the craft brew capitols of the world in my opinion, I had expected to be disappointed by the beer selection in Europe. Die Weiss changed that expectation. This small batch brewery is a diamond in the rough. I ate here both nights in Salzburg and tried five or six different beers. I HIGHLY recommend that you check out Die Weiss on your stop in Salzburg.

The atmosphere in Salzburg is very laid back. As I walked around, all I could think about was what people do there? Do people have jobs? Doing what? The locals that I interacted with were all very friendly and almost everyone spoke English which was a relief after returning from Hallstatt. Tour prices were a little steep compared to Budapest, but were reasonable enough that I decided to pay for the tour of the castle.

Salzburg is home to Festung Hohensalzburg which is one of the largest Mideval castles in Europe. I took a funicular up the hill, which I recommend as the walk is quite steep. Though the tour of the castle is limited, and I did not opt for the audio tour, the view is worth the price of admission. You can see all of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains and countryside.

Though not the original, the Love Lock bridge in Salzburg has also become an increasingly popular attraction. You can see below that it is beginning to rival its Parisian counterpart if only in sheer numbers of locks. If you happen to be traveling with a loved one, why not stop and add your padlock to the bridge to signify your “eternal love.”

Overall, Salzburg is worth visiting for a couple of days. Do not spend more than two days there or you will get bored. The bartender in my hostel said that most tourists can see everything in one day, but I have a two day rule for any city. Just remember, do not skip Vienna. Actually, don’t even go to Austria unless you can dedicate enough time to see Salzburg, Vienna and Innsbruck. All three cities offer unique experiences that, when combined, paint the perfect picture of what life in the Alps is all about.