A day trip to Salzburg
My sound of music moment
The mirabell palace and the gardens were not listen in my agenda, when I planned my 13 day long trip to East Europe. I wanted to go to as many countries but at leisure. While planning a travel it is indeed tempting to cover as many countries as possible on the map. But I have grown to like my slow paced, walk around cities with agenda and no rush a bit too much. So, I did not pack my agenda with a whole lot of places.
This was my last 4 days of the travel in Vienna, and thanks to where my hotel was located, every historical or monumental was within walking distance. That saved me a lot of time, I stayed in the heart of the tourist district and also in a super lux high street. After two days of walking aroung, hopping in and out of the travel hop on and hop off buses, I had some time in hand and I just googled to see if Salzburg was a possibility.
I found few good day trip packages in mini vans or couches, it was indeed tempting and it came to about Rs. 10,000/- for a full day trip to Salzburg and back, it seemed like a totally worth it chance to take. I read a few reviews and booked the trip next day, the guide was to come and escort me from below my hotel at 7am and the ride would take 6 hours or so.
I woke up at 6am and was super excited, the guide cum driver of the van came on time and then we walked to our mini van. Since, I was a solo passenger, I had the privilage to occupy the front seat and oh man was I excited. We picked up couple of other passagers, two couples and one lady and her mom and started off from Vienna hit teh highway past some really beautiful and synic routes. We passed Linz and also the Alps, it was breath taking view.
On the way we stopped for breakfast for half hour and continued on our journey and stopped at a beautiful small town surronded by the Alps, we stopped at a lake and then the next stop was the beautiful church we see the movie the ‘Sound of music’. I felt like I had gone back in time to when the movie was actually shot, it was a surreal feeling.
After a half hour drive we reached Salzburg and then our driver told us that we would roughly have 3–4 hours and will have to be back to the van by 3.30pm. The Mirabell palace stood right in front of us and as I walked inside the premises and walked the gradens, the movie started playing in my head. I felt a child like excitement inside. Walked around a bit and then headed to the other part of the town.
I walked through the cobble streets in old town Salzburg and got a gilmpse of Mozarts house, that’s where he was born and then headed to the Salzburg fotress. The fotress had a lovely christmas market up already, it was end of November, and I was so glad about the timimg. While one could just walk around the fotress and market and be back, I chose to take the cable car up to the fotress and no regrets there, the view of the city from top is priceless.
I went to the Salzberg cathedral, which was where the Christmas market was just below the fotress and walked around the hellburn castle. Grabbed lunch at the xmas market and walked around happy and content with the decision to come to Salzburg, even if it were for a day!
I travel to each place with a hope to go back there and if not the memories stay afresh.
I would recommend Salzburg before, during or after Christmas
Vienna to Salzburg is a beautiful route
Day trips are good enough and please watch Sound of Music if you havn’t before going to Salzburg.