Things to do in

St Gilgen

On this half-day tour you'll relive scenes from one of the most popular movies of all time. Visit the locations used during the filming of The Sound of Music in Salzburg and its surrounding countryside. During the tour, you’ll also hear songs from the original soundtrack. Your knowledgeable English-speaking guide will show you the architectural and historical landmarks of the city and the picturesque Lake District. You’ll visit Leopoldskron Palace, a place whose exterior was used as the Trapp family home and where the children were seen boating on the lake and jumping into the water. Maria was a novice at Nonnberg Abbey, the oldest convent in German-speaking Europe, and your next stop. The St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang scenes shown at the beginning of the movie were actually filmed at Lake Fuschl, on the way to St. Gilgen, which you'll also see today. The wedding scene was filmed at Mondsee Cathedral, a buttery yellow-and-white edifice where you'll stop on the tour. Maria, led by Liesl, walked down the aisle to meet the baron in front of the stairs of the main altar. After dropping you off in Salzburg at the end of the tour you can visit Mirabell Gardens, located just opposite the tour terminal. Maria and the children were seen dancing through the Gardens singing Do-Re-Mi.

Depart from Salzburg and get amazing views of Austria's lake district as you travel by coach to the beautiful town of Hallstatt. On the way, you will pass Lake Fuschl, where the headquarters of a world-famous energy drink are located, and make a quick photo stop of the magnificent view over the town of St. Gilgen, Lake Wolfgang, and the surrounding mountains of the Salzkammergut. Afterward, you will continue your trip along Lake Wolfgang and be astonished by the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage landscape. You will pass through a number of charming villages on the 1.5-hour drive to Hallstatt. Once you arrive in Hallstatt, you will have 2.5 hours of free time to explore the breathtaking city and the surroundings. You can then visit the ossuary or “bone-house”, and take a look at its more than 1000 painted human skulls, or take a funicular ride up to the entrance of the world’s oldest salt mine and enjoy the breathtaking view from an observation platform, right above the town. If you just want to enjoy the atmosphere of Hallstatt, take a leisurely walk along the lake, and marvel at how the houses above you seem to cling onto the mountainside. Your trip will end by making your way back, passing through the Rußbach valley and the towns of Gosau and Abtenau which are famous for their stunning views of the Dachstein mountain range, before arriving back to your starting point in Salzburg.

Summer in the Salzkammergut: The Salzkammergut area has long been a dream destination for Austrian royalty. From Emperor Franz Joseph and his court in Bad Ischl to Salzburg's Prince-Bishops in Jagdschloss Fuschl. The picturesque landscapes of Salzburg, Upper Austria, and Steiermark will indeed fascinate. Visit the "Mozart Village" of St. Gilgen, the home of Mozart's mother and enjoy a 25-minute boat tour to St. Wolfgang (Boat tours are seasonal from 01 May to 26 October). In the town of St. Wolfgang visit the famous Gothic altar of Michael Pacher and enjoy a coffee break at a world-class restaurant, "Im Weissen Rössl." The drive back to Salzburg leads past the Krottensee and castle Hüttenstein as well as the Mondsee, which is surrounded by spectacular mountains. All in all, an unforgettable experience. From 27 October through 30 April, in place of the boat tour, you are warmly invited for coffee and cake. "

Take a breathtaking ride from the city of Salzburg into the Bavarian Alps along the Kings Lake-Ache up to the Obersalzberg, where the second headquarters of Third Reich used to be. Afterward, continue to the highlight of the tour, which is the 500-year-old Berchtesgaden salt mine. Slip into traditional miners’ clothes and take the miners’ train deep into the mountain. Experience the fascinating underground world of the salt-miners and discover the charm of the magnificently illuminated subterranean landscape. Take the slides down to the salt lake, which you will cross by boat. After this unique tour, explore the little picturesque town of Berchtesgaden and taste some Bavarian specialties. Leave Salzburg once more and pass by Lake Fuschl and Castle Fuschl. Explore the little town of St. Gilgen, where Mozart's mother was born. In the summer (May 1st to October 26th) enjoy a 45-minute boat ride to St. Wolfgang. During winter, take a coffee break at one of the traditional Austrian coffee houses.  At St. Wolfgang, your guide will show you the famous pilgrimage church with its carved gothic winged altar by Michael Pacher. There will be some time to explore the picturesque town or have a coffee break on the terrace of the famous White Horse Inn (Weisses Rössl) at your own expense. Continue your journey along the Krottensee with castle Hüttenstein and drive along Lake Mondsee before returning to Salzburg.

This tour from Vienna to Salzburg and the surrounding lake district is a wonderful opportunity to dive into the world of classical music and see some of the jewels of the world’s natural heritage.  Salzburg is a beautiful city on the banks of the River Salzach, and is also the world capital of classical music, being the home town of both Mozart and Karajan. Walk through the Mirabell Gardens and see the very house where Mozart was born, as well as the cathedral and St. Peter’s Abbey, one of the oldest abbeys in Europe. During your free time you may choose to take the funicular up to the fortress of Hohensalzburg to see marvelous panoramic views over the city. Anyone who has ever watched the "Sound of Music" will be thrilled at seeing some of the film locations.  After embracing the cultural side of Salzburg, you will explore the natural beauty of the Salzkammergut lake region. What could be more magnificent than the reflection of the mighty Alpine mountains in the crystal clear water of the picturesque lakes? Prepare yourself for some unforgettable alpine landscapes, pure clear air and the sparkling blue water of the Mondsee lake.  These are not the only treasures that are waiting for you in the Salzkammergut. The last highlight of the tour will be small villages on the shores of the Attersee. The still waters of the mysterious lakes hide many legends and stories, which all contribute to the very special character of this tour.

Depart from Salzburg and head towards the scenic Wolfgang Lake. Arrive at the first stop of the day, the charming village of Strobl, and be enchanted by the array of impressive nativity scenes. From here, travel to St. Gilgen, home to one of the region’s most beautiful Christmas markets. Spend some time wandering around the stalls, mingling with the locals, and shopping for gifts and handmade crafts. The final stop of the tour is the idyllic Christmas market in the village of St. Wolfgang. Admire the glowing Christmas trees and the market’s picturesque wooden stalls adorned with glistening lights, candles, and decorations. As you explore, warm up with a cup of traditional mulled wine or punch. At the end of an unforgettable experience, hop back on the bus for the return journey to Salzburg.

See the sights of Salzburg on a full-day tour from Vienna, with optional drop off for those who want to stay the night. Traveling in small groups of no more than 8 people, the intimate tour will take you through the breathtaking scenery of the Vienna Woods, with the peaks of the Alps in the distance, and on to the stunning Austrian lake district. Stop by picture-postcard Lake Attersee and visit the charming alpine village of St. Gilgen at lake Wolfgangsee, a famous location in the hit movie "The Sound of Music." Upon arrival in Salzburg, discover Salzburg's UNESCO-listed Old Town with your guide on a leisurely walking tour. Hear intriguing stories about the city's famous inhabitants as you pass Mozart's birthplace, the colorful gardens of Mirabell Palace, the cemetery of the Abbey of St. Peter, Salzburg Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace. Spend the afternoon in Salzburg with plenty of free time to purchase lunch and wander Mozart town on your own before making the journey back to Vienna with your driver.

You will be picked up from your hotel and then start a tour of the city of Salzburg. You will also enjoy a short walking tour of Salzburg, where you will be shown the highlights of this charming city, have the history pointed out to you and how people live nowadays in this city. Have the most important highlights of the music from the Sound of Music and other movies that have taken place in Salzburg pointed out to you. Afterwards, you will have the possibility to enjoy a lunch in the city of Salzburg or on a mountaintop. Then, you will be shown the countryside of Salzburg by being driven to the lake district area, where you will see the Lake Fuschl, St. Gilgen and the famous Mondsee. On your way back, you will be shown the Mirabell Park before being dropped off in the city center or back at your hotel.