Nestled in a small pocket of land, hemmed by the River Salzach on one side and the towering mountain, Monchberg, on the other, Salzburg is a storybook town with a labyrinth of cobbled streets, quiet arcaded courtyards and charmingly colourful old houses.
The birthplace of Mozart and the Sound of Music, the city is divided by the curving river, with baroque buildings of the Altstadt (Old Town) on its left bank, and the 19th century Neustad (New Town) on the right. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, most places of interest are within easy walking distance, which makes Salzburg a great destination for a city excursion.
Though it’s possible to spend all of your time in the Alstadt, looking at the mosaic of graceful domes and spires and admiring the cliff top Hohensalzburg fortress, which looms above the city, Salzburg rewards those who venture beyond. Take a tumble over the river into the city’s burgeoning art scene, concert halls and manicured parks, where you can sample more of a modern vibe, or, for those who want to go hiking through the Alps, put on your walking boots and wander along some of the 7,200km worth of designated paths that showcase Austria’s most scenic alpine regions.
