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A few weeks ago we spent the weekend in the Austrian city Salzburg. It is know for the famous piano player and wunderkind Mozart as well as many cultural landmarks and castles. I have planned this whole trip for my MIL´s birthday present. She turned 60 in Feburary and we decided to gift her a carefree weekend in a cute little city with a fully planned itinerary. She got tickets, vouchers and gift gards for sights and activities as well as restaurants.
We all (my husbands siblings and their partners as well as our little family) decided to surprise her on the first evening and went to Salzburg as well, so today I am sharing you some insight on our trip and our whole weekend plan.
It was in the first week of April when we visited and everything was in full bloom. The magnolia trees have been magnificent and almost around every corner has been a very old and huge one. Very beautiful.
3 Day Salzburg Itinerary
Day 1
Zoo Hellbrunn
This is a really nice zoo. It is very clean and I loved that the monkeys are free to move so you can find them at any place at any given time. Their are several playgrounds and play areas as well as a restaurant. Zoo Hellbrunn is definitley one of the scenic ones. You can find snowy mountains in every direction you are looking. My favorite animals have been the leopards, flamingos and otters. You can buy your tickets here or at the entrance.
Fortress Hohensalzburg
I have gotten tickets for my inlaws and they went and toured all the buildings plus got up with the gondola ride (we decided to skip this cause with a double stroller it is not recommended, there isn´t enough space but if you have a single stroller with you I think you are totally fine).
The fortress is one of the main attractions of the downtown Salzburg area. It almost a thousand years old and sits up high on one of the hills that surround the city. You can read more about it here and get your tickets as well. When we first visited 9 years ago without children we went up by foot. It is possible but very steep.
Check-In to our Hotel
The City Hotel Meininger – great for bigger families cause you can book rooms for up to 6 children plus 2 adults.
Dinner at The Sternbräu
Traditional Austrian kitchen. We all ordered different meals and everyone loved it. Also very affordable dinner prices for the area and type of restaurant. Stay clear of the hard liquors and your check will stay low too. Look at the menu and order your table here. They have also been very kid friendly. The girls got pens and some paper to draw right away.
And this has been our first day of exploring Salzburg. We like to keep our first day as low key as possible no matter how long the drive has been, cause it is still a new area to get used too and we have to unpack, find a parking spot and mostly some snacks too and unpack a little.
Day 2
Castle Mirabelle
Castle Mirabell had one of the prettiest gardens I have seen. The huge magnolias trees are so pretty and all the other flowers and fountains. It is free to enter and open from Mondays to Fridays. Located about 5 minutes away from the city centre. You can enter for free and wander around. The castle has a huge marble hall where you can get married as well.
Ship cruise on the Salzach
I personally love to take a cruise in a city I have never been to. It is the perfect way to relax and take a break from running around and also gathering facts and sight of building and history you would´ve never noticed from the shore or way up high. If it is possible I can guarantee you, you´ll find me on a boat. Unfortunately this time the water levels have been so low we could only do half of the tour. Nevertheless it was a great way to rest and gather some strength for the rest of the day. We booked the premium tickets which means you get a front seat and a free drink. They had a childrens area with a steering wheel. Our double stroller fit perfectly in the entrance area. There are steps down to the boat so you will definitely need someone to help you carry down the stroller. You can book your river cruise here. We booked the 40 minute route. This would also be a nice bad weather activity in case it rains.
Famous Salzburger Nockerl enjoyed at Café Mozart
The typical dish to eat when you are in Salzburg are the „Salzburger Nockerl“. It is made of egg whites and very fluffy. Served with raspberry sauce. The three Salzburger Nockerl are a symbol of the three hills around the city.
The Getreidegasse
The Getreidegasse is the most famous and also the biggest street in Salzburg. It is located right in the centre of Salzburg. You can shop and find restaurants here as well as cute little hotels.
Christmas in Salzburg might be one of the most iconic stores have ever been too. It has been 20 years since the first time I went in there (back in the days with my parents) and I have never forgotten about it, ever. This store sells easter eggs (real fragile eggs, but empty) painted with the most beautiful patterns or picutures. The eggs are suitable for every season or holiday so make sure to wander around a little and let it sit. They are fairly expensive but the more complex the print is the more it costs. They are all hand painted.
Mozart´s Birth Place
This bright yellow house located in the Getreidegasse is the Wunderkind Mozart´s birth house. You can find lots of information about his life, his music and much more in the house. It is not barrier-free so you can not enter with a stroller or wheelchair and has several storeys to explore. Buy your tickets here.
Dinner at Yuen
Dinner at the best Asian place we have ever been – I had the Terryaki Wok Chicken and it was the best Asian dish I have ever eaten.
Day 3
Hellbrunn Castle
A cute little castle on the outskirts of Salzburg. It has a big garden you can tour with a guide as well as the first water powered moving pictures and music systems.
You will find tons of stores and all sell the red and black Mozart chocolate balls, but there are only two shops which will sell the blue and silver ones. These are the first and original Mozart chocolate balls. Don´t be fooled by the others.
Our hotel was called Meininger and it was located in Schallmoos a better part of Salzburg city. Since we where located about 2 km outside of the city centre and we had a huge stroller and one toddler who had to walk, we decided to take the bus in and out of the city centre and it was a great decision. The bus system is fairly easy and you can buy tickets for a day or several days (depends on the lenght of your stay). The busses come abou every 10 to 15 minutes no matter the day. It is easy to get in with a double stroller, cause the end of the busses are all dedicated for strollers and bikes.
