Mozart's City In Passing
Recently I have had a good fortune to visit Salzburg again. It is possible to get there from Vienna and Munich. To travel by Vienna-Salzburg train costs 82 euro, by Munich-Salzburg 26 euro. If to travel from Vienna it is better to take a night train, it leaves at 23.45 and arrives at 06.00 in the morning when the city is fresh and clean and there are no crowds of tourists there. Thus, I didn't have much time in my hands - I arrived at the railway station at 6 PM and had to leave at 2 AM.
Right in the railway station you can go to "City information" stall. You can wangle for a city map for free (you will be suggested a big map at 2 euro) for not to inquire many times about the way. It is important because people from Salzburg almost do not speak English or pretend that they do not know it. The rest of people in the city are tourists and they will hardly be able to give you a piece of useful advice. In the same stall you can buy a passage ticket for 24 hours at 3,70 euro. Since passenger fare is 1,80 euro for one way, when you make it two times it will already be recovered for you.
If you have a suitcase or needless heavy bag I recommend you to leave it in an automatic luggage locker on the ground floor of the railway station - the smallest but capacious cell costs 2 euro. Right on the railway station square you can ask about a bus that goes to Mirabelle Park. There are many of them, they depart every 5 minutes and the time till their arrival is displayed on the screen.
When you arrive to the park you will find yourself in a real flower paradise with fountains, sculptures and magnificent flowerbeds. Walk around the palace and then mount up to the city park. There you will get a wonderful view of Hohensalzburg Castle. It is possible to spend a few enjoyable minutes there, sitting and tasting great Salzburger Stiegl or any other beer, you will not mistake.
But, the city is awaiting us! If there is enough time, walk around the city, cross a bridge over the river Salzah on foot and enjoy the old-time houses completely covered with flowerpots. It is possible to admire each of them for quite a long time but you can simply take a photo and walk further. You will come to the very centre of the city and then passing by the City Hall you get to the house where Mozart was born. It is easy to recognize it by the giant Austrian flag on the yellow wall. From here you can easily get to any part of the city and it does not matter where you will go for the beginning.
You should necessarily drop in the main Cathedral Dom, and then walk to the mountain overlooking the city. At the foot of the mountain, nearby the lift to the mountain to the right when your back is turned toward the Cathedral there will be a small door leading to the old cemetery. Walk there, you will not repent, have a look at the headstones, old water mill, and come back to the lift. It costs 2 euro, but there is an alternative stairway nearby, while mounting it up you will be able to look at the roofs of the Cathedral and churches from every staircase, to walk through the ancient gate of the 16th century and almost do not tire. I will not tell much about the Castle - there is just a splendid view at the city from all the sides, view at Alps is especially beautiful. If you have time, dine in one of the cafés on Castle terraces.
You can walk down the same way and passing by the mountain go to the bus station and take a bus to Hellbrun park (don't forget that you have a passage ticket!). From there you can go to Schloss Leopoldskrone Castle where some scenes of "Sounds of Music" film were taken and where I was lucky to live once in the past! There is a magnificent lake with swans nearby and a nice view at the mountain with the Castle from the opposite side.
You can walk to the centre for about 30 minutes and cross the mountain through the ancient tunnel or simply take a bus. But you will have to wait for the same time or even more.Well, that is actually the whole Salzburg! Certainly you can take a City Tour bus and then it will take you only an hour and a half to travel the same way, but believe me - that's not it! Choose a square you like, take a sit in a café, drink some beer or coffee, you deserve it!
By:Iuri Tarabanov
Right in the railway station you can go to "City information" stall. You can wangle for a city map for free (you will be suggested a big map at 2 euro) for not to inquire many times about the way. It is important because people from Salzburg almost do not speak English or pretend that they do not know it. The rest of people in the city are tourists and they will hardly be able to give you a piece of useful advice. In the same stall you can buy a passage ticket for 24 hours at 3,70 euro. Since passenger fare is 1,80 euro for one way, when you make it two times it will already be recovered for you.
If you have a suitcase or needless heavy bag I recommend you to leave it in an automatic luggage locker on the ground floor of the railway station - the smallest but capacious cell costs 2 euro. Right on the railway station square you can ask about a bus that goes to Mirabelle Park. There are many of them, they depart every 5 minutes and the time till their arrival is displayed on the screen.
When you arrive to the park you will find yourself in a real flower paradise with fountains, sculptures and magnificent flowerbeds. Walk around the palace and then mount up to the city park. There you will get a wonderful view of Hohensalzburg Castle. It is possible to spend a few enjoyable minutes there, sitting and tasting great Salzburger Stiegl or any other beer, you will not mistake.
But, the city is awaiting us! If there is enough time, walk around the city, cross a bridge over the river Salzah on foot and enjoy the old-time houses completely covered with flowerpots. It is possible to admire each of them for quite a long time but you can simply take a photo and walk further. You will come to the very centre of the city and then passing by the City Hall you get to the house where Mozart was born. It is easy to recognize it by the giant Austrian flag on the yellow wall. From here you can easily get to any part of the city and it does not matter where you will go for the beginning.
You should necessarily drop in the main Cathedral Dom, and then walk to the mountain overlooking the city. At the foot of the mountain, nearby the lift to the mountain to the right when your back is turned toward the Cathedral there will be a small door leading to the old cemetery. Walk there, you will not repent, have a look at the headstones, old water mill, and come back to the lift. It costs 2 euro, but there is an alternative stairway nearby, while mounting it up you will be able to look at the roofs of the Cathedral and churches from every staircase, to walk through the ancient gate of the 16th century and almost do not tire. I will not tell much about the Castle - there is just a splendid view at the city from all the sides, view at Alps is especially beautiful. If you have time, dine in one of the cafés on Castle terraces.
You can walk down the same way and passing by the mountain go to the bus station and take a bus to Hellbrun park (don't forget that you have a passage ticket!). From there you can go to Schloss Leopoldskrone Castle where some scenes of "Sounds of Music" film were taken and where I was lucky to live once in the past! There is a magnificent lake with swans nearby and a nice view at the mountain with the Castle from the opposite side.
You can walk to the centre for about 30 minutes and cross the mountain through the ancient tunnel or simply take a bus. But you will have to wait for the same time or even more.Well, that is actually the whole Salzburg! Certainly you can take a City Tour bus and then it will take you only an hour and a half to travel the same way, but believe me - that's not it! Choose a square you like, take a sit in a café, drink some beer or coffee, you deserve it!
By:Iuri Tarabanov