The best ‘The Sound Of Music' experiences in Salzburg, Austria

National Geographic

18-03-2025

From the hills of the opening scene to the mountain over which they escape, here's how to follow in the footsteps of the von Trapp family in real life.
Fans of 'The Sound of Music' can follow in the footsteps of the famous von Trapp family
The classic movie The Sound of Music celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, but beyond its milestone celebrations this year, there are several experiences inspired by the famous flick that fans should not miss out on when visiting Salzburg, Austria.
The classic movie The Sound of Music celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, but beyond its milestone celebrations this year, there are several experiences inspired by the famous flick that fans should not miss out on when visiting Salzburg, Austria.
The classic movie The Sound of Music celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, but beyond its milestone celebrations this year, there are several experiences inspired by the famous flick that fans should not miss out on when visiting Salzburg, Austria.
The classic movie The Sound of Music celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, but beyond its milestone celebrations this year, there are several experiences inspired by the famous flick that fans should not miss out on when visiting Salzburg, Austria.
The hills are still alive with The Sound of Music. Sixty years after this family feel-good classic movie premiered, fans still travel to Salzburg to see where the story of the singing Trapp family began. Whether filmed on location or on elaborate Hollywood sets, the original, real-life locations haven't changed.
Travelers can relive the nostalgia of the famous movie and the places featured in its unforgettable scenes—such as the gazebo where Liesl von Trapp sings '16 going on 17' or Nonnberg Abbey where the nuns discuss "how to solve a problem like Maria." Here's how fans can celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music this year and beyond.
How to find The Sound of Music film locations
Of the 16 most famous locations, 12 are in Salzburg city, two (the village in the opening scenes and the church where the real Trapp couple gets married) are in Salzkammergut, while two (Untersberg mountain from 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain' and the famous picnic scene in Werfen) are in Salzburg State.
Fans can arrange the Original Sound of Music Tour, where people are escorted to all the major film locations on a bus. The owner of Panorama Tours, Stefan Herzel, explains his unique connection to the movie. 'Back in 1964, we transported everyone—actors, crew, equipment … everything. So, it was natural to start doing tours. We transported Julie Andrews when she came back in 1987, and the actors playing the children for the BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria [which documented the search for the right Maria for the musical adaptation] in 2006.'
Fans of The Sound of Music can visit Nonnberg Abbey where the nuns in the movie were contemplating, 'How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria.'
Photograph by Image Professionals GmbH, Alamy Stock Photo
On this trip down memory lane, some travelers may find it hard to stifle spontaneous singing on the group excursions. So, fans who prefer a quieter excursion can use the free Smartguide 'On the trail of the Sound of Music' or compromise with a hop-on-hop-off tour. Visitors can also find a licensed guide who can offer a personalized tour and local perspective, along with in-depth information about the real Trapp family.
Best Sound of Music experiences
A taste of The Sound of Music
Guests staying at the Hotel Hyperion can have a three-course meal inspired by The Sound of Music—thanks to Michael Daus, the executive chef of Gaumenfreund, the hotel's on-site restaurant. Part art, part sculpture, and part deconstruction, each component of the meal is a nod to the movie, Alpine culture, or the original Trapp family. The chef creates a paillard of veal with onions and sausage inspired by 'My Favorite Things,' which mentions schnitzel, veal in breadcrumbs, and noodles, a traditional Austrian pasta dish known as Käsknöpfle.
Goat cheese crumbled over beef broth references mountain goats in the Alps, and for dessert, apple strudel with a tuile (thin wafer cookie) made in the shape of Mount Untersberg (where the family escapes) is served in a cinnamon cloud.
Shop for dirndls
Salzburger Heimatwerk is a beloved shop in Salzburg's old city center where visitors can browse and buy local crafts and pret-a-porter or made-to-measure dirndls—traditional Bavarian clothing for women which includes a bodice, blouse, high-waisted skirt, and matching apron. The shop has created a new collection of limited-edition dirndls for the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music.
The new styles are based on a combination of traditional designs, modern cutting techniques, and fabric inspired by the Trapp family's artwork. And even if fans miss out on purchasing one of the limited-edition dirndls, at least one of each will remain on display.
(Related: Welcome to Werfen, The Sound of Music location where nature steals the show.)
Sound of Music activities for families
Take a singing bicycle tour
Ideal for a family, Maria's Bicycles offers a 3.5-hour singing bicycle tour through all the major movie locations. Photo stops include the Mozart Bridge (where Maria and the children point at their favorite sights), Mirabell Gardens (from the famous 'Do-Re-Mi' song), and the Felsenreitschule—the theater where the family sings "So Long" after winning the 1938 Salzburg Summer Festival.
Maria, played by Julie Andrews, and the seven children dance around the Pegasus Fountain while singing 'Do-Re-Mi' at Mirabell Palace and Gardens. The UNESCO World Heritage site, once home to two Prince-Archbishops, now houses the administration and mayor of Salzburg's offices.
Photograph by Gulliver Theis, Laif/Redux
Stay at Schloss Leopoldskron
Fans can check into Schloss Leopoldskron where scenes were filmed, including when viewers see Baron von Trapp and Baroness Schraeder drink pink lemonade, Maria and the children fall out of their boat, and Maria return from the abbey. However, the Venetian ballroom, staircase, and main foyer were reproduced in Hollywood.
The Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Leopold Anton Freiherr von Firmian (1679-1744), built the palace in 1736, which was eventually transformed into a boutique hotel. If you're not a hotel guest or have not arranged a pre-booked tour, you won't be able to access the indoor spaces where some of the movie's iconic scenes were filmed.
Guests staying at Schloss Leopoldskron—once a palace now transformed into a boutique hotel—have access to the indoor spaces where some scenes of The Sound of Music were filmed. A stay here also grants guests access to beautiful views like the one above.
Photograph by Melanie Dreysse, Laif/Redux
The hotel also features the famous gazebo and a photography exhibition that showcases photos of the real Trapp family, the movie's cast and crew, and original movie posters in different languages. It's a teaser to the forthcoming Sound of Music Museum, scheduled to open in Hellbrunn Palace in 2026.
Puppet performance and film highlights
Salzburg Marionette Theatre—a state-of-the-art institution founded in 1913—has a permanent exhibition and a 90-minute 'Big Broadway Musical in Miniature' performance in which puppeteers bring more than 100 puppets to life in a dance performance set to the original movie score. Parents with impatient or younger children may prefer the 35-minute highlights show that contains excerpts from The Sound of Music and Mozart's Magic Flute.
Recreate a famous scene
Visitors to Salzburg can also take the Mönchsberg elevator or walk three miles to the Winkler Terrace, located by the Modern Museum of Salzburg. Fans can recreate the 'Do-Re-Mi' scene. The view of the Salzach River and the old city center make a perfect backdrop for an Instagram-worthy snapshot.
Check into the hotels where the actors stayed
Stop by the Sketch Bar at the Bristol Hotel for a drink. It received high marks from actor Christopher Plummer (Baron von Trapp), who stayed at the hotel and thought the bar had a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Fans can also visit Hotel Sacher, where actress Julie Andrews (Maria von Trapp) stayed, or the Hotel am Mirabellplatz where the children actors (other than Charmian Carr who was over 21) stayed.
While in Salzburg, visitors can experience more of the city by experiencing the healing nature of the Salzburg Mountains.
Getting around
More than 350,000 fans visit Salzburg each year; more than double the city's population of 160,000. Visitors can get around Salzburg via its S-Bahn rail system, public trolleybuses, local bus lines, or on foot. Renting a car or car service is your best option for exploring all points outside of the city.
Visitors can reach Salzburg via a two-hour direct flight from the U.K. with British Airways, Austrian Airlines, Easyjet, WizzAir, or Ryanair. Fans can also plan a 14-hour journey by train via Eurostar, with connections to NS, Deutchebahn, WESTbahn, Meridian, or Transdev. Airport transfers to the city center are cheapest by a 20-minute bus ride or an 8-to-12-minute taxi ride—the fastest option.
Where to stay
In central Salzburg, the Hotel Hyperion is just a few minutes walk from Mirabell Gardens, the Salzburger Marionetten Theater (Salzberg Marionette Theater), the starting point for The Sound of Music Tour, and within easy reach of other city sites and attractions. Check into the Arabella Jagdhof Resort at Lake Fuschls, especially for its proximity to film locations in Fuschlsee, St.Gilgen, St. Wolfgang, and Mondsee Church.
(Related: 10 of the best hotels in Salzburg, the Austrian home of The Sound of Music.)
What you should know
Travel with cash if you want to delve into Salzburg's café culture. Most coffeehouses only take cash.
Visitors to Salzburg should be aware that outdoor tours stop during the winter, so you may want to consider arranging a licensed guide to see The Sound of Music sights. Bus tours and other indoor experiences are available year-round. It's recommended to book in advance, especially when visiting during peak season because tours and other experiences fill up fast.
Wheelchair accessibility can be challenging because of the protected historical nature of Salzburg's buildings. However, most hotels have at least one wheelchair-accessible room, and most city experiences are accessible with a motorized wheelchair.
Carole Edrich is a freelance writer, photographer, and podcaster based in London and Brussels, follow her at CaroleInnit for travel humor and comment.