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| Salzburg |
For some reason, we thought that scheduling a day trip to Salzburg would be the best call after a big day at Oktoberfest.
We had originally booked a group tour that would take us by train to Salzburg. However, right before we were to arrive in Munich we received notification that the tour was cancelled because train service was temporarily suspended due to the refugee crisis.
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| Drive to Salzburg |
We were very disappointed because Salzburg had been one of the places we were looking forward to seeing the most. We immediately contacted the concierge at the Le Meridien in Munich and explained our dilemma. Even though it was the busiest tourist time in Munich, he wrote back and told us that he had found us a driver for the day. He explained that he wasn't an official tour guide but that he could point out some key points along the way.
After struggling to get up and make our way down to the lobby to meet our driver, we piled into the nicest tour van we have ever seen. It turns out that our driver was actually the owner of the limousine company. He doesn't typically drive clients himself but he felt bad for us when he heard our story. He picked us up in a Mercedes van that was ten days old and amazing. It could literally drive itself. It was also fully stocked with as much whiskey as we wanted. Not surprisingly, the answer to that question was "NONE"!
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| Tunnel to Salzburg |
It took about an hour and a half to drive from Munich to Salzburg and the drive was beautiful. Lots of farmland and mountains in the distance. It's also the perfect length for a cat nap so that you can actually survive your day in Salzburg.
Upon arrival, you actually go through a tunnel to get to the old part of Salzburg and the public parking lot is actually built into the mountain. When you enter the garage, you are in a regular parking lot. When you walk out the other side of the mountain however, you are transformed back in time.
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| Salzburg Cathedral |
Our first stop was the Salzburg Cathedral which is stunningly beautiful. We then went to the Hohensalzburg Fortress which is the largest completely preserved castle in Central Europe. It sits on top of a hill and has amazing views of the city and surrounding areas. A funicular takes you to the top where there is a tour as well as the ability to walk around on your own.
Following our fortress visit, we had lunch at M32 which is the restaurant at the Museum der Moderne and provides amazing views over Salzburg and the Fortress. There is also a great park that surrounds the museum.
Following lunch we just walked around town taking in the sights. We crossed the Makartsteg Bridge which is lined with "Love Locks", saw Mozart's house and had a Sacher Torte at Cafe Sacher, where it all began.
Of course, no visit to Salzburg is complete with out taking in a few of the Sound of Music sights. Our favorite was the Mirabell Palace and Gardens.
While we were only there for a few hours, we fell in love with Salzburg and can't wait to go back to Austria.
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| Fortress |
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| View from Fortress |
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| Salzburg as seen from the Fortress |
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| Horse Drawn Carriage |
