Walk the cobblestoned streets of Salzburg’s Old Town and listen for the sweet sounds of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik as you explore Mozart’s life with this guided tour through his hometown. Your guide will lead you through the streets of Salzburg, passing caf茅s and boutiques as they tell you more about the composer’s life and times, as well as his timeless work.
You’ll stop at Mozart’s baptismal church, Salzburg Cathedral, with its copper dome and twin spires. At Saint Peter’s Abbey, see the final resting place of Mozart’s older sister in the church’s perfectly manicured garden, with coordinated blooming flowers and wrought iron gates.
You’ll also visit Mozart’s Birthplace and Mozart’s Residence, the homes where he spent his childhood and adolescence. His birth home is located on Getreidegasse, a main shopping street with excellent restaurants (your guide can make suggestions). Mozart’s Residence is just on the other side of the Salzbach, giving you a chance to explore both sides of the river.
Your private guide will meet you at your hotel before you head out to explore Salzburg’s Old Town’s storied cobblestone streets. The 2.5-hour walk will give you a chance to see the places in Mozart’s hometown that were meaningful to him.
You’ll go to Salzburg Cathedral, a massive church dominating a square, with a bulbous copper dome and twin copper spires. The façade is built from Untersberg marble, with statues of disciples Peter and Paul and the patron saints of Salzburg Rupert and Virgil looking down over the entrance. If you’re making good time, you’ll get the chance to go inside the church, where you’ll see intricately painted ceilings, imposing organs and large marble arches. At the altar, you can visit the original bronze baptismal font, which is still used today.
When he was just 13, Mozart composed Dominicus Mass for the abbot at Saint Peter’s Abbey. You’ll walk to this Romanesque church located at the foot of Mönchsberg, where you can take in the brightly hued biblical frescoes painted on the walls. Mozart’s sister is also entombed here, and the abbey’s cemetery is the oldest-known Christian burial ground in Austria. Family crypts are protected by elegant wrought iron gates, and a florist designed the manicured flower boxes, making the space resemble a garden more than a cemetery.
Your guide will also bring you to Mozart’s Birthplace on the Getreidegasse, the bustling main street of Salzburg’s Old Town. You can window shop as you walk and pick out a caf茅 to come back to for dessert. Mozart’s Birthplace is the home he lived in as an infant and child, and now houses a museum where you’ll get to see his childhood violin, concert violin, clavichord and pianoforte.
A short walk across the river, Mozart’s Residence had to be restored after it was mostly destroyed by a bomb during World War II. Today, the home looks as it did when Mozart inhabited it during his adolescent years and houses a museum where you can learn about the life of the entire Mozart family.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Austria specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Mozart dinner & concert
Immerse yourself in the music and food of the Baroque era with this intimate dinner and concert at one of the oldest restaurants in Europe. Enjoy a performance of Mozart鈥檚 works by costumed performers between courses of a traditional Austrian meal.
The Sound of Music tour
This half-day driving tour of the most memorable locations from The Sound of Music with a private driver-guide lets you relive the movie鈥檚 nostalgic charms, while also taking in the history and beauty of Salzburg and Austria鈥檚 lake district.
