The Sound of Music is a story that has captivated audiences for over 50 years. The 1965 film, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, is still one of the world’s most beloved musicals. The story is loosely based on the real life von Trapp family and their life in Salzburg leading up to the Second World War. The iconic film and fascinating story brings many tourists to the city of Salzburg, eager to explore both the real sites and filming locations associated with the The Sound of Music.
Salzburg is a very walkable city, so it’s easy to wander around and see many of the sites associated with the film. And if you’re looking for a more in-depth experience, you can also book a guided tour. If doing so, I highly recommend the Original Sound of Music Tour, which is run by Salzburg Panorama Tours. This is the same company that actually shuttled the film crew around during the making of the movie, so they have some great stories and insights into the production.
Whether exploring by yourself, or taking a tour, The Sound of Music fans are in for a treat! Below I’ve listed 10 recommendations for Sound of Music sites to visit while in Salzburg, Austria.
1. Leopoldskron Palace (The von Trapp family home)
If you’re a fan of the Sound of Music, much of Salzburg will be instantly recognizable. And in my opinion, one of the most recognizable sites is Leopoldskron Palace. In the movie, the palace exterior is used as the von Trapp family home. Fans of the movie will remember it particularly from the boat scene where Maria and the children fall overboard into the water! The building itself is a historic palace, that today operates as a hotel. It’s a beautiful example of Salzburg architecture and the iconic setting makes for a great photo!
2. Nonnberg Abbey (where Maria prepares to become a nun).
Built in the 8th century, Nonnberg Abbey is the oldest nunnery that still exists in the German-speaking area. It became famous for featuring in The Sound of Music, but is also where the real Maria von Trapp (at the time named Maria Auguste) lived while preparing to become a nun. Located high above the city streets, it’s pretty easy to view the abbey from many areas of the city. However, if you have time I do highly recommend the hike up to the abbey for a visit. You’ll be able to see some of the exterior film locations (such as the gate the von Trapp children arrive at looking for Maria) as well as the stunning views over the city of Salzburg.
3. Mirabell Palace and Gardens (Featured in “Do Re Mi”).
Mirabell Palace and Garden is another iconic location from The Sound of Music. The 17th century palace was also a performance venue of the Mozart family, but it is the palace’s gardens that cemented its place in modern popular culture. The garden is featured in The Sound of Music during “Do Re Mi“, where Maria and the von Trapp children sing and dance among the foliage. Visitors can see the garden’s fountain or instantly recognizable steps. Mirabell Palace is also worth a visit at night, as they have classical music concerts inside the Baroque Marble Hall.
4. The Sound of Music Gazebo at Hellbrunn Palace.
Two very memorable scenes from The Sound of Music take place in the gazebo, including Liesl and Rolf’s performance of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and Maria and Captain von Trapp’s performance of “Something Good”. Fans of The Sound of Music will be delighted to know that the gazebo is a real site that you can actually visit! The gazebo was originally located at Leopoldskron Palace, but was relocated to Hellburnn Palace to allow easier access for visiting fans. The palace is about an 8-minute drive from the centre of Salzburg so it’s great to see as a part of the Original Sound of Music tour.
5. The Summer Riding School (where Christopher Plummer sang “Eidelweiss”).
One of the most haunting scenes in The Sound of Music is near the end of the film when the von Trapp family perform at the Salzburg Festival before making their escape from the city. It is here that Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) sings the iconic song “Edelweiss” before leaving his homeland. This scene was filmed at the Summer Riding School, one of the actual venues for the Salzburg Festival. The real von Trapp family also performed at the Salzburg Festival in the 1930s. The concert hall can be visited as a part of the Salzburg Festival Hall tour, which I also recommend doing if time allows. The Salzburg Festival is such an integral part of the city’s culture as well as general music history and it’s a fascinating tour.
6. The Mozart Bridge (From “Do Re Mi”).
If you’ve seen The Sound of Music, you’ve probably had the song “Do Re Mi” stuck in your head for a few days after. One of the things I love about the performance of the song in the film, is that it shows off many of the beautiful sites of Salzburg. One of these sites is the Mozart Bridge, which became famous after Maria and the children danced across it during the song. The Art Nouveau bridge was built in 1903 and today still acts as a pedestrian bridge connecting the Salzburg’s Old Town to Steingasse (another historic street on the other side of the river).
7. Basilika St. Michael (where Maria marries Captain von Trapp).
The Basilika St. Michael is the location in the film where Maria marries Captain von Trapp. While this site is actually located outside of Salzburg, I still think it’s a great one to include and it is also possible to visit on The Original Sound of Music tour. The church is actually located in the town of Mondsee, which is less than a 20-minute drive from Salzburg. Visitors can go inside the church and see the aisle Julie Andrews walked down in the movie. The town of Mondsee if also worth having a little look around for it’s beautiful scenery, little shops and lovely cafes.
8. St. Peter’s Cemetery (inspired the cemetery scene at the end of the film).
St. Peter’s Cemetery is a part of St. Peter’s Monastery, Cemetery and Catacombs and was one of my favourite historical attractions in Salzburg. St. Peter’s was founded in the 7th century and the cemetery is the inspiration for the cemetery that the von Trapp family hid from the Nazis in at the end of The Sound of Music. The scene from the movie was filmed on a set, but visitors to the real cemetery can see how the graves were an inspiration for the film. In the cemetery you can also see the grave of Mozart’s sister Nannerl and explore the cave-like catacombs that date back to late antiquity.
See the full article on visiting St. Peter’s Monastery, Cemetery and Catacombs here.
9. Sound of Music World Museum.
The Sound of Music World museum was a great little find in Salzburg. It’s a small museum, but provides an in-depth insight into the real von Trapp family and their lives in Austria as well as their emigration to the United States. As both a fan of the musical and someone historically interested in the real von Trapps, I found it really interesting to learn more about the individuals who inspired the film. It was also interesting to learn about the differences between the real von Trapp family and the family played on screen. Visitors to the museum are able to explore the various displays which feature quite a bit of reading material on the family as well as artifacts and videos. In my opinion, it’s a good place to pop in to if you’re interested in the historical view of the famous family.
10. Hotel Sacher Salzburg (where Julie Andrews stayed during filming).
The Hotel Sacher Salzburg is a luxurious 5-star hotel located in the centre of the city. Understandably it was the perfect place for Julie Andrews to stay while filming The Sound of Music. The hotel sits on the banks of the Salzach river that runs through the city and can be easily viewed from Salzburg’s old town. It could also be a good option if you’re looking for a fancy place to stay! The hotel is a spectacular piece of history as it was built in the 1860s and has been around for over 150 years.
To learn more about staying at the Hotel Sacher Salzburg, visit here.
I hope you enjoy exploring The Sound of Music sites in Salzburg as much as I did. For a fictional movie, it’s amazing how many sites from the film there are to see. If you’re looking for further recommendations in Salzburg, take a look at 10 Historical Things to do in Salzburg, Austria.
This article’s information was last updated in August 2022.