While I was in Switzerland recently, Mrs H and five friends enjoyed a long weekend in Salzburg, Austria. For them all, it was the first visit to an Alpine city forever linked with Mozart, The von Trapp Family and 1965’s ‘The Sound of Music’ movie.

They were wowed by the place and have vowed to return, but what made it so memorable? Forget raindrops, roses and kittens’ whiskers; from what I’ve heard, here are some of their favourite things!

A warm welcome

As in ‘Do-Re-Mi’, let’s start at the very beginning. After a great transfer by Airports Taxi Transfers, the girls’ accommodation in a city dominated by surrounding mountains was something good too. The centrally located Hotel Wolf-Dietrich, near the celebrated Schloss-Mirabell and Mozart’s birthplace, was a perfect base for exploring Salzburg’s easily-walkable narrow streets, breathtaking baroque and modern architecture, and tempting shopping!

Throughout, the Salzburgers were wonderfully welcoming. During five days, none of the party considered stealthily leaving town and ‘climbing ev’ry mountain’ on the way to sanctuary in Switzerland. Fact: when the real von Trapps fled Austria, it was by train to Italy!

The morning after their arrival, a free guided walking tour helped get everyone into ‘Sound of Music’ mode. That done, dinner and a ‘Best of Mozart’ concert in the lofty Fortress Hohensalzburg earned fulsome praise. The 11th Century landmark is easily accessible by foot or funicular.

On other occasions, relaxing walks along the Salzach River and immersion in modern art at the striking clifftop Museum der Moderne got a thumbs up. So did delicious suppers at Ristorante Pizzeria Beccofino, Sternbräu and Bärenwirt (apparently, home to ‘Salzburg’s best deep-fried chicken’). Remember too, to sample mouth-watering ‘Kasnochen’ pasta and the city’s signature dessert – the fluffy, triple-peaked sweet soufflé called Salzburger Nockerl.

Film locations by bike

Another highlight – despite heavy rain – was a guided cycle tour to famous local ‘Sound of Music’ locations. Run by well-reviewed Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tours, three and a half hours’ leisurely riding provided fascinating movie insights and insider secrets. Watching the classic musical will never be the same again!

The days whizzed past for six 60-year-olds ‘going on seventeen’ as they savoured Salzburg’s delights and recreated iconic movie moments. Too soon though, they had to say ‘So long, farewell’. Salzburg will always be about Mozart and ‘The Sound of Music’, but it offers much more too. Don’t delay – put stunning Salzburg on your city-break shortlist. You might even meet a lonely goatherd!