Here are five things to do in Salzburg, Austria:

Visit Marabellgarten

The massive Mirabell garden rest at the base of the Mirabell Palace. From the famous Do-Re-Mi steps of the Sound of Music, you can see the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Inside you can stroll along the hedges and flowerbeds and spy on the statues in the Zwergerlgarten. Other sculptures are modelled after the Roman gods. Even in winter, the gardens are sure to impress. The doors to the gardens open at 6am but close at dusk. This place is the perfect thing to see first thing in the morning, especially if you want to pull a Julie Andrews and belt Sound of Music on the stairs. Fewer people will judge you in the morning.

Explore the old churches like Dom Quartier Salzburg

Salzburg was a mystery to me at first. It was a place to rest my head on my bigger journey, but that made it even more impressive. Exploring in the evening was special. There wasn’t a tonne of people, and around every corner was something to explore. I stumbled upon the Dom Quartier Salzburg, a stunning baroque Cathedral. Around the corner, you can find the Franziskanerkirche and St. Michaelskirche all gorgeous structures that weave a tale of Christianity in Austria.

Explore the old town

Old Town of Salzburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans both sides of the Salzach River. Walk the river’s edge or stumble down it’s narrow pathways.

Makartsteg – aka the love lock bridge – is a pedestrian bridge that will take you over the Salzach River. If you’re in love, buy a lock and chain it to the fence to show how much you care about each other. If you’re single, just take a photo and attach a lock to show your love of the beautiful Salzburg.

Shop and eat at a Christmas Market

There’s something about the lights around Christmas time that makes everything more magical. I stumbled upon the Wintermarkt, a Christmas market that runs until Epiphany. Here you can taste mulled wine, explore the beautiful crafts and stuff your bag with souvenirs.

Salzburg is the City of Mozart

Mozart was born in Salzburg back in 1756. The Mozart Residence on Makartplatz and the Mozart Birthplace on the Getreidegasse, both of which are now museums, remind us of his extraordinary childhood. Mozart chocolates, Mozart rubber ducks, Mozart ice cream. As the city in which Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and grew up, Salzburg can fairly claim the title of City of Mozart. Visitors to Salzburg will bump into Mozart around almost every corner…

Salzburg is an unsuspected gem, someplace I never expected to enjoy, but it’s stunning architecture, expansive history and rich culture make it a must see place in Central Europe.