Our Favourite Things about the 'Sound of Music' Tour

Our Favourite Things about the 'Sound of Music' Tour

No matter how well you know the lyrics to Do-Re-Mi, you can’t really call yourself a Sound of Music super fan until you’ve visited Austria! From the von Trapp family home to the Austrian Alps, we can take you to some of the musical’s most iconic destinations.

Kicking off just after Christmas, our New Year with the Sound of Music Tour takes travellers through Salzburg and the surrounding countryside. There are so many highlights featured on this tour, we might as well start at the very beginning (a very good place to start):

Enjoy a Few of Your Favourite Things in Salzburg

After meeting up with your fellow travellers for welcome dinner and drinks in Munich, the tour truly begins in Salzburg. While exploring the city, don’t be surprised if it feels like you’ve stepped onto the set of The Sound of Music. Even though more than 50 years have passed since the film’s release, Salzburg’s medieval architecture and charm is instantly recognisable.

After the day’s activities you can retire to the Schloss Leopoldskron, where you’ll spend 5 nights in total. Built in 1736, this isn’t just any hotel – used as an official residence by the Austrian royal family, several scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed in this location. It features an old-world library, hidden staircases and lovingly restored rooms.

Salzburg isn’t just famous for The Sound of Music – you can learn more about the city’s fascinating history by visiting these sights and attractions:

• Mozart’s birthplace – The legendary composer was born on the third floor of a 12th century apartment building, which is now a fantastic museum. Visitors can see some of Mozart’s childhood instruments (including his first violin) and original versions of his work.
• Salzburg Castle – Perched atop the Festungsberg (a hill overlooking the city), Salzburg Castle isn’t just beautiful; it also houses a fortress museum, ancient artefacts and medieval chambers. If you’re a fan of classical music, get excited – the castle serves as a venue for the Salzburg Fortress Concerts.
• St Peter Stiftskeller – Located within the walls of a church, St Peter Stiftskeller is the city’s oldest restaurant. Legend has it that Mozart and Christopher Columbus once dined here.

See a Lonely Goatherd*

The New Year Sound of Music tour includes several daytrips to regions outside of Salzburg. It doesn’t matter if you want to run around the countryside singing The Hills are Alive, or sit back and admire the stunning scenery – you’ll love exploring this famously beautiful part of Austria.

Apart from visiting places connected to the movie, there are plenty of other activities on offer to keep you entertained. Be sure to explore the cobbled streets of Berchtesgaden, a quaint Bavarian village located around half an hour from Salzburg. We’ll also take you on a tour of an old salt mine before visiting Königssee, a breathtaking fjord-like lake.

*Disclaimer: You may or may not actually see a lonely goatherd!

Silver White Winters (That Melt Into Spring)

The Austrian landscape looks like a winter wonderland around the New Year. You’ll almost certainly get to enjoy some snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes.

On New Year’s Eve, you can look forward to being ferried through the snow-covered mountains in a horse-drawn carriage. And you’ll still get back to Schloss Leopoldskron in time for the New Year’s gala event that night. With dinner, drinks and fireworks included, it’s a night you’ll never forgot (even if you want to be tucked up in bed by 10.00pm).

You can spend the remainder of your tour exploring the Salzkammergut (the Austrian Lakes District) and visiting all the other Sound of Music locations around Salzburg. Whether you want to see the church where Maria and Captain von Trapp got married or dance around the gazebo where Liesl and Rolf sang Sixteen Going on Seventeen, you’ll find plenty of places to embrace your love of musical theatre.

Of course, not everyone is a Sound Of Music super fan. To explore Austria on a tour that doesn’t involve any singing, we offer several other itineraries in this gorgeous country.