Stories & field notes
Longer guides, arguments, and field notes from people who know the ground.
Showing 1 - 10 of 32 stories
Field note
Salzburg is often associated with a romantic idea of mountains. In the Sound of Music film, for example, it also looks as if there are mountains in the center of Salzburg. While there are mountains in the city of Salzburg, these mountains are not the alps and would rather be called hills by us locals.
Field note
The distance between Munich and Salzburg is 145 kilometers (90 miles) which is shorter than the distance between Salzburg and the Austrian capital Vienna. Therefore, Munich is not only a popular place to visit on the way to and from Salzburg but Munich is also the closest international airport. In this article, you will find
Field note
The Salzburg Cathedral, besides the Hohensalzburg Fortress, is the landmark of the city of Salzburg. Together with the fortress and Mirabell, the Salzburg Cathedral is one of the top 3 sights in Salzburg. A long time ago I published an article on the Free Walking Tour Salzburg’s Blog titled “why the Salzburg Cathedral is a
Field note
Salzburg is a gem of a city. It is not only rich in history and art but also surrounded by beautiful scenery. This makes it an ideal base for day trips. The 3 Best Day Trips from Salzburg include the Lake District, Berchtesgaden, and the Eagles Nest, as well as the Ice Caves in Werfen. But
Field note
The first thing you think of when you hear of Salzburg is Mozart and the Sound of Music, but what if I told you that Salzburg is also home to some of the most beautiful sunsets on Earth. Due to Salzburg’s perfect synergy between nature and city, the sun sets early in the winter behind
Field note
The Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the baroque jewel of Salzburg, is one of the Top 3 sights of Salzburg. In Salzburg, the entire old town on the left side of the Salzach river is a UNESCO world heritage site, but on the right side of the river, only Mirabell is so designated. Mirabell is a
Field note
Mozart’s birthplace, the city of music, and the host of the world’s largest classical music festival, as well as home to Europe’s best-preserved medieval fortress, it may seem impossible to experience Salzburg from top to bottom in only one day. But while one day in Salzburg may not be enough to see and do everything
Field note
I don’t have children. However, I am not only a Salzburg tour guide, I was once a Salzburg kid. I was born and raised in Hallein, 15 kilometers outside the city of Salzburg, and spent most of my life in Salzburg and its surroundings. What I share with you in this article are, therefore, partly
Field note
The Hohensalzburg Fortress is not only the landmark of Salzburg but also its namesake. The fortress overlooks the city of Salzburg and Salzach River, and with a million visitors a year is the second most popular tourist attraction in Austria. On the Free Walking Tour, I always advise my guests to see the fortress if
Field note
Austria’s most expensive city to visit is Salzburg. But is Salzburg expensive or just a little more expensive than other places in Austria? Due to high rents, living in Salzburg is expensive. Salzburg is a small city; not only is it hard to find reasonably priced apartments, but hotels and hostels book up days in
Field note
Bad Ischl feels to me like the capital of the Salzkammergut Lake District. It isn’t. The Lake District extends over the provinces of Salzburg Land and Upper Austria, all the way from Salzburg to Hallstatt, and of course does not have a capital. But Bad Ischl was the summer resort town for the Habsburg emperor
Field note
To be perfectly honest, there is only one must-do thing in Werfen. The main reason for most travelers to visit Werfen is the Werfen Ice Cave. Werfen, despite its stunning surroundings in the middle of the alps, is not particularly interesting. While Werfen is scenic, there are a number of similar places that offer more.
Field note
The Roam Austria Blog is of course about Austria but while Berchtesgaden is located across the border in Bavaria, Germany, Berchtesgaden is one of the best day trips from Salzburg and my personal favorite. Since we, Austrians, are comfortable with the cultural, dialectal, and dietary similarities in Bavaria, a trip to Germany doesn’t feel like
Field note
Hitler had his summer residence in Berchtesgaden, just across the border from Salzburg, in Bavaria 15 years before the war began. Almost all the buildings in that area had been leveled by bombs by the end of the war, but one had survived. The Eagles Nest, built for Hitler’s 50th birthday, was spared since it
Field note
Austria has long winters, but April is when Salzburg and the rest of the country reawaken. Although the weather remains unpredictable and snow is still possible in April in Salzburg. However, you will more likely experience rainy, chilly, or warm sunny days. April is the official start of spring. During April, when the sun is
Field note
Salzburg is a small city in Austria, a small country. If the whole country is small, why would we need an entire article just about the weather in Salzburg? Well, because Salzburg’s weather has its particularities. How come? The weather in Salzburg is special as a result of Salzburg’s geographic location on the German border,
Field note
The Eisriesenwelt in Werfen is not only the largest Ice Cave in Austria but the largest ice cave in the world. Therefore, it’s no wonder the Eisriesenwelt Werfen is one of the 3 most popular day trips from Salzburg. It is located near the town of Werfen about 40 kilometers south of Salzburg. The Cave
Field note
Museums bring history to life, and Salzburg’s museums are no exception. They tell stories from the past, present, and future and give you a unique insight into the local culture and the nature of the city. But which are the best museums in Salzburg? The best history museums in Salzburg are the Salzburg Museum and
Field note
It is hard to believe, but the Ice Caves in Werfen, one hour south of Salzburg, are the largest Ice Caves in the world. The first kilometer of the 42-kilometer deep cave can be explored on a guided tour. Even though the caves are only an hour away from Salzburg, there are several steps you
Field note
My hometown, Salzburg, is located in northeastern Austria, just five kilometers from the German border. Salzburg is known as the city of music and as a filming location for the Sound of Music. Photos of Salzburg most often show the beautiful architecture and the surrounding mountains. You may wonder: What is all the fuss about?
Field note
Salzburg is often visited as part of a longer journey. Many trips also include a stop in Munich. Or you could visit the Bavarian capital as a main destination while you’re attending Oktoberfest, then travel to Salzburg as a side trip. The distance between Salzburg and Munich is 150 kilometers, which is actually closer than
Field note
Berchtesgaden is one of the best day trips from Salzburg and my personal favorite. Lake Königssee, Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, the salt mines, and countless hiking trails are just a few of the things to do in Berchtesgaden and the reasons why Berchtesgaden is worth visiting. Berchtesgaden is a small, sleepy in Bavaria Germany, just across
Field note
Hallstatt is known as one of the most photographed villages in the world and the most famous village in Austria. Hallstatt is a great day trip from Salzburg, but what are the things to do in Hallstatt other than take Instagram pictures? It’s far more than a trendy spot for sharing selfies on social media.
Field note
The Salzburg Card gives you access to most of Salzburg’s paid attractions at fixed prices for 24 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours. In this article, you will find out how to get the most out of the Salzburg Card with our 10 insider tips gathered by an actual local tour guide from Salzburg. 1.
Field note
Are you planning a trip from Salzburg to Hallstatt? Hallstatt is the most popular day-trip destination from Salzburg, if not the most popular day-trip destination in Austria overall. We all love traveling, especially when it comes to discovering places like Hallstatt. However, sometimes it can be difficult to find the right combination of transportation opti
Field note
The Salzburg Card is a 24- 48- or 72-hour sightseeing card that includes almost all of the paid attractions in the city of Salzburg for a fixed price. The attractions included in the Salzburg Card range from the Hohensalzburg Fortress to Mozart’s birthplace and Mozart’s residence to the Domquartier history museum and the Salzburg museum
Field note
What makes Austria such a great destination? What are the reasons to visit Austria? Is it the beautiful scenery or the friendly locals? Or maybe it’s the delicious food and wine? Whatever it is, Austria has something for everyone. Austria is located in Central Europe and borders Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech
Field note
The city of Salzburg can be explored in a day or two, but its surroundings are beautiful and worth taking the time to see. In this article, I will therefore introduce you to the 3 best day trips from Salzburg. You can take many more day trips from Salzburg, but these are the three most
Field note
The Salzburg Card arguably is the best deal you can get on sightseeing in Salzburg. What is a Salzburg Card? Salzburg Cards include almost all the paid attractions in Salzburg for a fixed price. If you would like to go all-in on sightseeing in Salzburg, the Card is a must. In this article, I will
Field note
In Austria, Salzburg is known as the rain capital. We receive an average of 1,185 millimeters (46.7 inches) of precipitation per year or in other words 140 days of rain. Summers are often marked by thunderstorms and winters it sometimes snows, while springs and autumns are marked by a distinctly different type of rain. In
Field note
Salzburg and Vienna are the two most popular cities for travelers in Austria. When traveling to Austria, you might be wondering which city is better to visit, Salzburg or Vienna. Are you wondering whether you can skip one or the other or if Vienna or Salzburg better fits your needs and interests? Vienna, the biggest
Field note
Do you plan to visit Salzburg? Then you may be wondering how to get to Salzburg. You may be wondering whether taking a plane, a train or a bus is the best option to reach your destination. If so, here’s my guide to getting to Salzburg! Salzburg has an airport, but the city and the