- Introduction: Salzburg, the City of Mozart and The Sound of Music
- ① Traveling from Graz to Salzburg by Train
- ② Get a Salzburg Card When You Arrive at Salzburg Central Station
- ③ Salzburg Is Easy to Explore on Foot
- ④ Visiting Salzburg in Winter? Some Attractions May Be Closed
- ⑤ Salzburg Weather and What to Wear
- Conclusion: Salzburg Is Perfectly Possible as a Day Trip from Graz
Introduction: Salzburg, the City of Mozart and The Sound of Music
Salzburg is known as the birthplace of Mozart and the setting of the famous movie The Sound of Music. It is one of Austria’s most popular tourist destinations after Vienna, and the entire city is filled with a charming medieval atmosphere.
(To be honest, my hometown of Graz doesn’t have quite as many tourist attractions… haha.) So this time, I decided to make the most of it and took a day trip from Graz to Salzburg.
In this article, I’ll focus mainly on the overall flow of the trip. I’ll cover the individual sights I visited in more detail in separate articles.
（当ブログの記事をまとめたポータルページはここです）
（オンラインショップを始めてみました。是非こちらからご覧になってください。）
Amazon.co.jp
あなたと一緒に作る海外旅行【トラベル・スタンダード・ジャパン】
① Traveling from Graz to Salzburg by Train
Let’s start with transportation.
If you use the ÖBB Vorteils Family Card I introduced in my previous article, you can travel quite cheaply even as a family. Check out the previous article for more details.
The straight-line distance between Graz and Salzburg isn’t particularly great, but the train route takes you through long stretches of mountainous terrain. As a result, the trains are relatively slow, and the journey takes around four hours each way.
It may take a little time, but a day trip is still perfectly possible if you leave early in the morning.
For example:
- Depart Graz at 5:00 a.m.
- Arrive in Salzburg at 9:00 a.m.
- Spend nine hours sightseeing and take the 6:00 p.m. train back
- Arrive back in Graz at 10:00 p.m.
This kind of schedule is realistic. Visiting the surrounding areas would be difficult, but you can comfortably see the main sights in central Salzburg on a day trip.
② Get a Salzburg Card When You Arrive at Salzburg Central Station
Once you arrive at Salzburg Central Station, there is one thing I recommend doing first:
Buy a Salzburg Card!
The place to buy one is the information center tucked away near Platform 1. The staff can also assist you in English, so there is no need to worry if you don’t speak German.
- Adults: €31
- Children: €15.50
Vienna has a similar tourist card, but in my opinion, it is quite expensive and doesn’t offer the same value. The Salzburg Card, on the other hand, can pay for itself quite easily.
You need to show the card when entering museums and other attractions. You also need to sign your name on the back of the card, so don’t forget to do this when you purchase it.
(In reality, the checks seemed fairly relaxed, but officially, signing the card is required.)
③ Salzburg Is Easy to Explore on Foot
As many guidebooks point out, Salzburg’s city center is quite compact. You can easily explore most of it on foot.
It takes around 20 minutes to walk from Salzburg Central Station to the Old Town and the area around Hohensalzburg Fortress. Along the way, you’ll also find attractions such as Mirabell Palace, so even the walk itself becomes part of the sightseeing experience.
I walked everywhere on the way into the city because I had plenty of time. However, I was running short on time when heading back to the station, so I used the tram once.
Unless you’re in a hurry, walking is more than enough to enjoy Salzburg.
④ Visiting Salzburg in Winter? Some Attractions May Be Closed
If you’re visiting Salzburg during the winter season from November onward, there is something important to keep in mind.
Salzburg is famous as a winter destination, but some attractions are closed during the winter months.
Two places to pay particular attention to are:
- Hellbrunn Palace (Schloss Hellbrunn): Completely closed during the winter season
- Untersberg Cable Car: Closed for certain periods during November and December
Because of this, if you’re visiting in winter, I recommend planning your itinerary mainly around Salzburg’s Old Town and its central attractions.
⑤ Salzburg Weather and What to Wear
Graz is relatively mild compared with some other parts of Austria, with a climate that can feel somewhat similar to northeastern Japan.
Salzburg, however, feels considerably colder even though it is in the same country.
Even in autumn, temperatures can drop enough that you may want gloves during the daytime. In the morning and evening, temperatures can even fall below freezing.
- A warm, thick coat
- Gloves and a scarf
- Waterproof shoes
These three items are essential.
If you visit Salzburg wearing the same clothes you would normally wear in Graz, you may regret it!
Conclusion: Salzburg Is Perfectly Possible as a Day Trip from Graz
The four-hour train journey each way may sound a little long, but the Alpine scenery from the train window is spectacular.
Salzburg is a beautiful city where you’re surrounded by the atmosphere of medieval Europe as soon as you arrive.
With around nine hours in the city, you can see many of Salzburg’s major attractions even on a day trip.
And with the Salzburg Card, you can make the most of your sightseeing budget.
In my next article, I’ll take a closer look at the sights I actually visited, including Mirabell Palace, Mozart’s Birthplace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and more.
Stay tuned!
（当ブログの記事をまとめたポータルページはここです）
（オンラインショップを始めてみました。是非こちらからご覧になってください。）
Amazon.co.jp
あなたと一緒に作る海外旅行【トラベル・スタンダード・ジャパン】
✅ Key Takeaways
- Graz to Salzburg takes around four hours each way, making a day trip possible
- Buy a Salzburg Card as soon as you arrive (€31 for adults)
- Salzburg’s city center is compact and easy to explore on foot
- Some attractions close during the winter season, so check ahead
- Salzburg is considerably colder than Graz, so dress warmly
コメント