One of the highlights of summer 2023 was getting to finally visit Salzburg and join the Original Sound of Music Tour, something that has been on my personal bucket list for years. It is no secret that I am a theatre fan and The Sound Of Music was one of my first experiences of a musical film as a child. To this day I still remember the majority of the lyrics to Do-Re-Mi, having watched the film numerous times and seen the West End production at the Palladium, starring Connie Fisher and Lesley Garrett.
About The Original Sound of Music Tour
Salzburg Panoramic Tours operate the Original Sound of Music Tour and every day the company takes multiple coaches of people on half day tours in and around Salzburg, covering the major exterior filming locations. Tours start daily at 9:15 and 14:00 and run for approximately 4 hours, with photo opportunities at various locations, free time in Mondsee which is home to the Church where the Von Trapp’s get married and fascinating commentary on board the air conditioned coach.
Tips for securing a good tour price
Ideally spaces should be booked as far in advance as possible as even after all these years, the tours continue to sell out daily, with fans around the world travelling to the historic city. Ticket prices are from 60 euros, but if you want to earn a little money back on the price, I’d recommend booking through Viator as they currently offer cashback through TopCashback. They also have their own loyalty credit scheme which you can use to earn account credit back on your purchases.
Tour itinerary
Starting and ending at Mirabellplatz, the tour begins with a visit to Schloss Hellbrunn: a palace in the city suburbs with extensive gardens. The gardens host the gazebo used in Sixteen Going On Seventeen and you can find the walkway from I Have Confidence near the car park. Next up is Schloss Leopoldskron (now a luxury, private hotel), where from a location across the lake you can marvel at the building which acts as the rear of the Von Trapp family home. The last places before Mondsee are Nonnberg Convent, the Do-Re-Mi bridge (Mozartsteg: the pedestrian bridge over the Salzach) and the hills surrounding central Salzburg, which you can view when travelling between locations.
The drive to Mondsee involves a stop at Lake Wolfgangsee, which is beautifully clean and a vibrant blue. You can visit the wedding filming location in Mondsee itself and over the course of 45 minutes, explore the church, town, Sound of Music-themed shops and grab an ice cream/refreshment. Mondsee has a lovely old town with far less visitors than Salzburg itself, so you can wander and browse without the crowds.
The final stop is the Mirabell Palace and Gardens back in Salzburg, where everyone says so long farewell on the Do-Re-Mi steps. It’s a fun way to end the tour and leaves visitors in a prime location for visiting the rest of the city centre on foot.
How was the overall experience?
There is something truly wonderful about exploring the locations of the Sound Of Music film with fans from across the globe. Singing was encouraged on the coach between destinations and the musical theatre fan inside of me adored this part of the experience.
My husband joined me for the tour as he knows how much the film means to me, but even as someone with no interest in the material, he enjoyed the behind the scenes knowledge and the tour guide’s sense of wit. I think it’s a misconception that you have to be a die-hard Sound of Music fan to enjoy the tour.
Would I recommend The Original Sound of Music Tour?
Absolutely. Initially when I booked the tickets I thought it was quite expensive, but when you board the coach and experience both the guide’s knowledge and the breadth of filming locations covered, it feels far better value for money. You also get taken to various locations on the edge of the city of Salzburg and travel out to Mondsee, which wouldn’t be as accessible without a guided tour. It is very difficult to find Sound of Music-themed souvenirs in central Salzburg; Mondsee is where you can purchase Lonely Goat plush toys, Christmas decorations and more.
Hopefully this has convinced other Sound of Music fans to book the tour, as it is a great way to visit the filming locations outside of Salzburg city centre and also learn more about how Hollywood made the widely successful movie.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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