Freya's Nook: A Few Of My Favourite Things To Do In Salzburg

You might already know that I lived in Salzburg for three years in my early 20s - I wrote a post, quite a while ago now, about what that was like and how strange it feels to look back on that time, you can read it here! I definitely have a lot of mixed feelings about life in Salzburg and, as I am here right now playing in an orchestra project, these are especially fresh in my mind.

Salzburg is an incredibly small, but breathtakingly beautiful, city. As with any place where you want make a home, you really have to seek out the best corners, the fun places to go and the cool things to see and do. I wanted to write a post with all of my favourite nooks and crannies of Salzburg that I discovered when I lived here. If you are ever in Salzburg for a weekend holiday or trip of some kind, I encourage you to find them for yourself; after all, there is much more to Salzburg than The Sound of Music and Mozart! The fact is that all that stuff is fun for tourists, but underneath it all there is a whole city of people living here and making their lives here, which means there really is a lot more to see, many interesting things happening, if you know where to go. So, here are my personal highlights of things to do in this city!

1. Enjoy a coffee and Salzburg's BEST carrot cake at Kaffee Alchemie.
Salzburg is full of old, grand, traditional cafes, all serving huge and over-the-top cakes by waiters dressed in old-school waiter attire. If you are looking for something a little different, try Kaffee Alchemie. It's a very small (only a couple tables and bar stools) independent cafe situated directly on the river, full of interesting books to read, a variety of really fantastic coffees to choose from and, in my opinion, the best carrot cake ever. It's quaint and hip and the perfect place to come for a quiet coffee and a chance to read your book as you look out onto the beautiful river.

2. Hear some jazz at Jazzit!
Jazzit is a cool and trendy jazz club on the right side of the river, a short walk from the main station. They feature some great jazz and indie bands here and also host a weekly jam session where anyone who feels brave enough can get up and jam out! It's got a great lively atmosphere, drinks are cheap and the music is bound to get you dancing.

3. Catch a concert at the Großer Saal.
Salzburg is steeped in musical history - this gorgeous hall is just one of many such halls in the city. However, I love this particular concert venue because it is THE place for chamber music (my favourite kind of concert) and they often have some absolutely wonderful musicians performing here. I definitely recommend checking out what's on, especially if you happen to be in Salzburg in January - this is when 'Mozart Week" happens and every day is packed with different and amazing concerts!

4. Grab a craft beer at the Belgian Beer Bar.
Of course you must try the traditional Salzburg Stiegl beer when you get here. But I think even Austrians would agree with me when I say that there is only so much Stiegl that one can drink! If you are a fan of craft beer, check out the small, cosy Belgian Beer Bar. It's got around 60 different beers to choose from (the bar tender can help you pick one if you wish) and it's just a really nice and relaxed place to go with a couple of friends. I should warn you, though, that it gets extremely busy, especially at weekends, so I would suggest getting there a bit earlier, around 6pm, to ensure a nice seat.

5. Go for a walk and take in the surrounding nature and scenic beauty.
Situated in the heart of the Alps, perhaps the best thing about Salzburg is it's outlook and scenery. One of my favourite things to do here is go for a walk, and there are many choices for where to go! You can hike up and around Kapuzinerberg, in the middle of the city, which gives you a fantastic view of the old town and the German side of the mountains. You could also walk up to the fortress and then around the top ridge towards the modern art gallery, for a different view. If you are really serious about hiking, try Geistberg (it's the one with the radio tower on the top). I've never done this one, but heard it takes a few hours and gives the most sensational view over the mountains from the top. Whichever you choose, I guarantee you will not be disappointed!