The Best Sound of Music Tour with Panorama & Salzburg Sound of Music Locations You Can Visit!
The Sound of Music is one of the most loved, watched and admired musical films of all time. It’s a Christmas/New Year essential on British channels!
It’s no wonder that millions of people around the world flock to Salzburg, the setting and location of the movie to dance on the same steps as the Von Trapp children, stand in the same gazebo where Maria and the Captain kiss and admire the sensational Alps that both encroach and liberate the family.
I’ve taken the best Sound of Music tour Salzburg has to offer, researched the best spots and put this guide together so read on for a review of the Panorama Sound of Music tour and all 18 The Sound of Music filming locations to see in Salzburg!
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About The Panorama Tours Sound of Music
The Panorama Tours Original Sound of Music tour runs twice daily and lasts for 4 hours. Panorama has been providing tours for over 60 years so they know a thing or two about what tourists want.
It takes the passengers to the very best Sound of Music shooting locations on its specially-decorated bus, gives the story of filming, and the history of Salzburg. Rick Steves has also joined the tour!
Meeting Point for Sound of Music Tour Panorama
The meeting spot is outside St Andrew’s church and opposite Mirabell Gardens. You can’t miss the Panorama Tours bus terminal as they have a big office adorned with tour information including Sound of Music posters.
Address: Panorama Tours Bus Stop, Mirabellplatz / Corner Hubert-Sattler-Gasse 1, 5020 Salzburg
Why You Should Take This Sound of Music Tour Salzburg Austria
- The point of the tour is that it takes you well out of the city of Salzburg to locations that are otherwise hard to reach if doing an independent filming location tour!
- In addition, it’s hard to know where to go and how to get there without doing a tour.
- During the tour, you get to visit the village of Mondsee in Austria, about 1.5 hours from Salzburg, where you spend some free time and get to enjoy real Apple Strudel!
- The tour has an excellent guide who gives lots of information, inside info and back stories to the real Von Trapp family as well as Salzburg history.
- While the guide is quiet, the soundtrack of the film is played. Amazing. I sang my little heart out!
- This article has been split into Sound of Music movie locations you go on the Panorama Tour and other Sound of Music locations in Salzburg where you can independently find Salzburg The Sound of Music sites.
18 Best Salzburg Sound of Music Locations
Places You Visit On The Sound Of Music Location Tour
Visiting these places is unique because there’s nowhere else in the world you can find these Sound of Music shooting locations. Most locations were not even built on set in Hollywood.
There are Sound of Music locations in Salzburg but also some places you visit on the tour that are difficult to find on your own, which is why you need to join the tour. There are other places around the centre of Salzburg that are easier to get to and probably naturally part of your Salzburg Itinerary which I’ve listed them later in the article as The Sound of Music Salzburg locations.
Leopoldskron Palace – Von Trapp Family Home (Back) & Lake
Sound of Music Scenes
- This is the filming location Sound of Music used for the back of the family mansion
- When Liesl sneaks out to meet Rolfe
- The Captain and Baroness arrive from Vienna and talk
- Rolfe delivers a telegram for Max
- Maria and the children arrive on a boat and fall into the lake
- Maria tells the Captain straight who then fires her before hearing the children sing
- The Baroness and children play with the ball
- The children return from visiting Maria
- Maria returns from the Abbey
It’s located just outside the city of Salzburg and is a grand castle that dates back to the 1700s and used as a hotel today. You can actually stay at ‘Schloss Leopoldskron’ and with the stunning courtyard, fencing, lakes and views of the mountains, who wouldn’t want to stay here? Click here to see the hotel’s latest availability.
‘Trees, lakes, mountains’
This is the first stop on the tour. You are taken in your private bus to this location where you get out of the vehicle to walk at the back of the lake with clear views of the villa as your guide gives you insider information about the area and stories about when they were filming here.
Address: Leopoldskronstraße 56-58, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Nonnberg Abbey
Sound of Music Scenes
- Many of the outside scenes where the nuns are
- When Maria leaves the Abbey
- When the children come to visit Maria
- The end of the film when the family escape the Nazis
It is still a nunnery today and while it’s within the city of Salzburg, it’s a fair walk from the centre and you are not allowed inside the actual abbey (filming took place on the exterior and the inside was recreated as a set in Hollywood).
‘I’ve even heard her singing in the Abbey’
During the tour you will pass the Nonnberg Abbey while remaining on the tour bus and your guide will point it out. I advise sitting on the left hand side of the bus to get the best views and photos.
Fun fact: The real Maria lived in this convent when she was 19 and where her and Captain Von Trapp were married in real life.
Address: Nonnberggasse 2, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Watch the film on Amazon prime to get you up to scratch with songs and quotes! 😉
Gazebo at Hellbrunn Palace & Hellbrunner Allee
Scenes From The Film
- The glass gazebo is where Liesl meets Rolfe to sing and dance to ‘Sixteen Going On Seventeen‘
- Where the Captain and Maria sing ‘Something Good‘ and share their first kiss. The romance spot!
The gazebo was originally located at Leopoldskron Castle but was moved to the gardens of Hellbrunn Castle.
‘Just some local urchins’
Next stop on the tour is the famous Sound of Music pavillion at this location where you get out and hear about the history of filming at the gazebo, snap pictures and walk the palace grounds.
The bus parks near Hellbrunner Allee, the tree lined street, which is the exact filming location where the Captain, Max and the Baroness drive and see the children playing in the trees.
Address: Fürstenweg 37, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Frohnburg Palace – Von Trapp Family Home (Front)
Film Scenes
- Rolfe arrives to deliver telegrams
- The Von Trapp children leave in clothes made from Maria’s curtains
- Guests arrive for the Von Trapp’s party
- The family sneak out the house before being caught
This was once a private residence, built in the 1600s. Today it’s, very aptly, a music school but visitors are not allowed near the location or to drive through the street but is still a great spot to see from afar (filming never happened inside the building anyway).
‘She used to sing that song, remember’
You have to pass this location on the way to Hellbrunn Palace so you will see it regardless of which side of the bus you sit on.
Address: Schloss Fronburg, Hellbrunner Allee 53, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Mondsee Lake, Lake Fuschl, Lake Wolfgang
Scenes SOM
- When Maria looks out the window on her drive to the Von Trapp house
- Other panoramic shots throughout the film
During the tour, the driver will stop at these lakes for you photo opportunities as well as the free time in Mondsee to visit the lake yourself.
Address: Mondsee, Austria
St Michael’s Church in Mondsee
SOM Scenes
- This is the church where Maria and Captain Von Trapp get married and the excellent scene of Maria walking down the aisle to the reprise of ‘Maria‘
Today it’s a church that people can still get married like in the film. It’s beautiful inside and outside so definitely worth a visit.
During the tour you will get the free time in Mondsee town to visit the church and surrounding town at your leisure. It’s truly impressive and a fun part of the tour.
Address: Wredepl. 3, 5310 Mondsee, Austria
If this is enough to get you booking on? Reserve your spot here!
Other Salzburg Sound of Music Sites
These are more common spots you can easily visit in Salzburg where The Sound of Music was filmed.
St. Peter’s Cemetery (Petersfriedhof)
No scenes were filmed here but it was inspiration for the the area where the Von Trapp family hide from the Nazis. It also has another connection as the real Uncle Max, Franz Wasner, is buried in this cemetery.
This is a cemetery still in use today so be mindful and respectful when visiting. When I came here it was late so the gates were locked but was definitely more reminiscent of the film at this time.
Address: Sankt-Peter-Bezirk 1, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Mirabell Gardens
Scenes Filmed Here
- Maria and the children sing ‘Do Re Mi’
- They dance around the fountain
- They visit the gnomes and hedge tunnel
- Famously dance on the steps with excellent views of the park
This is one of the best places to visit in Salzburg and it was where some of the most loved scenes were filmed. It’s free to roam the gardens, see the fountain and dance on the steps.
‘When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything.’
Address: Mirabellplatz, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Hedge Maze & Gnome Park
The Scene
- Maria and the children run and skip through the maze while singing ‘Do Re Mi’
- The gnome park is also while they sing this song and tap its head as they all walk past
The maze/tunnel is still exactly the same today and found within the Mirabell Gardens. Why not take a video of yourself running through and singing?!
‘A long, long way to run’
Address: Mirabellplatz, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Mozart Bridge
Sound of Music Scene
- Maria and the children run across the bridge during the tune of ‘My Favourite Things‘ when Maria is showing the kids Salzburg
The bridge is still the same today as it was when filming occurred with stunning views in the back. You can walk across the bridge that was named after Salzburg’s other famous musical link: Mozart! This is one of the most popular Sound of Music tourist sites.
‘Here. Look over here. See?’
Address: 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Residence Square (Residenzplatz)
Sound of Music Scenes
- Maria sings ‘I Have Confidence‘, and Nazi soldiers march into the area during the Anschluss.
This popular square features a large fountain and many important buildings and is a nice place to visit while in Salzburg whether you’re a fan of the movie or not. It’s also the place where an important scene is filmed as it lets the viewer know that Austria has been occupied by the Nazis.
Address: Residenzplatz 4, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Horse Pond (Pferdeschwemme)
Scenes From Sound of Music
- Another backdrop when Maria and the children explore the city of Salzburg to the backing music of ‘My Favourite Things‘
You can visit the area today as it’s well located in the centre of Salzburg and near other attractions. It has an impressive horse statue in the centre and horse images on the walls with cliffs as the backdrop.
‘So we put in words’.
Address: Pferdeschwemme, Hofstallgasse, 5020 Salzburg Austria
Other Sound of Music locations Austria has include:
- Winkler Terrace – Can be seen when Maria sings ‘I Have Confidence‘ and a background shot for when Maria teaches the children ‘Do Re Mi‘.
- Salzburg Marionette Theatre – You can actually visit this theatre to watch a production of the movie in one of The Sound of Music locations Salzburg still has open.
- Felsenreitschule – This is the auditorium where the Von Trapp family perform at the Salzburg Festival, and then escape the Nazis. The exterior is where Rolfe hands Liesl a telegram.
- Domplatz – Where Maria and the children explore Salzburg during ‘My Favourite Things‘.
- Werfen – Where Maria and the children have a picnic and sing ‘Do Re Mi‘.
- Real Von Trapp House – The real home of the Von Trapp family is in a town called Aigen and was used as a hotel.
- Mount Untersberg – The backdrop mountains throughout the film and the final scene where the family escape over the mountains to the songs ‘Sound of Music‘ and ‘Climb Every Mountain‘.
How to Book On the Tour | The Sound of Music Salzburg
This is the exact tour I did when I booked through Viator and I cannot recommend it enough. It has been reviewed many times as one of the best Sound of Music tours and I can attest to that!
Although I did this Panorama tour there are alternative options for Sound of Music tours Austria provides and mainly in Salzburg. Some of the best to choose from are as follows:
Lonely Goatherd Bike Tour Sound of Music – This is the ultimate Salzburg Austria sound of music tour by bike where you’ll visit the filming sites while learning about the real Von Trapp family on bicycles that are included with the tour.
Singing Sound of Music Austria Tour – If you love the movie then you probably love the songs so why not combine The Sound of Music locations in Austria with its greatest hits?! Well, on this tour you can. Two entertainers are on board to provide a world-class show with the film’s locations and incredible landscapes like Salzkammergut Lake.
Sound of Music Tour Salzburg + 2 Nights Stay in Leopoldskron Palace – On this tour, you not only get to visit the sound of music locations salzburg delivers but you can actually stay for 2 nights in the Von Trapp Family Villa and wake up to the stunning lake. A filming location tour, breakfast, a free chocolate and bike ride are included!
Further reading:
I hope you now have a clear indication about whether you want to do the tour or not and have a great list of The Sound of Music filming locations Salzburg!
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