A Perfect Day In Salzburg

9.30am

Coffee

Even if you enjoy breakfast at your hotel, a second coffee or tea at the Café Bazar (for more information, click here) is the Salzburg way to start a day. Many writers have found inspiration in this smart though unpretentious café.

10.30am

The sound of Salzburg

Follow the footsteps of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the Makartplatz, where, at house No. 8, you can climb the stairs to the 18th-century apartment of the Mozart family. Then stroll through Mirabell Gardens, seen in The Sound of Music.

11.30am

Invigorating heights

Cross the Salzach at Müllnersteg bridge and head for the pretty Müllner Kirche next to the huge Augustine Brewery. Lovely wooded paths wind south along the top of Mönchsberg, and scenic walking trails lead you down to the Museum of Modern Art.

12.15pm

Stunning art

The Museum of Modern Art (closed Mon) must not be missed by art lovers. Its restaurant, m32, is the place for an extravagant lunch break with a superb view from the terrace. Alternatively, descend to town in the Mönchsberg lift and stop at Humboldt Stubn (for more information, click here) for a traditional midday meal.

2.00pm

Dirndl and Mozartkugel

Getreidegasse (with Mozart’s birthplace at No. 9), Judengasse and Goldgasse are shopping heaven. Meander through the lanes and you’ll discover top brands in carefully renovated Gothic houses next to old shops selling Dirndl and other local costumes. Tiny Café Fürst (for more information, click here) at Alter Markt is the place to buy the original Mozartkugel.

4.30pm

360°

Step into the Salzburg of 1829 at the Panorama Museum, Residenzplatz 9. Telescopes reveal the detail in the 360° panorama painting of Salzburg and its surroundings. Then head for Mozartplatz and peep behind the ornate doors of house No. 4 into a pretty 18th-century yard with a garden.

5.15pm

Squares and lanes

Savour the atmosphere of the cathedral and the surrounding squares. Stroll from Residenzplatz to Domplatz and then to Kapitelplatz to see the giant chessboard and golden sculpture, Sphaera. To the south is the cemetery of St Peter, with catacombs carved into the rock face. Walk up Festungsgasse (the Festungsbahn – funicular train – runs in summer until 10pm) to Stieglkeller to enjoy a local beer and panoramic city view.

7.00pm

Keynotes for dinner

The restaurant Triangel (for more information, click here),on Max Reinhardt Platz, is a favourite spot of musicians and singers – and a fine place for dinner. Or savour authentic Austrian fare at Zipfer Bierhaus (for more information, click here) nearby. The Mozart Dinner Concert at St Peter Stiftskulinarium offers the perfect evening entertainment for Mozart fans.

9.00pm

High above

Traditional Gasthäuser like Zum Wilden Mann or Zum Fidelen Affen (New Town) are cosy places to enjoy chatty evenings among locals. To finish off a day with an exotic drink and breathtaking views, the rooftop terrace lounge of the Stein Hotel (for more information, click here) is the place to be.