Day 1: Salzburg

My partner and I always have a few days off during the Christmas holidays due to work. This year, we wanted to take a closer look at our own country.

At 9:00 a.m. we took the Westbahn train to Salzburg. We first strolled towards Mirabell Garden. Mirabell Palace was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The Mozart family once played music in its festival hall. Today, the palace is the office of the mayor of Salzburg.

The Mirabell Garden was created at the end of the 17th century in the geometric style typical of the Baroque period. This style is still clearly visible today. Even in the middle of winter, the garden was beautifully green. From here you have a wonderful view of Hohensalzburg Fortress.

We then continued to the banks of the Salzach River. It flows quietly through the beautiful city. From here, we repeatedly enjoyed great views of the fortress on the opposite side and the old town.

We crossed the river on one of the many bridges and immersed ourselves in the picturesque alleys of the old town.

One of the most famous streets is Getreidegasse. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born at number 9 in 1756. Today, the house is a museum that is very popular.

We took a short break in a small café. From our window seat, we had a good view of the bustling activity in this wonderful city.

At Mozartplatz, the Christmas market was still open. We enthusiastically looked at the stalls, happy to soak up a little more Christmas spirit.

Of course, we had to try the delicacies offered there, and at least for my partner, a hot punch was a must.

In the middle of this square, a monument commemorates the greatest musician Salzburg has ever seen.

From the Christmas market, we also had a very good view of the nearby cathedral.

On the way back, we strolled leisurely through the pretty alleys of the city.

Arriving at the train station, we took the next train to Innsbruck, where we had booked an apartment for two nights.

The apartment was beautiful and much more spacious than necessary for two people. We had two very large bedrooms, of which we naturally used only one.

There was also a well-equipped kitchen, a large entrance hall, and even a dining room with a small balcony.

We did not stay long in the apartment, as we were very hungry and it was already quite late. Fortunately, not far from our apartment, we found a branch of the Vapiano chain. There we ordered delicious pasta dishes, accompanied by Italian white wine.

Well fed and very tired, we returned and soon fell asleep in our soft beds.