Salzburg is no place for my talents. In the first place, professional musicians there are not held in much consideration; and secondly, one hears nothing, there is no theatre, no opera; and even if they wanted one, who is there to sing?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart had, at best, an ambivalent relationship with his native city, yet Salzburg has been milking the association ever since. You can’t walk 100 metres without encountering Mozart chocolates, Mozart rubber ducks or a Mozart fridge magnet.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or simply curious, following the footsteps of Mozart in Salzburg is a rewarding way to spend a day. From the house where he was born to the concert halls where his music still fills the room, here’s where to go.
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Mozart’s Birthplace (Mozart’s Geburtshaus)
The yellow townhouse at No. 9 Gertreidegasse is where it all began. Mozart was born here in 1756 and spent his first 17 years in these rooms.
Mozart’s birthplace is home to family portraits, personal mementoes and the viola he played as a toddler. My favourite exhibit? A lock of his hair, displayed in a small glass case.
Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom)
A short walk through the Altstadt brings you to the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, where Mozart was baptised in 1756. The baptismal font is just to the left as you enter.
This was his parish church and he served here as an organist for two years. It’s also believed to be where he first performed the Coronation Mass.
Mozart Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus)
By 1773, the family had outgrown the Gertreidegasse flat and moved to roomier lodgings on Makartplatz, where Mozart composed several operas and many of his violin concertos.
The building itself is a post-WWII reconstruction — the original was destroyed by bombs — but the contents are the real draw. His pianoforte is here, as is a violin (my personal highlight) and the earliest printed edition of a Mozart violin concerto.
St. Peter’s Abbey
Mozart’s Mass in C Minor was first performed in this beautiful Baroque church on October 26, 1783. But Mozart’s association with this Benedictine monastery predates this performance.
The 13-year-old Mozart composed his Dominicus Mass to mark the ordination of his family’s landlord as the abbot of St. Peter’s Church.
Mozart’s sister Maria Anna, known as Nannerl, is buried in the church’s graveyard. His father, Leopold, and his wife Constanze, are buried in St. Sebastian Cemetery.
St Peter’s Abbey is covered by the Salzburg Card, as are the other ticketed Mozart sites in this guide.
Mirabell Palace
At six years old, Mozart performed for the Archbishop of Salzburg in the palace’s gilded Marble Hall. He later returned as court composer.
If you can get tickets for a live concert here, do it. I caught a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons played on period instruments, and it was one of the best evenings of my trip. Check what’s on here.
The Magic Flute House (Zauberflötenhäuschen)
Mozart is believed to have finished The Magic Flute in this small timber structure in 1791, reportedly fuelled by oysters and wine courtesy of his librettist Emanuel Schikaneder. It now resides in the garden of the International Mozarteum Foundation, relocated from Vienna in 1873. It’s only open for summer events at the Foundation.
How to experience Mozart’s music in Salzburg
Reading about Mozart is one thing; hearing his music in the city where he was born is another entirely
For something pleasantly kitsch, the nightly Mozart Dinner Concert pairs Mozart-era recipes with a string quartet in a candlelit baroque dining room. The Salzburg Marionette Theatre, directly opposite the Mozart Residence, performs his operas — The Magic Flute most often — with a cast of puppets.
True devotees should time their visit for Mozart Week in late January, when you can catch up to three performances a day at very reasonable prices.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.