The annual music, opera and theater festival is one of Europe’s most prestigious cultural events. It takes place every summer for several weeks beginning mid-July and performances are scheduled all across town. Venues run from the sumptuous Festival Hall and al fresco Domplatz (the square in front of the cathedral) to the beautifully decorated Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter (the oldest existing monastery in the German-speaking area). The festival draws the biggest names in opera, music and theater and tickets to the most coveted productions are often booked months in advance.

The larger winter resort of Kitzbühel is one-and-a-half hours away and a bit more polished than Zell and offers great skiing (though is not a glacier). At the end of January, the town hosts the famous Hahnenkamm ski race there and the town can get crowded.

Weisses Roessl (www.roesslkitz.at), right in the center of town, is a two-minute walk from the ski lifts, has beautiful rooms and a nice spa/wellness center.

A convenient winter resort near Salzburg, Zell am See is a quaint Tyrolean village only an hour drive outside the city. Known for its gorgeous setting on a lake (Zeller See), the town is surrounded by Alpine mountains and the nearby Kaprun Glacier. There’s plenty of great skiing for all levels, as well as a healthy après-ski scene.

Salzburger Hof (www.salzburgerhof.at) is a gorgeous chalet near the lake that has been owned by the same family for decades and remains the grande dame choice. Hip Mavida (www.mavida.at), a designer hotel created by architect Niki Szilagyl is a bit removed from the town center and has a minimalist vibe.

In a choice location with beautiful views of the Alps, the historic Gwandhaus houses a restaurant, café, museum and gorgeous gourmet store. Gössel, a manufacturer of Trachten, the traditional dress, is about as Austrian as it gets. Here, visitors can view the beautifully made dirndl and Lederhosen on display in a museum (and purchase them in the boutique), as well as dine on Austrian specialties in the restaurant and café, all with a view of the nearby Alps. It’s a wonderful, destination-specific place for a meal and tour.

This Baroque villa built in 1613 by the prince-archbishop of Salzburg was named for the healing fountain that supplied it. Water is a defining characteristic of the design of the palace, and the property’s trick fountains still provide entertainment and amusement. With its sizable park and nearby zoo, Hellbrunn is excellent for an outing in the summer months. In December, Hellbrunn hosts a lovely Christmas market in the palace courtyard.

The von Trapp family will forever be linked to Salzburg as will The Sound of Music, which was filmed in multiple locations throughout the city and its environs. Fans of the movie can tour the famous sites, including the Mirabell Castle and gardens, the pavilion of the Hellbrunn Castle (of Sixteen Going on Seventeen fame) and the church in Mondsee, where the wedding scene was filmed. Contact Indagare’s booking team to make arrangements.

Many U.S. visitors associate Salzburg with The Sound of Music (though don’t be surprised if locals either have not heard of the film or loathe it as many still feel it Disney-fies their town). For fans, many of the film’s most iconic locations can be visited in Salzburg and environs, including the Mirabell Castle and gardens, the pavilion of the Hellbrunn Castle (of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” fame) and the Felsenreitschule and its festival halls where Georg von Trapp performs “Edelweiss” in the movie. The Villa Trapp, a ten minute drive outside the city center, was refurbished and opened as a hotel in 2008.

The popular Grüner Markt (Green Market) is held from Monday through Saturday on the magnificent Universitatplatz. Fresh local fruit and vegetables, meats and cheeses and breads and pastries as well as traditional Austrian sausages are available for purchase. The market also has several food stalls where visitors can pick up a quick and tasty lunch.

Sitting atop the Mönchsberg, one of the six city mountains of Salzburg, is the Museum der Moderne Mönchsberg. The museum, which can be reached via an elevator system that runs through the mountain, houses an interesting collection of modern and contemporary art and has lofty views across Salzburg’s Old Town.

The scenic Berchtesgarden National Park is about an hour drive from Salzburg, located at the Austria-Germany border. Drive down to the Koenigssee, a deep glacial lake near the famous Watzmann, one of the region’s most impressive (and Germany’s third-largest) mountains. Hike or take a boat around the lake or visit the gorgeous Schloss Herrenchiemsee.