Jana Meerman
Salzburg, Austria

Sound of Music Filming Locations in Salzburg, Austria

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The Sound of Music is one of the greatest, most beloved musicals of all time. Based on the true story of the free-spirited nun Maria (played by the wonderful Julie Andrews) as she is sent to work as a governess for the nine children of Captain Von Trapp in his Salzburg mansion, the film is full of music, family, a proud anti-Nazi stance and deep love.

The film was shot mostly in and around Salzburg, the little mountain town in Austria in which I now live. Alongside being the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg's second most famous international tourist attraction is arguably the Sound of Music as you can visit many of the beautiful filming locations around the city and compare them how they are today to when the film came out in 1965. Recreating scenes from the film is also very popular!

→ Follow along my Austrian adventures on Instagram @JanaInAustria!

Here are some of the most iconic filming locations from the Sound of Music that you can visit on your trip to Salzburg to inspire you and make you want to sing "the hills are alive!"

This list gets updated as I visit more filming locations in Salzburg; this post was first published 11 May 2025 and last updated 20 September 2026.

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Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Austria can be found in my Ultimate Austria Map!

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Each pin includes the exact location (plus the ability to open it directly in Google Maps), lots of photos for inspiration, detailed information to help you visit the spot plus a link to my relevant blog post to read lots more about it.

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Visiting Salzburg

I've lived in Salzburg since 2021 and have explored so much of it throughout the seasons.

Austria can be visited all year-round, depending on what you're interested in. Austria is lucky in that it experiences all four seasons fully: flowers in the spring, heat and sun in the summer, changing leaves in the autumn and full-on snow and Christmas in the winter.

To complement my Sound of Music filming locations guide to Salzburg, check out my guides for visiting Salzburg throughout the year by clicking on the photos below:

jana meerman schloss hellbrunn snow salzburg (4)

Salzburg in Winter

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Salzburg in Spring

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Salzburg in Summer

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Salzburg in Autumn

How to Visit the Filming Locations from the Sound of Music

Most of the filming locations from the Sound of Music are based in and around the city of Salzburg in Austria.

By guided tour: The most popular way to see the filming locations of the Sound of Music is to join a guided tour. The large tour buses painted with scenes from the film are a common sight throughout our little city!

→ Book a guided tour to visit the most famous filming locations of the Sound of Music in Salzburg!

By yourself: If you're here for longer or just want to visit the filming locations on your own time, you can also go to all of these spots yourself. None of them require a tour guide for special access!

Sound of Music Museum at Schloss Hellbrunn

In September 2026, the official Sound of Music Museum opened in Salzburg at the Schloss Hellbrunn in the former coach house and hunters’ lodge, near to where the "I am 16, going on 17" pavilion is. The museum is a beautiful collection of original costumes from the film and the history of and artefacts from the original Von Trapp Family and how their story became a globally beloved book, musical and film.

You can buy tickets on site at the museum; at the time of writing an adult ticket for the Sound of Music Museum was €8.

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Liesl's original costume

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The original naval officer jacket of Georg Von Trapp

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Filming Locations from the Sound of Music

Most of the filming locations from the Sound of Music are based in and around the city of Salzburg in Austria.

Opening Scene

Wolfgangsee

The opening scene of the Sound of Music is filmed from an airplane over some of the most beautiful landscapes around Salzburg. One of these scenes captures the lovely little town of St Gilgen on the shores of the Wolfgangsee.

→ This is the exact location of the opening scene on Google Maps.

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Scenery from the opening scene

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St Gilgen over Wolfgangsee in 2025

Von Trapp Villa & Lake

Schloss Leopoldskron

The view across the shimmering Leopoldskroner Weiher provides the perfect perspective of the filming location of the back of the Von Trapp Villa. The lakefront setting of the Schloss Leopoldskron also provided the filming location where the Von Trapp children fell out of their boat!

→ This is the exact location of the Von Trapp Villa and Lake on Google Maps.

jana meerman sound of music filming locations

The children and Maria on the steps of the Von Trapp Villa looking out over the lake

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Singing in the boat on the lake before it capsizes

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Schloss Leopoldskron in 2022

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When the lake is frozen over you can ice skate here

"I am 16, Going on 17" Pavilion

Schloss Hellbrun

This little pavilion is most famous for being the filming location where Liesl sang her "I am 16, Going on 17" song. They actually only used this pavilion for the outdoor shots as they need a more open and larger one to get the right angles for the indoor shots, but it's still fun to twirl around. Sadly, you can't go inside for safety reasons.

→ This is the exact location of the Pavilion on Google Maps.

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Liesl and Rolf singing "I am 16, going on 17"

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The Pavilion at Schloss Hellbrunn in 2024

"Do Re Mi" Picnic Spot

Werfen

The opening chords of "Do Re Mi" were filmed while Maria and the children enjoyed a picnic in this gorgeous grassy field in Werfen with a perfect view overlooking the Burg Hohenwerfen. Nowadays, a wooden fence even pinpoints the exact spot they sat!

→ Check out the reel I made recreating the "Do Re Mi" picnic scene!

→ This is the exact location of the "Do Re Mi" picnic spot on Google Maps.

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The picnic scene with the opening chords of "Do Re Mi"

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The field above Werfen in 2025

"Do Re Mi" Gardens

Mirabell Gardens

The stunning Mirabell Palace and its gardens are themselves worth a wander to enjoy the peaceful surrounds. It was here that many key angles were filmed as Maria and the children sing "Do Re Mi," twirling through these grounds.

→ This is the exact location of the "Do Re Mi" Gardens on Google Maps.

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Singing "Do Re Mi"

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Mirabell Gardens in 2024

Hiding from the Nazis

Katakomben St. Peter

This famous baroque noble cemetery inspired the scene in the Sound of Music where the Von Trapp family hide in the cemetery from the Nazis, although the actual scene was shot on a larger Hollywood set. The Katakomben date back to the 12th century and show early signs of Christianity.

→ This is the exact location of Hiding from the Nazis on Google Maps.

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Rolf looking for the Von Trapps on the Hollywood set based off of the Katakomben St Peter

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The Katakomben in 2024

"I Have Confidence" Fountain

Residenzplatz

Maria splashes in this fountain as she sings "I Have Confidence" on her way to the Von Trapp residence for the very first time. The fountain is in the Residenzplatz in the heart of Salzburg's Altstadt.

→ This is the exact location of the fountain on Google Maps.

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Maria singing "I Have Confidence"

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Residenzplatz in 2025

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Jana Meerman

Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.

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