This year marks the 60th anniversary of 'The Sound of Music,' and Salzburg has plenty of events planned for fans.

I strolled around the fountain near Mirabell Palace in Salzburg, Austria during the spring season.

Others did too.

In the past, Maria and the von Trapp children frolicked around the palace's Pegasus Fountain, singing "Do-Re-Mi," a well-known tune from "The Sound of Music."

The movie tells the tale of the von Trapp family and their new governess, Maria, who later marries the father but must escape due to the Nazi takeover of Austria.

Salzburg's plans to celebrate the beloved musical

In March 1965, the film featuring Julie Andrews was released. To mark the movie's 60th anniversary, the city is hosting themed tours and events throughout the year.

From Feb. 6, the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron will exhibit real von Trapp Family items, movie memorabilia, and photos.

An audio guide app featuring narration by Nicholas Hammond, who portrayed Friedrich von Trapp in the film, will lead visitors on a path around Werfen, the location of the picnic scene's filming.

The Salzburg Marionette theater will feature "The Lonely Goatherd" performed by children from the film in special shows throughout the year.

The Salzburger Heimatwerk, a traditional store at Residenzplatz 9, is hosting a one-time exhibition featuring a special anniversary outfit celebrating the film and the dirndl dresses worn by the women in it.

An English-speaking symposium will be held on Oct. 23 to discuss the significance of "The Sound of Music" in Salzburg today, as announced by SalzburgerLand, the city's tourism marketing organization. The panel at Felsenreitschule theater will feature original cast members. Following the panel discussion, a themed gala will take place in the evening, featuring original music and performances, with cast members in attendance.

In November and December, the Salzburg Theatre will stage "The Sound of Music" musical in German, with English subtitles.

The Stiftskulinarium St. Peter, known as Europe's oldest restaurant, will provide special movie-themed menus featuring local cuisine.

The Sound of Music Museum is set to open in Salzburg in 2026, despite being a little late to the party.

Movie locations in Salzburg

The Dwarf Garden, located near the Pegasus Fountain in the Mirabell Gardens, features sculptures of 320-year-old dwarves and was featured in a film.

To view the film from the beginning, visit the historic Benedictine Nonnberg Abbey, founded in 714, where Maria struggled to become a nun. The abbey is situated beneath the majestic Hohensalzburg Palace, which dominates Salzburg. The scenery is breathtaking.

To follow Maria's path from the abbey, enter the Old Town through the arches past the Salzburg Cathedral and reach the Residenzplatz, where she splashed in the fountain before boarding a bus to the von Trapp's house, outside of Salzburg.

In addition to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, other locations within Salzburg include the Mozartsteg, the small footbridge Maria and the children cross while singing "My Favorite Things," the market they visit at Kajetanerplatz, which still hosts a weekly Farmers' Market every Friday.

The Felsenreitschule, the theater where the von Trapps sing during the Salzburg Music Festival, is one of the locations featured in the film and is still used as a venue for the annual festival.

The family escaped into the cemetery after their performance. Although St. Peter's Abbey is featured in the film as a shooting location, the scenes of its beautiful St. Peter's Cemetery were mostly shot on a Hollywood set replica.

Stay at the Hotel Sacher Salzburg, where Julie Andrews filmed the movie.

Seeing 'the hill'

The hill that is featured in the film's opening scenes and is alive with music is located in Germany, near the border with Austria. Although the spot is on private land, the owner is not welcoming to tourists. However, there are public paths that lead along the meadow, and it is worth following the mountain trail to catch a glimpse of it.

The Untersberg, where Maria and the children picnicked, is easily accessible and offers stunning views of the mountains and Salzburg. It is a popular destination on "The Sound of Music" tours, but if you prefer a more independent experience, it's a quick 20-minute taxi ride away.

The original von Trapp family villa, located on Traunstrasse 34 in a secluded park, was once a hotel that has since shut down. The gardens are also closed to the public, but you can still walk around the outside of the grounds and see the real Villa Trapp.

Other locations near Salzburg

The Leopoldskron Palace, a grand structure on the shores of Lake Leopoldskron, is featured prominently in the film. It is shown in the opening credits and throughout the movie.

When Maria and the children capsized their boat, the grand palace, built in 1736, and the Frohnburg Palace (now part of Mozarteum University Salzburg), were featured in exterior and interior shots. Additionally, the Leopoldskron Palace, which has been transformed into a luxury hotel, may be recognized by guests from the film's interior nooks.

The gazebo that often appears in films with white music was relocated to Hellbrunn Palace.

Maria and Captain von Trapp exchanged vows at the stunning Basilica St. Michael in Mondsee, also known as Moon Lake. This picturesque location is just 18 miles from Salzburg and can be easily accessed by taking bus line 140 in 40 minutes.

The picturesque small town is an ideal spot to end your journey and spend a couple of days. The serene surroundings of the lake, nestled in the mountains, make it the perfect place to relax with "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," penned by Maria von Trapp.

Can't make it to Salzburg?

The von Trapp family, who fled war-torn Europe, settled in Vermont and now their farmstead has been expanded. You can stay in the original von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, which has a setting and décor reminiscent of Austria. The hotel is also filled with the real family's history.

In 2025, "The Sound of Music" will be performed at numerous theaters across the U.S., including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The musical will begin in September and continue on a tour in December.