The aerial shots of lakes and mountains at the start of The Sound of Music movie show the landscapes around Salzburg – the Salzkammergut lake district and the Bavarian Alps. On our tours you drive past Lake Fuschl to St. Gilgen and Lake Wolfgang.
In the film
The opening sequence flies over the lakes and mountains around Salzburg before it reaches Maria on her meadow. Among the landscapes seen from the air are Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee) in the Salzkammergut and Lake Königssee in the Bavarian Alps.
The real history
St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang is the birthplace of Mozart’s mother, Anna Maria Pertl, and Mozart’s sister Nannerl later lived here – the Mozart House in St. Gilgen tells their story. The Salzkammergut owes its name and wealth to salt, which was mined here for thousands of years. Its historic heart is Hallstatt, at the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape – you can visit it on our full-day tour to the filming locations and Hallstatt or on our full-day tour to Hallstatt.
Visiting tips
- On our tours we stop for photos above St. Gilgen with a view over Lake Wolfgang – weather permitting.
- From St. Gilgen, the Zwölferhorn cable car takes you up to wide views over the lake.
- The Lake Wolfgang boats connect St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang.
- Across the lake lies St. Wolfgang with the Schafberg Railway, which you see in the movie.
- In Advent: the Wolfgangsee Advent with Christmas markets in St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang – the 3-in-1 boat ticket takes you to all three by ship.
- Lake Fuschl, with its emerald-green water, lies on the way from Salzburg.
Visit with Bob’s Special Tours
Our guides have been showing guests the filming locations of The Sound of Music movie since 1976 – with the stories behind the scenes, the real history of the von Trapp family and Salzburg’s culture beyond the movie. You can see this location on:
- Public 4.5h tour to the filming locations
- Private 4.5h tour to the filming locations
- Private tour from Passau or Linz (for Danube cruise guests)
- Full-day tour to the filming locations and Hallstatt
- Private full-day tour to the filming locations and Hallstatt
- Public full-day tour to Hallstatt
- Private full-day tour to Hallstatt
All filming locations at a glance: The Sound of Music movie filming locations in and around Salzburg.
Frequently asked questions
Which lakes are shown in The Sound of Music movie?
The opening aerial shots show Lake Königssee in the Bavarian Alps and the Salzkammergut lake district east of Salzburg, including Lake Wolfgang. The boat scene was filmed on Leopoldskron Lake in Salzburg.
How do I get to Lake Wolfgang from Salzburg?
St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang is about 30 minutes by car from Salzburg. By public transport, bus line 150 runs from Salzburg (main station and Mirabellplatz) to St. Gilgen. A taxi costs around €90–120 one way.
What is the connection between St. Gilgen and Mozart?
Mozart’s mother, Anna Maria Pertl, was born in St. Gilgen, and his sister Nannerl lived there after her marriage. The Mozart House in St. Gilgen tells their story.