Salzburg

• Start Schloss Mirabell
• End Fürst
• Length 3km; 1½ hours

Mozart was the ultimate musical prodigy: he identified a pig’s squeal as G-sharp when he was two years old, began to compose when he was five and first performed for Empress Maria-Theresia at the age of six. Follow in his footsteps on this classic walking tour.

Begin at baroque Schloss Mirabell, where the resplendent Marmorsaal (Marble Hall) is often the backdrop for chamber concerts of Mozart’s music. Stroll south through the fountain-dotted gardens, passing the strikingly angular Mozarteum, a foundation honouring Mozart’s life and works, and the host of the renowned Mozartwoche festival in January/February. Around the corner on Makartplatz is the 17th-century Mozart-Wohnhaus, where you can see how the Mozart family lived and listen to rare recordings of Mozart’s symphonies. Amble north along Linzer Gasse to Friedhof St Sebastian, the Italianate arcaded cemetery where Wolfgang’s father Leopold and his wife Constanze lie buried. Now retrace your steps towards the swiftly flowing Salzach River, turning left onto medieval Steingasse, then cutting through to Giselakai to cross the Art Nouveau Mozartsteg (Mozart Bridge). Look out for the memorial plaque at No 8, the house where Mozart’s beloved Constanze died in 1842, as you approach Mozartplatz. On this elegant square, a coiffed, pensive Mozart is literally and metaphorically put on a pedestal in bronze. The statue was unveiled in 1842 in the presence of Mozart’s sons. Across the way is the Residenz palace where Mozart gave his first court concert at the ripe old age of six. Beside it rests the baroque Dom, where Mozart’s parents were married in 1747 and little Wolfgang was baptised in 1756; Mozart later composed sacred music here and was cathedral organist. Follow Franziskanergasse to reach the Kollegienkirche on Universitätsplatz, where Mozart’s D Minor Mass (K65) premiered in 1769. On Getreidegasse, stop to contemplate the birthplace of a genius at Mozart's Geburtshaus and buy some famous chocolate Mozartkugeln (Mozart balls) at Fürst.

Do a Julie Andrews and sing as you stroll on a self-guided tour of The Sound of Music film locations. Let's start at the very beginning:

The Hills Are Alive Cut! Make that proper mountains. The opening scenes were filmed around the jewel-coloured Salzkammergut lakes. Maria makes her twirling entrance on alpine pastures just across the border in Bavaria.

A Problem Like Maria Nuns waltzing on their way to mass at Benedictine Stift Nonnberg is fiction, but it’s fact that the real Maria von Trapp intended to become a nun here before romance struck.

Have Confidence Residenzplatz is where Maria belts out ‘I Have Confidence’ and playfully splashes the spouting horses of the Residenzbrunnen fountain.

So Long, Farewell The grand rococo palace of Schloss Leopoldskron, a 15-minute walk from Festung Hohensalzburg, is where the lake scene was filmed. Its Venetian Room was the blueprint for the Trapps' lavish ballroom, where the children bid their farewells.

Do-Re-Mi The Pegasus fountain, the steps with fortress views, the gnomes…the Mirabellgarten at Schloss Mirabell might inspire a rendition of ‘Do-Re-Mi’ – especially if there’s a drop of golden sun.

Sixteen Going on Seventeen The loved-up pavilion of the century hides out in Hellbrunn Park, where you can act out those ‘Oh, Liesl’/‘Oh, Rolf’ fantasies.

Edelweiss & Adieu The Felsenreitschule is the dramatic backdrop for the Salzburg Festival in the movie, where the Trapp Family Singers win the audience over with ‘Edelweiss’ and give the Nazis the slip with ‘So Long, Farewell’.

Climb Every Mountain To Switzerland, that is. Or content yourself with alpine views from Untersberg, which appears briefly at the end of the movie when the family flees the country.

Who says monks can’t enjoy themselves? Since 1621, this cheery, monastery-run brewery has served potent home brews in beer steins, in the vaulted hall and beneath the chestnut trees of the 1000-seat beer garden. Get your tankard filled at the foyer pump and visit the snack stands for hearty, beer-swigging grub including Stelzen (ham hock), pork belly and giant pretzels.

Salzburg's DomQuartier (www.domquartier.at) showcases the most fabulous baroque monuments and museums in the historic centre. A single ticket (adult/child €13/5) gives you access to the Residenz state rooms and gallery, the upper galleries of the Dom, the Dommuseum and Erzabtei St Peter. The free multilingual audio guide whisks you through the quarter in 90 minutes, though you could easily spend half a day absorbing all of its sights. For an insight into the DomQuartier's history and architecture, you can download the audio guide to your phone, tablet or PC from the website before you visit.