What's It Really Like to Stay in Salzburg's Sound of Music Hotel?

As a Sound of Music fan, visiting the filming sites was a top priority for me during our trip to Salzburg, Austria. Which also meant Schloss Leopoldskron, aka the house where they filmed the garden scenes in The Sound of Music, was on my list.

The only problem? It’s not a place that’s open to the public. But it IS a private hotel, which meant we could book a room there to fully round out our tour of the Sound of Music sites.

We stayed here for one night, and it was a splurge because it was pretty pricey! So I was definitely wondering if it was going to be worth it. Would it live up to the hype for Sound of Music fans like me?

Since we’ve now experienced it firsthand, I’m sharing what the hotel is really like, what you get access to, where you can see the filming sites, and my thoughts on whether or not this hotel was worth the splurge. (Spoiler alert: The rooms were basic but comfortable, and the grounds were amazing!)

So, if you’re dreaming of sipping coffee in the garden where the von Trapps sang and just think about the *iconic* gate down to the lake all the time (hello, it’s me!), let’s take a look inside Schloss Leopoldskron!

Rear view of Schloss Leopoldskron, the historic Sound of Music hotel, with elegant baroque architecture, ivy-covered arches, and a colorful garden in full bloom. The cream-colored façade features ornate windows and sculpted details, set against a bright blue sky on a sunny day in Salzburg. — Rear view of Schloss Leopoldskron

Location of Schloss Leopoldskron

Schloss Leopoldskron is located just outside of downtown Salzburg. It’s on Leopoldskronstrasse and the main palace sits on a small lake with amazing views of some of the Alps.

Honestly, these views that are so iconic from the movie was one of the main reasons I wanted to stay here!

I also thought it was interesting how close to Germany the hotel actually is! The mountain you see in the distance? That’s actually in Germany! Which for me, gave the story of The Sound of Music new context.

(Even though this isn’t the house they lived in, rather just a filming site, the Trapp family did live in Salzburg, still not far from the German border.)

How We Got to the Hotel

Because the hotel is a little outside of town, it’s not quite as convenient as staying in town. But it was still easy enough to get to!

Because we were lugging our heavy bags, we took a taxi from the train station to the hotel. This cost us about 17 USD and took about 20 minutes.

After that though, we used the bus to get to and from the main sites in Salzburg. The Salzburg Schloss Leopoldskron stop is just outside the hotel gate, where bus line 23 stops which runs into the main part of Salzburg. In the summer, the bus comes about every 15 minutes. So using public transport is still super easy from here!

If you drive to the hotel, that is of course a very easy way to get there. And there is parking on site.

Schloss Leopoldskron’s Interesting History

Before we get into all the details of the rooms and grounds at Schloss Leopoldskron, I want to tell you a little bit about the history. Because I think understanding the history of this building gives a stay there an even richer experience.

Schloss Leopoldskron was originally a place owned by Archbishop Leopold von Firmian, but after his death it was eventually sold by family members and it fell into disrepair.

In 1918 it was purchased and renovated by Max Reinhardt, a director and co-founder of the Salzburg Festival. (Which make me think of Uncle Max in the Sound of Music, even though that is a fictional character.)

Thanks to a conversation between Reinhardt’s widow and Harvard student Clemens Heller who wanted to have a seminar about global relationships after WWII, the Schloss became the home to Salzburg Global, a non-profit where leaders gather to discuss global issues.

Now, this hotel is owned and operated by Salzburg Global. Which I think is super interesting! I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in a hotel owned by a non-profit before!

Hotel Grounds

Now let’s talk about what the hotel grounds actually consist of. The Schloss Leopoldskron includes two main buildings: Schloss Leopoldskron (the actual palace) and the Meierhof Building next door.

Palace

The Venetian Room at Schloss Leopoldskron, a lavishly decorated dining space in the Sound of Music hotel, featuring ornate gold-trimmed wall panels, Rococo-style murals, crystal chandeliers, and classical busts. White tablecloth dining tables and large windows create a luxurious, historic ambiance in this iconic Salzburg palace. — The Venetian Room was used as a model for the ballroom set in the Sound of Music

The Schloss is definitely the main attraction here! It’s a *for real* palace, and most of the rooms are open for guests to visit.

While the ground floor lobby isn’t anything special (and in my opinion needs some redecoration) every other room here is amazing!

You can see the Marble Hall, the Venetian Room, the Max Reinhardt Library, and the small chapel.

Some of these rooms are also where all hotel guests will eat breakfast. We ate in the Marble Hall. And eating breakfast in a real palace? It felt unreal!

The Schloss does have some guest suites as well. On the upper floors there are 12 suites. These are of course a lot pricier than the other rooms available though.

Meierhof Building

Most of the hotel rooms at the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron are actually in the Meierhof Building right next door.

This building is where you’ll check-in for your stay and there is also a small restaurant and bar. It’s not as elaborate as the palace, but it is still a nice building with a beautiful courtyard and it’s own back garden (although the garden was under construction during our visit).

Gardens

Even with the attraction of the palace, the gardens at Schloss Leopoldskorn were the best part for me!

So many of the Sound of Music scenes were filmed here, and you’ll find the iconic horse gate leading down to the lake.

Honestly, I could have spent a big chunk of my day just sitting in these gardens and enjoying the view of the lake and the German Alps beyond it. It was such a peaceful and restorative place! (But alas, we did have sightseeing to do in Salzburg!)

Sound of Music Filming Locations

Woman in a blue floral dress poses between two stone horse statues at Schloss Leopoldskron, the famous Sound of Music hotel in Salzburg. Behind her, the calm lake reflects lush trees and the dramatic Austrian Alps, creating an iconic and scenic filming location backdrop. — Truly could not believe standing here at this iconic Sound of Music gate!

So, what exactly was filmed here for the Sound of Music?

You’ll of course recognize the back garden with the horse gate leading down to the lake. Most people recognize this as where all the famous back patio and lake scenes were filmed.

However, according to the timeline on Salzburg Global’s site, they actually installed a replica gate in the Meierhof Building garden and shot it there. They also replicated the gardens. No filming actually took place at the Schloss!

But this real life gate is still iconic! And either way, this is still basically the same location and feels like you are standing on The Sound of Music set.

And while all of the interior scenes of the movie were shot elsewhere, they did use the Venetian Room as a model for the ballroom scene in the movie and for the scene where they watched the marionette show, so you’ll find it looks very similar.

One thing you won’t find here? The glass gazebo from “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” While it used to be located here, it has been moved to Schloss Hellbrunn for easier public access.

Our Room in the Meierhof Building

Cozy hotel room in the Meierhof building at Schloss Leopoldskron, part of the Sound of Music hotel experience in Salzburg. The room features a large bed, a fold-out sofa bed, warm wood accents, modern lighting, and vintage photos on a mustard yellow accent wall. — Our Superior Double Room in the Meierhof Building

Since most of the rooms are in the Meierhof Building next door to the Schloss, this is where we stayed.

We stayed in a Superior Double Room that had a double bed and a couch that folding out to another bed.

Honestly, while there is nothing particularly special about the room, it was still a great stay. The beds were comfortable, and everything was clean. Basically it was all we could ask for.

There were no bells and whistles (at least compared to other stays on this trip like the Andaz Prague and Park Hyatt Vienna), which felt a little surprising considering the higher price tag.

But what you are paying for here really is the beautiful grounds and access to the palace.

My one complaint? The shower half door (the second one we saw on this trip) made it pretty hard to keep the water actually in the shower. But besides that, our stay here was great!

Modern bathroom in the Meierhof building at Schloss Leopoldskron, the Sound of Music hotel in Salzburg, featuring a sleek white tile design with a bathtub-shower combo, minimalist sink, mounted soap dispensers, and soft lighting. The space is clean, bright, and designed for comfortable boutique hotel stays. — Our room’s bathroom

Hotel Amenities and Perks

Here’s what is included in your stay here:

Breakfast in the Schloss (so beautiful!)
Wi-Fi
Activities like bikes and seasonal mini golf and a pool
Parking

Note that there is NO air conditioning here. This wasn’t a problem for us, and generally you’ll find Salzburg to be pretty mild weather-wise.

But if you do need it, there is a fan in your room (this was sufficient for us even though it was somewhat warm (I think upper 70s Fahrenheit) the day we checked in.

My Overall Review of Schloss Leopoldskron

Two dramatic stone statues with outstretched arms mark the entrance to a lakeside path at Schloss Leopoldskron, the Sound of Music hotel in Salzburg. Surrounded by lush greenery and framed by distant mountain views, the statues stand near benches and lanterns along the tranquil lakeshore. — These statues at Schloss Leopoldskron mirror the famous statues seen in the movie at Mirabell Gardens

Overall, I really enjoyed our stay at the Schloss Leopoldskron hotel. The room was basic, but comfortable. And the grounds of the castle MORE than made up for any luxury the room might have lacked.

Walking around the gardens is so lovely and relaxing, and being able to freely check out the palace rooms without other tour groups or having to buy a ticket, was a cool experience.

And of course being able to see such an iconic part of The Sound of Music and really soak it in with no rush was what made this experience all worthwhile!

Eating breakfast in the castle was also really fun. They had a great buffet with eggs, meats and cheeses, pastries, and even an automatic Nutella dispenser!

My only complaint was that they weren’t quick with replacing items that ran out, but that could have just been happenstance for when we were there.

Was a Stay Worth the Splurge?

The Marble Hall at Schloss Leopoldskron, a grand dining and event space at the Sound of Music hotel in Salzburg, featuring ornate stucco ceilings, classical frescoes, a crystal chandelier, and elegant round tables set beneath towering arched windows. The room exudes baroque opulence and historic charm, ideal for weddings and formal gatherings. — The Marble Hall where we ate breakfast in the morning.

SO, was the Schloss Leopoldskron worth the splurge?

For one night, our room that fit 3 people cost us 390 EUR (or about 450 USD). So it was definitely a lot for just one night.

But if you’re a Sound of Music fan, staying here for a night is totally worth it! If you think of it like a hotel stay and a breakfast and a sightseeing ticket all-in-one, the price makes a little more sense.

That being said though, I am glad we only stayed here one night and I think anything more than two nights would have felt unnecessary.

It’s a beautiful hotel and we loved spending time here. But since it takes more effort to get to the main Salzburg sites from here, I’m glad we moved to a hotel closer to the center of town for the rest of our time in the city. (FYI We stayed at the Sheraton Grand Salzburg and it was the perfect location and a great hotel!)

Can I Visit Schloss Leopoldskron Without Staying There?

Children dressed in traditional Austrian clothing dance in a circle on the lawn of the Meierhof courtyard at Schloss Leopoldskron, part of the Sound of Music hotel in Salzburg. Surrounded by blooming rose gardens and historic pastel buildings, the joyful scene evokes the charm of Salzburg’s cultural heritage. — We lucked into this Sound of Music play rehearsal, but you can buy tickets for it during certain summer months.

If you don’t want to stay at the Schloss Leopoldskron but still want to see it, here are some other options for how to see it:

Book a Sound of Music Tour. It will take you to all the best Sound of Music Sites around Salzburg, and you’ll get to Schloss Leopoldskron but only from across the lake. You don’t actually get to go onto the grounds.
Make a breakfast reservation. On select mornings, you can eat breakfast here even if you aren’t a guest at the hotel.
Book a guided tour. The palace also offers guided tours on select dates. You’ll just have to click through the calendar to see what dates this is available, because I couldn’t seem to find any kind of pattern.
Book a table at the Meierhof Bar. On select dates you can also make an afternoon or evening reservation to dine at the Meierhof Bar.
During August 2025 (as well as select dates in June and July) you can buy tickets to the Picnic in the Park with the Sound of Music. This is a live theater performance of the musical that takes place on the grounds of Schloss Leopoldskron. We were actually super lucky and saw this group rehearsing from our room’s window on the morning we checked out! It looks like a super fun way to both see the filming sites *and* experience some real Sound of Music magic!

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Collage graphic featuring the opulent Venetian Room and lakeside gate at Schloss Leopoldskron, known as Salzburg’s Sound of Music hotel. The text reads “Our Stay in Salzburg’s Sound of Music Hotel” with the website flyingoffthebookshelf.com, highlighting a travel blog post about the iconic filming location