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Shopping has a very special charm in Salzburg! Buying gifts for loved ones at home - and of course one or two souvenirs for yourself - is a real pleasure in "Austria's most beautiful shopping center," Salzburg's Old City on the left and right banks of the Salzach River.
The Getreidegasse with its world-famous, wrought iron guild signs, beckons shoppers with a variety of posh boutiques carrying international designer clothes; it also houses Mozart's birthplace, the city's genius loci, where fans of the great composer can shop for all kinds of memorabilia after visiting the museum: e.g. CDs featuring music played on original Mozart instruments, Mozart books, T-shirts, stationery, note-pads, posters, coins and postcards with portraits of the famous family; Mozart's Residence on Makart Square has a shop of its own offering a wide array of tasteful souvenirs.
An assortment of Mozart souvenirs can be found in nearly every souvenir shop in town – ranging from Mozart plates and Mozart ties to Mozart watches! Those who wish to take a musical momento of the Salzburg Festival back home can purchase CDs of the latest Festival performances and performers – available in good music shops throughout the city.
Whether you're interested in a brief synopsis, accounts of the city's fascinating history or photos of the city's beautiful ambiance: the selection of high-quality illustrated books and works recounting Salzburg's history, culture and art is practically unlimited! Bookshops are also well-stocked with Salzburg cookbooks, featuring delicious recipes for many tempting dishes! The development of Salzburg's architecture over the centuries is both interesting and attractive – countless antique shops, art shops and galleries offer an assortment of watercolor paintings, drawings, etchings and photographs of the city dating back to the late 19th century; facsimiles of historic documents or famous compositions such as the world's most popular Christmas carol, "Silent Night," make exquisite Christmas gifts.
Typical gifts also include the aromatic nosegays decorated with cinnamon, cloves, nuts and other spices which will not only be an eye-catcher but also leave a long-lasting fragrance in your kitchen. Colorful flower arrangements made of silk are another everlasting decoration for the home.
Salzburg's most famous edible souvenir is probably the "Original Salzburg Mozartkugel," a round chocolate praline "invented" by Salzburg's master confectioner Paul Fürst in 1890; this sweet temptation is still being produced by Fürst's great-grandson according to the original recipe to this day and has warmed the hearts of chocaholics around the world. A variety of chocolate souvenirs from other producers are also available including Mozart thalers, Mozart cakes, Mozart liqueurs, etc.
"Trachten" are not only traditional costumes in Salzburg but also in vogue today: you're always well-dressed for the occasion wearing a Salzburg tracht –in a colorful summer or winter dirndl, an elegant holiday dirndl made of silk or brocade or a chic loden jacket.
The Salzburger Heimatwerk, specializing in rustic handicrafts, offers colorful trachten fabric, handsome rustic furniture, charming verre églomisé, intricately painted chip boxes, ceramics, pewter and exquisite Christmas tree decorations as well as over 150 carved Nativity scenes that bear witness to the skills of Salzburg's manger craftsmen.
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