After the Salzburg Marathon: Hellbrunn
The Route: Salzburg → Hellbrunn → Salzburg Logistics: City bus from the centre to the palace gate. The park and fountains are on level ground. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip
Salzburg centre ──(city bus)──> Schloss Hellbrunn ──(city bus)──> Salzburg centre
The Salzburg Marathon finishes at Residenzplatz on a Sunday in late May, and the Monday that follows is a good one for a palace garden. Hellbrunn sits south of the old town and has no hill to speak of.
May in Hellbrunn: the park is green and the trees are in full leaf. The operator's season has run from 28 March to 1 November, with May hours of 09:30 to 18:30 and last entry at 17:30, so check the current times. The May normal at Salzburg airport is a daytime high of about 19°C and a night-time low of about 8°C, with a wet month overall, so carry a rain jacket. The trick fountains are called that for a reason: they spray visitors, and a dry change of top is a sensible thing to bring.
Getting there
Take a city bus from the centre to the palace gate. Bus 25 serves Hellbrunn, but check the route and Monday timetable on the Salzburg Verkehr site before you set out. If you are staying overnight, ask your hotel for the Guest Mobility Ticket, which covers public transport in Salzburg province during your stay.
The day
Hellbrunn was built in the early 17th century as a pleasure palace for the prince-archbishop Markus Sittich von Hohenems, who liked to have his guests surprised by hidden water jets. The guided tour of the trick fountains takes you round the garden on gravel paths, and the water jets come on without warning. The ground is flat and the pace is set by the guide, with standing for most of the tour.
The palace is not wheelchair-accessible and has stairs inside, so after a marathon it is the optional part. The park and the fountains have accessible provision. Wander the level paths and sit on a bench in the shade if the legs have had enough. Check current ticket prices and tour times on the Hellbrunn website.
Getting home
Take the bus back to the centre. For lunch, ask at the gate which café is open, since opening hours change by season. The last bus times differ by day, so check them before you settle in for the afternoon.