Arriving by the Pond: Your Transfer to Schloss Leopoldskron

Anyone driving up to Schloss Leopoldskron for the first time soon realises that this place is different from the hotels in the old town. Instead of lanes, horse carriages and crowds, there are meadows, old trees and the still Leopoldskron pond, which mirrors the pale facade of the palace. Behind it the Hohensalzburg Fortress rises on its rock, close at hand and yet far enough away that none of the bustle of Getreidegasse reaches you.

The palace was built in the 18th century under Prince-Archbishop Leopold Anton von Firmian, whose name it still carries. In the early 20th century it was acquired by Max Reinhardt, one of the founders of the Salzburg Festival, who turned it into a meeting place for artists, actors and thinkers from around the world. Since the post-war years it has been the home of Salzburg Global Seminar, an organisation that brings professionals from many countries together here for multi-day programmes.

Many travellers know the view across the pond without ever having been there: the exterior scenes around the water are famous worldwide from The Sound of Music. So we often hear the question in the car whether this is really the spot where the children fell into the water. Our chauffeurs happily share what they know about the filming locations and, on request, point out the side of the pond from which the well-known shots were taken.

As a hotel, the estate works on two levels. Most guest rooms are in the Meierhof, the former farm building next to the palace, while the palace itself, with its historic halls and a small number of suites, is used mainly for events, seminars and celebrations. For us this means one thing: we clarify in advance whether you step out at the Meierhof, whether reception there is expecting you, or whether a group should first be taken to the palace itself.

This is where an ordinary ride and a well-planned transfer part ways. Seminar participants often travel from different countries, land at the same airport within a few hours of each other, and should still arrive together and relaxed. Wedding parties need shuttles between the old town, the church and the palace that keep to a schedule that is often planned to the minute. And anyone who simply wants a few quiet days by the pond does not want to work out, straight after landing, how to reach a residential street in the south of the city.

VPC Premium Transfer takes care of all of this at a flat rate that you see upfront in the booking calculator. We are a private chauffeur company based in Salzburg and drive to the palace regularly, without being in any official partnership with the hotel. You book directly with us, we agree the details with you and, where it helps, with your event organiser too.

When booking, let us know whether you are staying in the Meierhof or in the palace and whether you are arriving for an event. That tells us where to drop you and whether to coordinate with an organiser. The official address is Leopoldskronstrasse 56 to 58, 5020 Salzburg.

For travellers arriving via Munich, a private transfer is often the most comfortable solution. Depending on traffic the drive takes around 1 h 45 and runs via the A8 straight into the south of Salzburg, with no change of train at the station. Coming from Vienna, allow roughly 3 h 15, with a break along the way if you wish.

During the Salzburg Festival weeks and in Advent, the city centre gets noticeably busier. Because the palace lies away from the old town you will notice little of it, but for rides into town we allow a little more time. For evening events we recommend booking the return at the same time, so your chauffeur is ready at the agreed hour.

All prices are flat rates per vehicle, not per person. You can see your exact price in the booking calculator, and for larger groups needing several vehicles we are happy to prepare a combined quote.