Bad Ischl - Heart of Austria's Salzkammergut

Bad Ischl lies at the centre of Austria's Salzkammergut, a stunningly beautiful region of mountains and over 76 lakes. Once the favoured summer retreat of the Austria royal family, this historic spa town now attracts visitors from around the world drawn by its historic past and modern facilities. Bad Ischl is easily reached by bus, train or car from Salzburg and Linz airports

When holidaying in Bad Ischl visit the Kaiservilla, summer palace of the Habsburg family, and the Lehar villa where Franz Lehar composed his famous operettas including "The Merry Widow". Take the cable car up the Katrinalm and take in the views towards Lake Wolfgang and the Dachstein mountains. No visit is complete without a trip to Zauners's Konditorei for coffee and cakes.

In summer the town is a haven for music lovers with free concerts every week from May to September. It also plays host to the two month Lehar Festival of Operetta.

Bad Ischl is ideally placed to explore the Salzkammergut region. Excursions to Lake Wolfgang and the traditional lakeside villages of St Gilgen, Strobl and St Wolfgang, the UNESCO World Heritage village of Hallstatt, the Dachstein caves and ice caves, Gosau to view the Dachstein glacier or the Mozart city of Salzburg. There is excellent public transport for those who prefer not to hire a car.

For those seeking an active holiday the surrounding countryside is ideal for a whole range of sporting pursuits.

From spring to autumn there is walking and cycling on kilometres of marked trails. There is swimming in the open air pool, and in the nearby Nussensee and Lake Wolfgang.

In winter guests can ski the Katrinalm or take the ski bus to either the family ski resort of Postalm or the extensive Dachstein West ski area. Dachstein West offers over 140 kilometres of mainly intermediate pistes which are blissfully crowd free even in the height of the winter season. Visitors can also enjoy sleigh rides, ice skating, tobogganing and cross country skiing.

Throughout the year Bad Ischl plays hosts to traditional festivals. The highlights are the Kaiserfest in August, celebrating the anniversary of the last Kaiser's birthday and the Advent markets in the weeks running up to Christmas.

Bad Ischl is a super holiday location, with something to offer young and old, throughout the year.

We look forward to welcoming you to our special town.

Written by Linda Harpham - Owner of Property 56666 in Bad Ischl, Austria