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Table of Contents:
How to get to Bad Ischl from Salsburg
When to travel to Bad Ischl
Bad Ischl is a famous Austrian resort specializing in balneotherapy and located in the Salzkammergut region. There are many mineral springs here that are used in treatment. In addition, mud therapy is also popular; local mud is considered to be healing. The resort has thermal baths where you can try different types of treatment, be it inhalation, baths, massage, applications, gymnastics, physiotherapy, sauna or mineral water treatment. In addition, Bad Ischl has many attractions in the surrounding area; in your free time, you should definitely go to one of the lakes or take a ride on the cable car to see the Alpine peaks.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Bad Ischl. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Bad Ischl.
Bad Ischl is a year-round resort, and every season has its own unique vibes. The local climate is quite mild here and it suits for long distance walking. You can stroll around, hike or just relax in one of the thermal complexes, which are also open all year round.

How to get to Bad Ischl
Where do you fly into to get to Bad Ischl? The fastest way to get to the resort is to fly to Salzburg, a large city with an international airport located 50 km from Bad Ischl. There are direct flights to Salzburg from various cities around the world. You can check the flight schedule to Salzburg on various online services, such as Aviasales and others. I often use this service as it helps me to compare different flight options and to choose an optimal one.
How to get to Bad Ischl from Salsburg
Based on my research, next, you can get from Salzburg to Bad Ischl by public transport, by taxi, by transfer service or by rented car.
By public transport: Traveling by public transport requires a short change in the neighboring town of Attnang-Puchheim. The total travel time is approximately 2-2,5 hours. You can check the schedule and purchase tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I use this service when planning my trips in Europe in advance. It helps me to sort various available variants by the duration of the trip, departure and arrival points, price, etc.
By transfer service: You can get to Bad-Ischl faster by taxi or transfer service directly from the Salzburg Airport. You can order a transfer car in advance using specialized international services such as Kiwitaxi and others. In this case, a car with a driver will already be waiting for you by the time of your arrival. The travel time by taxi or by transfer service is about 1 hour.
By rented car: The car rental option is also suitable. Car rental offices are open right at the Salzburg Airport, and registration usually does not take much time. You can find out more about the conditions for car rental in Salzburg on the various booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. In my point of view, both online services are good as they have a convenient search with a lot of additional options to wide or narrow the results as you may need. If you choose to travel by car, take the route # B158, connecting Salzburg and Bad Ischl (see on the map).

Where to stay in Bad Ischl
Bad Ischl is a relatively small resort, but you can find accommodation options such as 2–4-star hotels, apartments, guest houses, holiday homes, B&B`s and even a hostel. Hotels and apartments still are more popular. If you book accommodation in advance, you can find quite budget options. There are also several exclusive hotels in Bad Ischl, one of which is located in a historic villa building, and the other one offers half board, a swimming pool and other entertainment in its area.
After examining some information, I can say that almost all hotels in Bad Ischl, regardless of star rating, offer their guests breakfast included in the price, free parking, and free Wi-Fi. 4-star hotels have restaurants and spas with indoor pools on site. All Bad Ischl hotels are famous for their high standards of service. A more budget accommodation option could be renting an apartment. This is a fairly popular option, which is becoming more and more in demand every year.
In my opinion, it is better to book accommodation in Bad Ischl in advance, so you can find the best option in terms of price and quality. It is worth remembering that Bad Ischl is a year-round resort, so there is no such thing as a high or low season here. Popular places to stay in Bad Ischl include the following hotels:
Der Hubertushof 4* – The hotel is located in the town center. The hotel has a spa area with an indoor thermal pool, a sauna, and a massage room. There is also a restaurant serving Austrian cuisine. Guests can stay in rooms of varying categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is offered. Free private parking is available on site. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge;
Villa Seilern Vital Resort 4* – The hotel is located in a historical building and has a spa and restaurant in its area. The spa complex has a sauna, a bath with hydromassage, an indoor pool, and a gym. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast or half board is offered. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge;
Eurothermen Resort Bad Ischl Hotel Royal 4* – The hotel is connected to the Salzkammerguttherme spa. The hotel has a terrace for relaxation and a restaurant. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast or half board is offered. Wi-Fi and parking are provided free of charge;
Popular places to stay in Bad Ischl include the following apartments:
Villa Leni Premium Apartments – The apartments have a convenient location. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family options. Some rooms offer views of the mountains or a garden (with a balcony). Free private parking is available on site. Wi-Fi operates throughout the entire complex for free;
Apartment Wolke7 – These apartments accommodate up to 4 people, have a balcony, a kitchen area and a relaxation area. Free private parking is available. Wi-Fi is also provided free of charge;
Apartment Kristall – These apartments are also designed for 2,3 or 4 guests. There is a balcony and a fully equipped dining area. Free private parking is available on site, but reservations are required. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge.

What to do in Bad Ischl
Of course, the main attraction of Bad Ischl is the mineral baths, which have healing properties. The main attractions are the thermal baths of “Salzkammergut Spa”, “Physikarium” and a thermal complex in the 4-star hotel called “Hotel Royal”. More details below.
“Salzkammergut Spa” is a wellness complex that uses the healing properties of salt and consists of salt pools, salt grottoes, salt baths and a separate “Relaxium” sauna area. For entertainment, you can visit water attractions, a grotto with an illuminated rock, massage seats, foot massage machines, and a lounge with a pebble beach. The pools have underwater massage jets. There is also a waterfall area in the complex. You can also relax in the solarium and in the local restaurant. I found out detailed information for visiting:
- The cost of visiting the thermal complex is from 21 euros per day for an adult,
- The cost of visiting the thermal complex and the sauna area is from 32 euros per day for an adult.
“Physikarium” is famous for its massage procedures; there are a huge variety of them here. So, in the spa center you can get a session of salt and honey massage, stone therapy and more exotic types of massage such as lomi-lomi massage, massage with singing bowls, sisi massage, etc. The spa center also offers classic massage treatments. The complex spa area also includes such services as facials, body peeling, manicures, and hand massages. In the medical part of the center, in contrast to the wellness area, various therapeutic procedures are carried out; consultation with specialists is required to complete them. I visited some thermal spas in Europe and I can definitely recommend such a nice activity to try.

In addition to relaxing in the Bad Ischl thermal baths, tourists can engage in active sports. For this purpose, 25 tennis courts, golf courses, routes for hiking, horseback riding and cycling have been organized in Bad Ischl. In the surroundings of Bad Ischl there are 26+ more fresh water lakes where you can swim or go fishing during the summer time. In winter, ski slopes are popular. To experience all the charm of the town, tourists can go to see the residence of Kaiser Franz Josef, the villa of Lehár who was a world-known composer, or simply take a ride on the cable car (climbing 1,400 m), which offers picturesque views of the nature of the area. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- To reach the station of the cable car, take a public bus #552 to the Kaltenbach-Katrinseilbahn stop;
- Please, note, that buses run only on weekdays from Monday-Friday;
- The cable car operates from 9 am until 5 pm during summer time and from 9 am to 4 pm during the winter time;
- A return ticket costs 24 euros for an adult; a one-way ticket costs 17 euros;
- A return ticket costs 16 euros for children; a one-way ticket costs 12 euros.
Among other things, Bad Ischl often hosts various festivals and cultural events. Thus, various music festivals (classical, operetta, jazz), medieval-stylized tournaments, and culinary events are held here. By the way, local sweets shops are considered to be one of the oldest in Austria and enjoy constant attention from gourmets.
In general, I can say that Bad Ischl, being a small resort town, nevertheless offers a huge number of services and entertainment. Here you can relax, have fun, engage in active sports, try culinary delights, and take a walk to the countryside. The big advantage of the resort is that it is all year round. Whether you are visiting Bad Ischl in summer, autumn, winter or spring, there is always something to do and a place to relax with maximum comfort.

Take a note! When going on a trip to Austria, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Sonse

Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
Awesome tips, thanks for sharing!
For some reason, I have never associated Austria with thermal springs and wellness resorts. Good to have this information.
I have never heard of Bad Ishl and honestly haven’t seen much written about Austria in general. This articles has peeked my interest as I am into natural healing and self-care. I love that there are so many options available, especially the salt treatments. As an active traveller, it’s nice to know that Bad Ishl also offers more active things to do other than the spa treatments. My perfect kind of holiday!
Great tips for getting to Bad Ischl and what to do once there. Thanks for sharing!