The heart of Austria, lying in the middle of Austria between mountains and lakes, you can find the so-called Salzkammergut (English: Salt chamber). Some call it the 10th federal state of Austria. The area of the Salzkammergut is quite big, with parts in the federal state of Salzburg, Upper Austria and Styria. The Salzkammergut not only impresses with its scenery but also with its history and long-lived traditions.
One important reason to visit it in 2024 is the European Capital of Culture!
Why should this Austria region be on your 2024 itinerary?
The Salzkammergut was also the summer residence of the emperor back in the days. Hallstatt has the oldest salt mine, which brought wealth to the region. It is indeed a region with a rich and fascinating history. Not only did the emperor enjoy his stay in the region but also many other famous people. Therefore, you can find many mansions in the Salzkammergut, a few of them are open to visit during the European Capital of Culture year 2024.
The European Capital of Culture is indeed a reason to travel to Austria and should definitely be included in your Austria itinerary 2024.
What is the European Capital of Culture?
In order to promote Europeans’ diverse culture, the European city of culture programme was launched in the summer of 1985. Athens was the first city that held this title. Now the programme is called European Capital of Culture and the selected cities hold this title for one year. They have, of course, a framework programme. Cities can apply for the title and an international panel of cultural experts do the selection. Multiple cities can have the title European Capital of Culture simultaneously. Graz and Linz have been two Capital of Cultures in 2003 and 2009.
This year, three European “cities” hold the title: Bodø in Norway, Tartu in Estonia, and Bad Ischl Salzkammergut in Austria. Bad Ischl, with its 23 communities, represents the European Capital of Culture, and it’s the first time in history that it’s being held in an Inner Alpine region. Including Bad Ischl Salzkammergut in your Austria itinerary 2024 will provide a unique cultural experience.
Traveling to the Salzkammergut via public transportation
You can reach Salzkammergut easily by train from Vienna or by bus from Salzburg. If you are coming from Austria’s capital, you need to check a train that stops at Attnang-Puchheim, where you catch your connecting train towards Bad Ischl. From Salzburg you take the bus 150 to Bad Ischl. For both journeys you have fantastic views and the first taste of the Salzkammergut.
The region is well equipped with public transportation, at least if you aren’t going to some very remote place. It takes a little longer by bus/train, but therefore you can enjoy the gorgeous views or book tickets for your activity. Be aware that the summers in Austria can get very busy. You might need to book a seat for your train journey. If you travel by car, expect heavy traffic/traffic jams, especially during summer.
Day 1 – Arriving at Austrias deepest lake – Gmunden
Your day starts at the deepest lake in Austria – the Traunsee. Gmunden to be exact. This town is one of the northern entrances to the beautiful Salzkammergut. Traveling by train in Austria itinerary 2024 is super easy and fast. Whether you are coming from Salzburg, Linz or Vienna, you can easily reach Gmunden with only one change.
In Gmunden you can visit the exhibition “Moss people” from the Finnish artist Kim Simonsson. The idea is that those figures are from our then-extinct civilization and live in an idealized future when nature has taken back control of the planet.
For the afternoon activity, you will experience the beauty of Austrian nature. You can either hike up the Grünberg or take the cable car. At the top of the mountain there is a magnificent tree top walk and a summer toboggan run. It’s amazing to relax and enjoy the view and the beautiful nature. There is also a traditional Austrian restaurant on the mountain.
Other ideas around Traunsee:
- The Avent Garden – at the monastery garden in Gmunden. There is every 1st Saturday of the month an event, but you can visit the garden also during regular opening hours.
- Traunkirchen – exhibition Villa Pantschoulidzeff and boot tour Karbach
Day 2 – A bizarre day – in the midst of art, history and nature
On the second day, you can experience some of the sad history of Austria. But the art installation there and the numerous nature activities afterwards will lighten up the dark history of the place.
From Gmunden, you take the train along the Traunsee to Ebensee, the south end of the lake.
The concentration camp in Ebensee is difficult to reach via public transportation, however you can take a taxi. Or you can walk from the Ebensee railway station. It’s approximately 30 minutes.
In the tunnels of the former concentration camp, Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota showcases her installation with the title “Where are we now?”. Huge clothes hang from the seal, surrounded by red ropes. The artist wanted to create something beautiful in this sad place. Be sure to bring a warm jacket. It’s quite cold in the tunnel. The art exhibition is only open on weekends and tickets are available on site.
If you aren’t that keen to visit the concentration camp, you can instead visit the exhibition Villa Pantschoulidzeff. The title of the exhibition is “Bizarre Realism” and the creations of the artists are showcased in the villa and at the quarry. The boot tours to the Karbach quarry are only during the weekend. It’s a great way to experience Austria’s lake side.
It is important to add some nature activities to your itinerary because of the unspoiled nature of the Salzkammergut. Ebensee offers several outdoor activities: The Erlakogel is a challenging five-hour hike and rewards you with amazing views. Another beautiful short hike is to the Rindbach Waterfall, which can be combined with a visit to the Gassel Tropfsteinhöhle cave (tours only on weekends).
Additional hikes in this gem in Austria are the Signalkogel near to the Langbathsee or a walk around the Offensee. If the sun burns down, you can also enjoy the refreshing Traunsee. At the “Badeplatz Rindbach” you find a great sunbathing lawn to relax.
Day 3 Bad Ischl – Important town for your 2024 Austria itinerary
On the agenda for the third day is the historical town Bad Ischl. It is the center of the European Capital of Culture Salzkammergut 2024. Here are various free exhibitions or art installations outdoors:
The exhibition Ahnlroas in the Sisi Park displays elderly people of the region styled up for a photo shoot. At the Kurpark, you find interesting information boards about the Austrian history. The main exhibition in the Sudhaus shows art with water and salt. Many installations deal with climate change.
My personal recommendations for Bad Ischl are the Ai WeiWei exhibition and the Remote Bad Ischl city tour.
The exhibition “Transcending Borders” showcases art from the early Chinese dynasties juxtaposed with important archaeological finds from the Hallstatt period. The result is a dialogue between art and history. Some works of Ai Weiwei also address current issues, like the trash problem and the refugee crisis. It is a really exciting exhibition in the Kaiserpark and Marmorschlössl in Bad Ischl. You can visit the exhibition daily until October 27th from 9:30 am to 5 pm (in October from 10 am to 4 pm).
A very unique activity in Bad Ischl is a trip to space. In this installation you float in a pool filled with brine while watching the breathtaking images from space on the full dome above you. This unique experience combines the feeling of weightlessness with the awe-inspiring beauty of the cosmos. The project runs till August 25.
In Bad Ischl you can also visit the emperor’s castle, eat the famous Zaunerstollen or have just a stroll around. It is very beautiful, especially in summer, when all the flowers bloom.
Another interesting project of the European Capital of Culture in the Salzkammergut is the Genusslabor (English: Gourmet laboratory). It is a restaurant that is created by students of the tourism school. This project deals with two very pressing issues in the region: vacant buildings and the demise of pubs. The Genusslabor Is located right next to the train station and open only during special open times.
But one of my favorite artistic works is the sculpture right in front of the train station, from Xenia Hausner Atemluft (English: breathing air). It should be an illustration of current social and existential problems.
Other things to do in Bad Ischl:
- Imperial Villa
- Hike up Siriuskogel, Kalvarienberg
- Katrin Cable Car
- Thermal bath – Eurotherme
Day 4 in the European Captial of Culture 2024 – Connecting Cultures
After that, it’s time to see another exhibition in Lauffen.
The beauty of the Capital of Culture is that it connects cultures and projects from all over the world. It links global projects on specific topics, highlights commonalities and brings added value. This means that visitors not only experience the culture of the Salzkammergut, but also different cultures from all over the world.
This is clearly visible at the exhibition in Lauffen, which is your next stop, “The Journey of the Paintings”. This exhibition is actually one of three related exhibitions. It deals with the art trade during the 2nd world war.
Lauffen used to be an important hub for the salt transportation along the Traun river. In the center of the Austrian town you can find late gothic and early modern townhouses. They are reminders of Lauffen’s heyday.
With the exhibition in one of these houses, it has also been possible to renovate several other houses. In keeping with the theme of the exhibition: “The Life of Things. Looted – Displaced – Salvaged”. You can visit the exhibition for free and you will find interesting stories about the preservation of archaeological and urban sites in Lebanon. Also, the destruction of important cultural assets in Armenia. Numerous art sculptures and pictures.
The exhibition takes around one hour. Afterwards, you can enjoy coffee and cake in the newly opened café, Kaiserin Elisabeth Kaffeehaus.
Lauffen has a bus and train station, but the buses/trains are rather infrequent. Therefore, you can either rent a bicycle in Bad Ischl and cycle to Lauffen or you can take the public transportation there and then walk back to Bad Ischl. It’s a nice walk along the river. The cycling path is also very good. If you have decided to go cycling, you can extend your cycling adventure and continue to Lake Hallstatt. Have a dip in the water. In Bad Goisern you can make a lunch stop.
Day 5 – in the European Captial of Culture 2024 – Hollywood was here
The next day, you are going to catch the train to Bad Aussee. This is also a very lovely Salzkammergut town. Believe me, if you want to see picturesque Austrian alpine towns, you need to come to the Salzkammergut. And forget about the overcrowded Hallstatt; the other towns are just as beautiful. Bad Aussee is actually the geographical middle point of Austria.
It has a pretty interesting history that even inspired Hollywood filmmakers. Nazis used the salt mine during the war to stock art works. After the Second World War, the Nazis wanted to bomb the mine. Brave locals realized what was going on and could stop that, save not only cultural assets but also the salt mine (their working place).
You can even visit this historical place: the Salt Mine is in Altaussee. Unfortunately, it is a bit difficult to reach by public transport, but you can use the services of the Salzkammergut Shuttle. At the salt mine is a comic exhibition by Simon Schwartz. He transformed the interesting history of the place in comics under the title “Hidden in the rock. The mountain, the salt and the art”. You can visit the exhibition for free.
But I recommend to visit the salt mine. It is quite interesting to walk inside the mountain. Slide down the slides and hear interesting facts.
In the center of Bad Aussee you can find the exhibition “Wolfgang Gurlitt. Art Dealer and Profiteer in Bad Aussee” is a companion exhibition to the one in Lauffen. It shows the life of the passionate collector and Berlin art dealer who lived in Bad Aussee after the war. The exhibition is located in the Kammerhof Museum and costs 8 Euros.
You can buy an all-inclusive ticket for the salt mine, the exhibition in Linz (which belongs to the project “The journey of the pictures”).
Next up is a combination of sporty activity and photo exhibition. You can take the bus from Bad Aussee to Grundlsee. At the Sportarena of the Zloam you can find a photo exhibition “TIME TRAVEL- between lived tradition and cliché – between lived tradition and cliché”. It is very interesting because there are historical pictures that are reinterpreted by contemporary photo artists.
One of my favorite exhibitions so far, I do like photo exhibitions more than art exhibitions, to be honest.
In the afternoon you can enjoy plenty of activities at the Zloam. You can take a Yoga and Pilates course, a 3D archery course, go horse riding or enjoy your immediate environment and go for a walk. To walk around the Grundlsee takes 3,5 hours. But if you want to take it easy, you can simply enjoy the shore of the lake with hopefully good weather.
As you can see you can spend much more time in the Salzkammergut, especially during 2024, with all this events taking place. Make the best of your visit and check out the exhibitions and projects that catch your eye. Don’t rush through. It’s not worth it! Take your time and enjoy your summer/autumn in the European Capital of Culture Salzkammergut 2024.
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
