Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024 is the first European Capital of Culture in the rural Alpine region to combine the local with the international and tradition with new ways of thinking.
Founded on salt, growing rich on salt and moving into the future with salt: culture is the new salt.
The Salzkammergut offers a high concentration of exciting stories, places and people and is nestled in a spectacular landscape. Shaped by the elements of salt, water and wood, a multi-layered region emerged here where the history of salt mining began 7,000 years ago in Hallstatt. The salt trade has nourished and enriched the region and put it on the international stage by enticing wealthy and powerful people to the region. The summer resorts in the Salzkammergut have turned the area into a sought-after destination and the historic cultural landscape in the heart of the Salzkammergut is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thanks to its compact nature, shielded by mountains, lakes and rivers, the Salzkammergut is also a prime example for many other regions of the world. The difference between the industrialised and largely tourism-based Global North and the predominantly agricultural Global South is reconciled in striking fashion in this region, which serves both as a showcase and a laboratory for tackling the increasing political, cultural, economic and ecological challenges facing Europe and the world.
The programme up to November 2024
Throughout 2024, around 300 projects can be discovered across the region’s 23 municipalities. They represent a vibrant, thought-provoking mix of regional inspirations and international artists, artistic performances and discourse, with a sustainable approach that values tradition while looking to the future.
Enjoy a relaxing journey to the Capital of Culture with ÖBB!
Your connections
| Connection | Journey time | ÖBB Sparschiene |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna - Bad Ischl | from 3:07 hours | from € 19.90* |
| Graz - Bad Ischl | from 3:07 hours | from € 14.90* |
| Salzburg - Bad Ischl | from 1:51 hours | from € 9.90* |
* Tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for the selected train
If you are travelling from a nearby area, we recommend the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ.
For the Capital of Culture Year 2024, the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ (meaning "Upper Austrian Leisure Ticket") has been extended to cover the entire Salzkammergut region (Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria) and is now priced at €19.90 for up to two adults and four children under the age of 15. The period of validity has also been extended until 03:00 the following day. This means visitors can attend evening events and rely on convenient and stress-free public transport for their journey home.