Sonnhof

Bad Ischl is a spa town in Austria. It lies in the southern part of Upper Austria, at the river Traun in the centre of the Salzkammergut region. The town consists of the Katastralgemeinden Ahorn, Bad Ischl, Haiden, Jainzen, Kaltenbach, Lauffen, Lindau, Pfandl, Perneck, Reiterndorf and Rettenbach. It is connected to the village of Strobl by the river Ischl, which drains from the Wolfgangsee, and to the Traunsee, into which the stream empties. It is home to the Kaiservilla, summer residence of Austro-Hungarian monarchs Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth. In 2024, Bad Ischl was one of the European Capitals of Culture – the third city in Austria after Graz (2003) and Linz (2009).

As you stroll through the streets of Bad Ischl, you will be enchanted by its grand architecture, stunning landscapes and the warm hospitality of the locals. The town was once the summer residence of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife, Empress Elisabeth, and is still reminiscent of its imperial past.

One of the main attractions of Bad Ischl is the Imperial Villa, where the royal couple spent their summers. The villa is now a museum that showcases the life and times of the imperial family. You can also visit the Kaiserpark and the Kaiservilla, where you can learn more about the Emperor's life and legacy.