Experience
Culture and Traditions
What is it that makes the Salzkammergut so attractive? Here in the Salzkammergut, the culture is so alive and the customs so authentic - experience for yourself.
The KulturCard is available for just € 49 from the Salzkammergut tourist boards and online. The KulturCard entitles you to discounts at museums, concerts and exhibitions in the region as well as the Capital of Culture programme throughout 2024.
The KulturCard also includes the SalzkammergutCard with numerous discounts at popular attractions, sights and leisure activities in the Salzkammergut.
"Culture is the new salt" - this is the motto of the 2024 Capital of Culture. With 23 municipalities, the European Capital of Culture is located in the inner Alpine region for the first time and will offer a diverse program in 2024 with Bad Ischl as the banner city in the Salzkammergut.
The different Salzkammergut regions with their specific customs, dialects, crafts and peculiarities offer a diversity in a very small area that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. It will be exciting, because you can look forward to a colorful round dance, which seeks the connection of historically rooted traditions with contemporary art and culture and thus presents the Salzkammergut to an international audience.
In the Capital of Culture year 2024, you can travel to the Salzkammergut in comfort with the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ. The ticket is valid throughout Upper Austria and in the Salzkammergut region, which spans several federal states. 19.90 per day, valid until 3 am the following day, you can use this ticket alone, as a couple or with your whole family (two adults and four children under the age of 15).
Valid on city transport, regional buses, Stern & Hafferl local trains, ÖBB local and regional trains. Not valid on long-distance trains.
Welcome to the Salzkammergut. Rich in tradition, history, culture and customs, the perfect blend of tradition and modernity has always attracted artists from all over the world. Since time immemorial, the Salzkammergut has inspired writers, poets, musicians and painters, providing them with the necessary peace and serenity to create their works. No wonder, then, that many famous artists have found their home here and created some of their most significant works. From Franz Lehár to Gustav Mahler and Gustav Klimt to Klaus Maria Brandauer - they all found impulses for their artistic creations in the stimulating landscape of the Salzkammergut, and also left a trace or two behind.
Emperors and aristocrats have already chosen the Salzkammergut as their favorite place for summer retreats. And even today, the charm that enchanted Emperor Franz Josef and his beloved Sisi can still be felt throughout the Salzkammergut. Everywhere in the Salzkammergut you can feel the presence of the imperial and royal monarchy. Monarchy and experience lived tradition up close. Every step leads you to places full of history and stories waiting to be discovered by you.
In the midst of the Salzkammergut shines a special jewel: the UNESCO Cultural & Natural Heritage Sites of the Hallstatt-Dachstein region. Salt has been mined in the Salzkammergut for thousands of years. Hallstatt can look back on a fascinating history. The theme of salt has great significance in the Salzkammergut to this day and shapes the region in a unique way. Discover the traces of salt extraction and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of the Salzkammergut.
In the Salzkammergut, history and tradition have also left their mark on handicrafts. Handmade products have always had a high value here. Whether it's the famous Goiserer shoes, once worn by Emperor Franz Josef, hand-printed traditional costume fabrics from Ausseerland, tailor-made dirndls or hand-sewn lederhosen, or the famous Ischl or Aussee hats - in the Salzkammergut, the garment becomes a work of art. Discover the handicraft side of the Salzkammergut and experience first-hand how the art of craftsmanship has been cultivated for centuries.
The Salzkammergut is not only known for its craftsmanship, but also for its importance in the field of instrument making, genuine folk music and folk culture. Numerous music bands, shooting clubs and traditional costume groups bear witness to this lively and authentic folk culture in the Salzkammergut. Here the cultural heritage is cultivated and passed on with much love. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of folk culture and experience first-hand how the Salzkammergut is still an important place for art, culture and crafts today.
The Salzkammergut culture is characterised by the connection between past and present, which flow harmoniously into one another. Experience a journey through world history, immerse yourself in traditional customs and be inspired by the vibrant culture of the present.
Whether it's the famous Goiserer shoes, hand-printed traditional costume fabrics from Ausseerland, tailor-made dirndls or hand-sewn lederhosen, or the famous Ischler or Ausseer hats - in the Salzkammergut, every item of clothing becomes a work of art.
Traditional festivals take place throughout the year in the Salzkammergut. From church holidays and traditional parades to hearty traditional events - take up the offer and celebrate glittering festivals together with the locals.