Getting There -- Bad Ischl sits astride a secondary rail line that runs north to the major rail junction of Attnang-Puchheim and south to the equally important junction of Stainach-Irdning. At these junctions, trains connect frequently with those traveling from Salzburg, Vienna, Linz, and Graz. The trip from Vienna, with connections, takes 3 3/4 hours; from Graz, it's around 4 1/2 hours. For rail information, contact tel. 05/1717 (www.oebb.at).

Many travelers opt for one of the buses that depart every hour from Salzburg's main railway station for Bad Ischl. The trip takes about 90 minutes, and transfers are usually not required. By car, Bad Ischl can be reached from Salzburg or Munich by taking Route 158 east from Salzburg.

Visitor Information -- The tourist office, at Bahnhofstrasse 6 (tel. 06132/2775-07; www.badischl.com), will give you complete directions and information about all the sights in the immediate vicinity if you'd like to make some day trips from the spa. It's open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm, Sunday 9am to 1pm.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.