Like the emperor once did

Heat: the “summer retreat” is becoming more popular again

Even Franz Josef I spent the summer outside Vienna in Bad Ischl; today, many Austrians travel to the Salzkammergut, for example.(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

In view of the heat, more and more people are opting for "coolcation " - i.e. vacations in cold countries instead of the usual southern destinations. The trend is also on the rise among Austrians - or rather, Austrians are returning to the good old local summer retreat.

Even Emperor Franz Josef I was drawn out of the city to cooler climes in summer, to the imperial villa in Bad Ischl (Upper Austria). In view of the heat, more and more people are now doing the same: "The classic Austrian summer retreat is experiencing a real renaissance," says Eva Buzzi, Managing Director of Rail Tours Touristik GmbH and President of the Austrian Travel Association (ÖRV).