Holiday in Bad Gastein

What makes Bad Gastein special as a destination?

Bad Gastein is one of the most unusual mountain towns in the Alps: Like an amphitheater, the Belle Époque grand hotels rise up the steep rock faces, while a powerful waterfall thunders through the town center, creating an almost surreal backdrop. Once, the European haute volée strolled through the streets – Emperor Franz Joseph, Bismarck, and Thomas Mann were among the illustrious spa guests seeking the healing radon thermal water and the mountain air. Today, Bad Gastein is experiencing a fascinating renaissance: Alongside the historic grand hotels, creative minds and young hoteliers have settled, combining the morbid charm of the Gründerzeit with contemporary design. The Felsentherme offers spectacular bathing in thermal pools carved directly into the rock, with views of the mountains. The Gasteiner Heilstollen – a former mine – is used for radon thermal therapy and helps with respiratory and joint diseases. As part of the Ski amadé ski area, 760 kilometers of slopes are available in winter, while the Graukogel is considered a snow-safe insider tip for freeriders. In summer, the Gastein Valley transforms into a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers, and the 75-kilometer Gasteiner Höhenweg offers breathtaking panoramas. The Sound & Snow Festival and various cultural festivals make Bad Gastein a year-round destination. For German guests, the journey via Salzburg and the Tauernautobahn is comfortable, and the Gasteiner Bundesstraße leads directly into the valley.