We have been trying to go to Gastein for a good few years, but there was always something in our way. In the end, we buckled our asses and decided that whatever happened, our winter skiing and snowboarding trip would be to the Gastein Valley. What is winter in Gastein like, how do you plan your time and where to eat? We will answer all these questions below!
The Gastein Valley is located in the Austrian state of Salzburg, about 60 kilometres south of Salzburg. Gastein is located in the Hohe Tauern Mountains, the highest range of the Austrian Alps. There are three towns in the valley: Dorfgastein, Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein.
Towns in the Gastein Valley – Winter in Gastein
We know the least about the lowest town Dorfgastein, but we spent some time in Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein. Bad Gastein is the highest and most picturesque town. They are characterized by the Belle Epoque architecture, monumental hotels climbing both sides of the valley, and in many places you can also see beautiful villas, there is a waterfall in the centre of the town. Bad Gastein is called alpine Monte Carlo, although in our opinion it is much more charming but similarly expensive. It gained fame thanks to the discovery of radon in water in the 19th century, it started the era of radon therapy and tempted the then elite to come and expand the town. Bad Hofgastein is more relaxed, more local and traditional. We recommend an evening walk around the town, even on a frosty day!
Gastein Ski Resort – Winter in Gastein
The main reason for coming to the Gastein Valley in winter is the Gastein ski area. From all the three mentioned places you can get to the slopes, but not all places are connected with each other. The valley offers 200 kilometres of slopes in 4 ski resorts. From Dorfgastein you can get to Kreuzkogel, Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein give access to Schlossalm-Angertal-Stubnerkogel, and the highest point is Sportgastein, where conditions always last the longest and high alpine peaks surround the slopes.
In the first two places, you can choose between the lifts, they are mainly gondolas, but there are also chairs and much less often – T-bar lifts. The routes in these places are marked from blue to black, beginners will find something for themselves, but more experienced skiers and snowboarders will have much better fun! In this area, one of our favourite routes is the longest in the region, the 10-kilometre H1, we also loved the B18 and B20 routes, and the most beautiful views are around the Hohe Scharte peak.
In Sportsgastein, the highest located in the mountains, there is only one gondola lift, there are several routes that are recommended for at least intermediate skiers and one black which is known as the “expert” level. Sportgastein is also a Mecca for free riders, it is the best off-piste location in the entire ski complex, and after a fresh snowfall, the conditions are fabulous.
There is no shortage of equipment rentals in the entire valley, it is worth doing price research in advance and checking if a reservation will be necessary.
Gastein Thermal Baths – Winter in Gastein
Felsentherme in Bad Gastein – thermal pools opened in 1968, after renovation, are still in the original building, the architecture of which is very interesting, although probably not everyone will like it. The Felsentherme is not a large complex and it is much quieter there than in Alpentherme. Sauna lovers will not be disappointed, as there are many saunas there – along with relaxation rooms and places where you can cool down. The outdoor pool is not overwhelming and the water is not very hot, but we have no doubts that the calmer atmosphere will suit many visitors. In Austria, please note that the sauna areas are nudist areas and swimwear is not allowed.
Alpentherme Thermal Baths in Bad Hofgastein – bigger and newer complex, we had the impression that the water in the outdoor pool was slightly warmer than in the Felsentherme. You can enjoy the views from the outdoor pool at Alpentherme, but the place is definitely more crowded and noisy. A sauna area is a place of relaxation where silence is mandatory, especially in the relaxation rooms. The choice of dry and wet saunas is really huge, in the Spa zone there is also an outdoor pool with hydro massage.
Other activities in Gastein – Winter in Gastein
Winter in Gastein has a lot to offer! If you are not interested in skiing or snowboarding, you will surely find something else for yourself!
Cross-country skiing – in the Gastein Valley you will find 40 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails. One of them is in Bad Hofgastein and is a great choice if you don’t want to leave the city. You will find further runs in Angertal and Sportgastein, both great views guaranteed!
Ski touring – there is no shortage of mountains, so if you are not that keen on going downhill, maybe … up? Ski touring is also a popular sport in the valley!
Ice skating – The ice skating rink is located in Bad Hofgastein
Sledges – in many places you can rent a sledge and play like a child. One of them is located at the Bellevue Alm hut, you can read more here.
In addition to what we mentioned, you can go on a winter hike, horseback riding (apparently you can go all year round), do yoga, do tennis or paragliding. There is no shortage of options in the Gastein Valley!
Gastein landmarks – Winter in Gastein
Flying Waters – a ride over the Gastein Valley on a zipline? Emotions are guaranteed! Flying waters is the Zipline over the valley in Bad Gastein. Unfortunately, we didn’t try it, because we never managed to reach this place during the opening hours.
Waterfall in Bad Gastein – in the centre of Bad Gastein there is a picturesque waterfall, one of the symbols of the town, which can be seen in many pictures of Bad Gastein.
Suspension bridges and viewpoints on the Stubnerkogel – the Stubnerkogel peak, which can be reached by a lift, offers phenomenal views, and to emphasize this, there are two suspension bridges – the longer one, with more stunning views, is located right next to the cable car station. In addition to the bridges, there are also special viewpoints.
Garstenauer Kugel – it may not be a must, but it will surely please many photography enthusiasts. In Sportgastein, huge silver balls have been placed in several places, which look brilliant in the pictures! The most photogenic one is at the top of the mountain, right next to the top station of the cable car.
Bad Gastein Tourist Information – Winter in Gastein
Normally tourist information is not a place that would arouse more emotions in us, but the one in Gastein is really special! We found out about its uniqueness on the first day after our arrival, when we had problems with checking in at our Airbnb and we thought that we would have to look for an emergency accommodation quickly, and we did not have internet. Well, next to the tourist information there is an interactive board (available 24 hours a day) with the names of hotels in the town and information (green and red light) about the availability of accommodation, and best of all, you can make a phone call to the hotel from there! We also heard that here you can learn a lot about the events in the town, so if you are looking for a place where you can find information about interesting activities, events or trips – ask for it in the centre!
Address: Meyerbeerweg 2, 5640 Bad Gastein, Austria
Summer in Gastein
Winter in Gastein is amazing and this is what we have focused on as passionate winter sports enthusiasts. However, in our opinion, there are also plenty of attractions in the area in the summer! The green alpine meadows and rocky peaks of the Alps are probably a very picturesque landscape, and mountain hiking and cross-country enthusiasts will surely find a lot to do. The thermal baths are open all year round, and we have already mentioned horse riding and yoga classes before. Mountain bikers will also not be disappointed, and the valley is certainly a pleasure to ride an ordinary bicycle. We are sure that there will also be places for mountain climbing and fishing.
Where to stay in Gastein? – Winter in Gastein
Unfortunately, the most expensive is in Bad Gastein, but in our opinion, it is the most picturesque place, and also most happens there in the evenings. Additionally, Bad Gastein is centrally located and from there it is not that far to Sportgastein, where you can take a bus.
Look for cheaper accommodation in Bad Hofgastein, thanks to the lift from the town you can move around the entire resort of Schlossalm-Angertal-Stubnerkogel, you can also get to Bad Gastein by lift. If you want to stay in Dorfgastein, it is worth remembering that both the Schlossalm-Angertal-Stubnerkogel resort and Sportgastein (as well as the thermal baths) will have to be travelled by bus, but you have the Kreuzkogel resort on site. If you do not want to spend millions on accommodation (unfortunately the Gastein valley is not a cheap place), we recommend you look for accommodation on Airbnb, which are definitely cheaper than hotels, and additionally, having an apartment with a kitchen, you can save on food.
How to get to the Gastein Valley? – Winter in Gastein
The number one option is a car, but it isn’t much faster than a train. It is also worth considering that in the valley (especially in Bad Gastein) parking places might not be easy to find. If you plan to go by car, remember to book accommodation with parking!
The second option is to fly (or train) to Salzburg and from there train to the Gastein Valley. The train stops in each town in the valley, but it’s worth noting that in Bad Hofgastein, the station is far from the town centre. In Bad Gastein, the train stops right in the centre.
How to get around the Gastein Valley? – Winter in Gastein
As we mentioned before, one of the options is the train, which unfortunately will not get you to the very centre of Bad Hofgastein and you have to walk (or take a taxi) a few kilometres. The upside is that the last train leaves much later than the last bus.
The second option is local buses, which you can travel for free if you have a ski pass. You can also get to Sportgastein by bus.
Where to eat in Gastein Valley? – Winter in Gastein
Bellevue Alm – a beautiful chalet with a traditional wooden interior and a fireplace in the middle. A very atmospheric place! The chalet is in Bad Gastein, just above the valley station – you can get there on skis/board, but you can also walk from the town. They serve really generous portions of mulled wine and the food is very tasty.
Skirestaurant Junger Stube – we didn’t eat, but we recommend a drink with a view from the top of the mountain, it’s worth it!
Hamburger Skihütte – a brilliant spot with a beautiful view and best of all – deckchairs! On a sunny day, you don’t want to go back to the slopes! Recommended mainly for a drink, burgers are quite good.
Blu – hotel in Bad Hofgastein with a cocktail bar and a restaurant with a beautiful, well-thought-out design. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn’t live up to expectations, the food was in some cases overcomplicated and the duck we ordered overcooked. However, they have a really great bar and delicious drinks, also the signature ones! Plus, the decor really does the job!
If you are looking for a place to ski a bit closer to Poland or you are simply scared by the prices in the Gastein Valley, we recommend Jasna Ski Resort in Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia, where we have been skiing for several years. Here you can find our post about this ski resort.
