Bad Gastein

Town · Salzburg, 🇦🇹 Austria

Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town in the Gastein valley in the Hohe Tauern. It is built on steep slopes around a waterfall that drops through the middle of town. Grand Belle Époque hotels line the hillside, and the town has a faded elegance that is now being revived.

The thermal waters have drawn visitors for centuries, including emperors and artists. Today it offers spa days, skiing and hiking in one place.

Printable tourist map

Bad Gastein – Planning a Trip?

Build your day-by-day itinerary in the Tripomatic app.

Start Planning

When to visit

December to April is ski season. June to September is best for hiking and for spa visits. April–May and October–November are quieter. Winters are cold and snowy. Summers are mild, with occasional thunderstorms.

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

1° (feels like -2°) · extremes -15°–7°
-7° at night
12 rainy days
6 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

2° (feels like -1°) · extremes -16°–9°
-6° at night
11 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

6° (feels like 3°) · extremes -11°–14°
-2° at night
14 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

12° (feels like 9°) · extremes -5°–20°
2° at night
16 rainy days
8 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Fair

17° (feels like 15°) · extremes 1°–23°
7° at night
21 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

21° · extremes 5°–27°
11° at night
22 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Fair

22° (feels like 23°) · extremes 7°–28°
12° at night
23 rainy days
9 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Fair

22° (feels like 23°) · extremes 7°–28°
13° at night
21 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in September

Good

18° (feels like 17°) · extremes 3°–24°
9° at night
16 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair

14° (feels like 12°) · extremes -2°–21°
5° at night
14 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

7° (feels like 4°) · extremes -9°–14°
0° at night
14 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

3° (feels like -1°) · extremes -14°–8°
-5° at night
13 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Gasteiner Wasserfall

Felsentherme

Stubnerkogel

Flying Waters, Bad GasteinA fun ride on a zip line with majestic mountains and a beautiful town surrounding you as you swoosh down the line.

Gasteiner MuseumGasteiner Museum tells the story of the local town and its history as a thermal spring wonder.

GlocknerblickA viewing platform set in the hills offers spectacular views of the area.

Quellenpark

Gamskarkogel

Jagdschloss Czernin

Mining Museum AltböcksteinThis mining museum showcases the history of gold mining in the area and the processing machines that were used for mining purposes.

Gasteiner Wasserfall is the waterfall in the heart of town, dropping about 340 m in several steps.
Felsentherme is the thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools.
Stubnerkogel is the main ski and hiking mountain, reached by cable car, with a suspension bridge and views.
Flying Waters, Bad Gastein is a zip-line over the waterfall.
Gasteiner Museum covers the history of the spa and the valley.
Aussichtsplattform Glocknerblick is a viewpoint with a view toward the Grossglockner.
Quellenpark is a park in the town centre with spring water.
Nikolauskirche and Preimskirche are two small churches in the upper town.
Jagdschloss Czernin is a hunting lodge in the Böckstein area.
Mining Museum Altböckstein tells the story of gold mining in the valley.
Gamskarkogel is a peak on a summer hike.

Featured Lists

CC BY-SA 4.0

Bad Gastein Essentials

Bad Gastein, the 'Monte Carlo of the Alps,' is defined by its dramatic verticality and Belle Époque architecture. This selection covers the town's diverse offerings, from the iconic central waterfall and the thermal healing tunnels of Gasteiner Heilstollen to the high-altitude thrills of the Stubnerkogel suspension bridge. Explore the region's gold mining heritage in Altböckstein, visit historic sites like the Preimskirche, and take in panoramic views of the Hohe Tauern range from the Glocknerblick platform.

11 places

Fl.schmitt / CC0

Editor's Choice: Bad Gastein

Bad Gastein’s alpine landscape is defined by the 140-meter Stubnerkogel Suspension Bridge and the Glocknerblick viewing platform, which provides sightlines to Austria’s highest peak. Thrill-seekers can traverse the Gastein valley via the Flying Waters zip line, while hikers can reach the 2,467-meter summit of Gamskarkogel, Europe’s highest grass mountain. The Gasteiner Museum documents the town’s evolution from a medieval mining hub to a world-renowned thermal spa destination.

5 places

Waterfalls of Bad Gastein

Bad Gastein’s landscape is defined by dramatic elevation changes, most famously showcased by the 341-meter central cascade that drops in three stages through the heart of the village. Beyond the town center, the surrounding Hohe Tauern National Park contains numerous alpine falls, including the veil-like Schleierfall in Sportgastein and the glacially-fed Tischlerkarfälle. These sites illustrate the geological power of the Gasteiner Ache and its tributaries, which have shaped the region's history as a thermal spa destination.

8 places

Herzi Pinki / CC BY-SA 3.0

Alpine Huts in Bad Gastein

Bad Gastein's mountain landscape features a network of historic alpine huts and modern shelters situated between 1,500 and 2,600 meters. This selection includes high-altitude bases like the Hagener Hütte at the historic Mallnitzer Tauern pass and the modern Hannoverhaus near the Ankogel. Hikers can find traditional dairy pastures such as the Moisesalm in Sportgastein or the Untere Astenalm, known for regional specialties like Bauernkrapfen. These locations serve as essential waypoints for the Gasteiner Höhenweg and provide access to the Hohe Tauern National Park's diverse terrain.

12 places

Skiing in Bad Gastein

Bad Gastein’s high-altitude skiing centers on Sportgastein and the neighboring Mölltaler Glacier, offering reliable snow conditions at elevations exceeding 3,000 meters. This selection features technical FIS-certified runs like the Eissee FIS Abfahrt and diverse terrain ranging from the intermediate Schareck pistes to the freestyle-focused Snowpark. The region is characterized by expansive freeride areas and the Schareck peak, which provides a significant vertical drop across various difficulty levels, including the Wurtenboden and Verbindung connecting runs.

9 places

Fl.schmitt / CC0

Best Viewpoints in Bad Gastein

Bad Gastein’s dramatic topography offers diverse vantage points, from the 341-meter tiered waterfall bisecting the town center to high-altitude peaks in the Hohe Tauern range. This collection includes the 2,467-meter Gamskarkogel, one of Europe's highest grass mountains, and the Stubnerkogel, known for its 140-meter-long suspension bridge. Visitors can access panoramic platforms like Glocknerblick for views of the Grossglockner or follow the trail of overlooks surrounding the Gasteiner Ache's powerful descent through the historic spa architecture.

8 places

PicturePrince / CC BY-SA 4.0

Alpine Huts & Cabins

This collection features traditional mountain huts and historical retreats scattered across the Gastein Valley and the high-altitude Sportgastein plateau. These alpine huts, or 'Almen', serve as essential rest stops for hikers, offering regional specialties like mountain cheese, wood-fired bread, and traditional doughnuts. Many sites, such as the Bockhartseehütte, are situated near glacial lakes and historic mining trails, providing a glimpse into the region’s agricultural heritage and alpine architecture within the Hohe Tauern National Park.

15 places

Karl Gruber / CC BY 3.0 at

Bad Gastein Health & Wellness

Bad Gastein's reputation as a health destination centers on its unique thermal waters and the Gasteiner Heilstollen, a therapeutic radon gallery located deep within the Radhausberg mountain. This selection includes specialized rehabilitation clinics like the Badehospiz and Klinikum Bad Gastein, which focus on musculoskeletal and respiratory health. Complementing these medical facilities is the Kaiserhof complex, offering integrated sauna landscapes and accessible accommodation designed for visitors undergoing long-term treatment or seeking thermal wellness.

7 places

What to experience

Soak in the thermal pools.
Ski the Gastein valley.
Hike a trail from the Stubnerkogel.
Walk past the Belle Époque hotels.
Visit the healing tunnel in Böckstein.

Tours & Activities

Bad Gastein — Map

Bad Gastein — Printable Tourist Map Open the interactive map

Day trips

Bad Hofgastein is a spa and ski town further down the valley, about 10 minutes by train or bus.
Rauris is a quiet valley village, about 45 minutes by car.
Großarl is a valley of mountain huts, about 45 minutes by car.
Zell am See is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
Salzburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes by train.
Radstadt is a walled town, about 1 hour by car.

Where to explore

Bad Hofgastein, Rauris and Großarl are the closest preferred places.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by car. Innsbruck and Klagenfurt are alternatives.
By train: Bad Gastein is on the Tauern railway. Salzburg takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, Villach about 1 hour 15 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: Take the A10 Tauern motorway to the Bad Gastein exit.

Getting around

The town is built on steep slopes, with steps and short climbs. Local buses run through the valley. The station is in the centre of town. The Stubnerkogel cable car starts near the centre.

Driving

A car is helpful for the side valleys. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. The Tauern motorway has tolls. Parking in the town centre is limited.

Food & drink

Salzburg-region food includes Kasnocken, cheese dumplings, and Kaiserschmarrn. Mountain huts serve simple dishes. The town has a growing cafe and bar scene in the old hotels.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Bad Gastein is safe. Check avalanche bulletins before going off-piste. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Bad Gastein grew as a spa from the Middle Ages, and gold and silver were mined in the valley. In the 19th century emperors and nobles came to take the waters, and grand hotels were built. The town declined after World War II and is now being revived.