Bad Hofgastein

Town · Salzburg, 🇦🇹 Austria

Bad Hofgastein is a spa town in the Gastein valley, in the Pongau region of Salzburg, at about 860 m. It sits between the bigger name of Bad Gastein, higher up the valley, and the Salzach valley below. The thermal water here comes from the same source that has made the valley a health destination for centuries.

The town is calmer and more family friendly than Bad Gastein. It has a modern thermal spa, a lift to the Schlossalm ski area and an easy mix of hiking, skiing and relaxing.

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When to visit

December to April is ski season, with the Gastein ski area part of Ski amadé. June to September is best for hiking and cycling. Autumn is calm, and the spa is good all year.

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

2° (feels like -1°) · extremes -14°–8°
-6° 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

4° (feels like 0°) · extremes -15°–10°
-5° 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

7° (feels like 4°) · extremes -10°–15°
-1° 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

13° (feels like 10°) · extremes -4°–21°
3° 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

18° (feels like 17°) · extremes 2°–24°
8° 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

22° · extremes 6°–28°
12° at night
22 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Fair

23° (feels like 24°) · extremes 8°–29°
13° 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

23° (feels like 24°) · extremes 8°–29°
14° 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

19° (feels like 18°) · extremes 4°–25°
10° 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

15° (feels like 13°) · extremes -1°–22°
6° 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

8° (feels like 5°) · extremes -8°–15°
1° 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

4° (feels like 0°) · extremes -13°–9°
-4° 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

Technische Sammlung Breyer

Alpentherme is the thermal spa and sauna complex with indoor and outdoor pools.
Weitmoserschlössl is a small castle linked to the mining family that once made Gastein rich.
Mineralien museum shows the minerals of the Hohe Tauern.
Technische Sammlung Breyer is a collection of old technical objects.
Bocksbergmühle and Rauchbergmühle are old water mills near the town.
The Schlossalm lift climbs from the edge of town to the ski area and summer hiking.
The Kurpark and the parish church are in the centre.
The Gastein healing tunnel, a warm mineral tunnel for therapy, is a short drive away at Böckstein.

What to experience

Soak in the thermal spa.
Ski the Schlossalm.
Hike on the Gastein trails.
Take a rail trip to Bad Gastein.
Visit the museum and mills.

Tours & Activities

Bad Hofgastein — Map

Day trips

Bad Gastein is about 10 minutes away by car or train.
Großarl is about 35 minutes away by car.
Bischofshofen is about 35 minutes away by car.
St Johann im Pongau is about 30 minutes away by car.
Zell am See is about 1 hour away by car.
Salzburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car.

Where to explore

Bad Gastein, Großarl and St Johann im Pongau are the nearest preferred destinations.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car.
By train: Bad Hofgastein has a station on the Tauern line, with trains from Salzburg in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: Leave the A10 Tauern motorway at Bad Gastein or Bischofshofen and follow the Gastein valley road.

Getting around

The centre is walkable. A bus runs along the valley and to the lifts. Taxis and trains link Bad Gastein.

Driving

A car helps for side valleys. The A10 has toll tunnels. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Food & drink

Salzburg-region food includes Kasnocken, cheese dumplings, and Salzburger Nockerl, a sweet souffle. Mountain huts serve soups and dumplings. Spa hotels offer lighter dishes.

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 Hofgastein is very safe. Thermal pools can be tiring, so drink water. Mountain routes need care in changing weather. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Gastein's thermal springs were known in the Middle Ages, and the valley grew rich from gold and silver mining under families such as the Weitmosers. Hofgastein was the commercial centre, while Bad Gastein became the fashionable spa. The railway arrived in 1905, and today the town is a calm spa and ski base.