באד הופגסטיין

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

• 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Quick practical facts for Austria at a glance: