Spa towns and skiing resorts offer a variety of entertaining options for a visit to glamorous Gastein Valley, a vast and scenic area enclosed by the Hohe Tauern mountains. Old-world folk customs and extensive ski networks provide a distinct feeling in the villages scattered across this picturesque terrain. Explore the towns at the heart of the valley for a glimpse of regional culture.
One of the area’s highlights is the Bad Gastein Waterfall that runs through its namesake town. Hike along the banks of the Gasteiner Ache, whose water rushes down several tiers of crashing cascades. Admire the elegant façades of the historic buildings backing onto the water. Relax in one of the spas that make use of the alleged healing properties of the river.
Head to Bad Hofgastein for the Alpentherme Bad Hofgastein, a large and exclusive spa where you can bathe in the hot springs while viewing the beauty of the mountains. Stay at one of the luxury hotels in the downtown pedestrian zone. Once in the scenic village of Dorfgastein, take one of the Gastein lifts up to the mountains and enjoy the vista of the villages in the valley below.
In winter, take your skis and snowboards to the labyrinth of beginner and intermediate slopes. You’ll have a choice of the runs in the Fulseck, Graukogel and Sportgastein ski areas. Relax with a meal at a ski hut with a view across the snowy peaks.
Encircled by the Hohe Tauern mountain range, the Gastein Valley is home to the towns of Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein and Dorfgastein. It stretches a length of about 25 miles (40 kilometers) in the center of Austria. Drive south from Salzburg for 50 miles (80 kilometers) to get here in a little more than 1 hour. While in this part of the country, consider traveling west for Innsbruck or northeast for Bad Ischl.
