Gasteinertal Valley
Calling All Relaxation Seekers and Sports Enthusiasts!
With almost 40km, the Gasteinertal valley is the longest of the valleys that cut into the northern slopes of the Central Alps in Salzburg. There’s never a dull moment during a holiday in Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein and Dorfgastein. Would you like to hike to one of the mountain cabins in Gastein, get to know the producers and savour delicious, home-made food? Do you dream of breathing freely and activating your body’s own self-healing powers? The Gastein Healing Gallery is the perfect place for that. Listen to the burbling mountain streams and the roaring waterfall in Bad Gastein’s historic centre, let go of your worries and relax in healthy thermal waters or take a refreshing dip in a lake surrounded by mountains. Have fun on more than 200km of perfectly groomed pistes in winter. Simply unwind in this breathtaking mountain scenery. On the family farms, you’ll not only find cosy rooms and holiday apartments, home-made food and exciting activities. The friendly hosts can’t wait to welcome you!
Winter Holidays in the Gasteinertal Valley
Non-Stop to the Top!
Hop on the cable car and go up to the station on the very top - via four different mountains and 1,000m, in just a single ride! Skiing at its best! Long descents, more than 200km of perfectly groomed pistes, a reliable snow cover and cosy mountain cabins that serve culinary delights from the region will make every skier’s heart sing.
But the Gasteinertal valley has even more fun winter activities on offer: backcountry skiing, ice climbing and tobogganing, to name but a few. Do you love cross-country skiing? A great network of tracks and trails for classic and skate style criss-crosses the valley. The shuttle bus takes you back to your accommodation after an exciting day in the great outdoors.
How about travelling through the winter wonderland in a very peaceful way? Magical moments are guaranteed if you go for a country walk or take a romantic ride in a horse-drawn sleigh. Simply ask your hosts for advice!
In winter, there’s also a range of sports events, customs, traditions and celebrations to experience.
Summer Holidays in the Gasteinertal Valley
Countless Outdoor Activities and Exciting Moments on the Farm
Explore the alpine landscape as you hike, cycle, swim or play golf in the Gasteinertal valley. Tie your hiking boots and let’s go. No matter if you hike up the mountains or take the cable car - you’ll always be rewarded with breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers and lakes on your way across the idyllic countryside. Don’t forget to stop by one of the many mountain cabins and have a delicious snack with locally grown food.
You can also explore the region on your bicycle. Sports enthusiasts will find plenty of cycle routes and mountain biking trails with great stops along the way. You can also join a professional guided bike tour and rent all kinds of bicycles.
Ultimate Bucket List: 3 Things to Do in the Gasteinertal Valley
1. Relax in the Thermal Baths
The Gasteinertal valley has become popular thanks to the natural hot springs. Thus, this is the perfect location for a spa break or a healthy holiday. Guests can enjoy the facilities and treatments in the spas and thermal baths all year round. Are you looking for a fun time in the water? The “Alpentherme” is ideal for families. Do you wish to fully relax and unwind? Then, the “Felsentherme” is the right choice. Visit the new thermal lakes or the Gastein Healing Gallery. Close your eyes, enjoy an indulgent spa treatment and allow your muscles, your body, mind and soul to relax. Perhaps, you’d also like to join a yoga class or a guided meditation in the Gasteinertal valley?
2. Enjoy Culinary Delights
Food lovers will jump for joy! A brunch in the forest or a culinary walk from one mountain cabin to the next in Sportgastein - the Gasteinertal valley offers an abundance of culinary experiences. Immerse yourself in nature as you savour the local cuisine and try delicious products grown and produced in the region. In winter, six award-winning chefs prepare extraordinary culinary delights in selected mountain cabins right next to the ski piste. A fine dining experience like no other! Skiing and sampling local delicacies at the same time? That’s possible in March, when farmers from the Gasteinertal valley showcase their products at the highest farmer’s market in the Alps.
3. Visit One of the Countless Events
There’s always something going on in the Gasteinertal valley. Have a look at the calendar of events when you’re planning your holiday. There’s a great number of sports events and traditional festivities. Don’t miss out on these highlights!
In winter, the festival “Sound & Snow” includes concerts with popular artists and bands. “Art on Snow” is an art festival that showcases fascinating ice sculptures. Celebrate winter and welcome spring at “Snow Jazz” or enjoy a Caribbean atmosphere and sunshine skiing at the event “Palms amid Alpine Pastures” (“Palmen auf Almen”). Once a year, Bad Gastein hosts the FIS Snowboard World Cup. Do you love yoga?
Then you should come in spring. The “Yoga Days in Gastein” include yoga classes, yoga in nature and much more. In summer, the list of events is long. It includes the trail running festival “adidas INFINITE TRAILS”, classical concerts, the jazz festival “Summer.Jazz.in.the.city”, the art festival “sommer.frische.kunst” and countless happenings on the mountain cabins.
In autumn, it’s time to celebrate “Bauernherbst”, the fifth season of the year. It’s all about traditions on the farm with culinary events, traditional festivities and great music. Yoga lovers will also find what they’re looking for in autumn.
Before and around Christmas time, romantic Christmas markets and local customs such as processions of scary “Perchten” (devilish figures wearing animal furs) draw visitors to the Gasteinertal valley.