With its air of a bygone era, the Alpine village of Bad Gastein, in the middle of the Hohe Tauern national park, is unlike any other ski resort in the Alps. Bad Gastein’s heyday was during the period known as "La Belle Epoque", and that turn-of-the-century romance is reflected in several of the most beautiful Jugend hotels in Europe. This special atmosphere has made Bad Gastein the No. 1 resort in Austria. Of course, the fact that the ski area is the largest in the country (and at 2 700 m above sea level is extremely snow-secure) also contributes to Bad Gastein’s great power of attraction.
Bad Gastein offers five ski areas with over 250 km of well-maintained slopes above and below the tree line. Bad Gastein is a ski resort with some of the Alp’s longest slopes and a descent of as much as 1 500 m. The Stubnerkogel Valley station is within walking distance of the Hotel Salzburger Hof. By using the ski lift you can easily reach the Stubnerkogel-bahn.
From here you can gaze out over an extensive ski area, where lift queues are virtually unknown. The lifts can take 75 000 people an hour up the mountain. The Stubnerkogel is one of Austria’s finest ski mountains with long, challenging slopes, like the 11-kilometre-long piste B11.
The Gasteiner valley, with over 90 kilometres of groomed tracks is paradise for cross country skiers. Choose between the easily accessible tracks in the valley or take a trip up the mountains to some of the most beautiful places in the region.
Just 150 metres from the Salzburger Hof you find the newly renovated outdoor bathing complex of Felsentherme, with heated outdoor pools (+37º C), water falls, a slide and a 1 000 m² spa area. Here you can enjoy the lovely hot water from the hot springs deep down in the ground. From the indoor pool you can swim through to the outdoor pool. At Felsentherme there is also access to sauna, solarium, thermal baths and massage.
Bad Gastein is a genuine health resort with hot springs which are used both in the Hotel Salzburger Hof wellness department and in the newly renovated outdoor bath Felsentherme. The famous curing water from the hot springs deep underground contains radon and is good for the joints, rheumatic trouble and is generally relaxing.
The horse-drawn sleigh ride takes you through the dense and magical woods, where moonlight and jingling bells provide the perfect accompaniment. At the mountain restaurant Prossau, you will be served the region’s specialty - trout. After the meal, which is naturally rounded off with the Austrian national dessert Apfelstrudel, it is once again time to be tucked under blankets and let the horses trot back to Bad Gastein.
Riding a toboggan is tremendous fun. You take the lift up to the Bellevue Alm where you have a drink of Glühwein and then swish down the three-kilometre run to Bad Gastein.
Hotel Salzburger Hof, Bad Gastein. Tel: +43 6434 2037-0. Email: hotel@salzburgerhof.com.