Bad Gastein ski resort is a world famous spa at the foot of the Graukogel, with 17 thermal springs. Bad Gastein is the main town in the Gastein Valley, a year-round spa that attracts visitors from around the world. As a ski resort, its slopes are impressive, extensive and quite challenging – and the resort is ideal for intermediates who are happy on real red runs and for families with a non skier who wants a spa experience.
Bad Gastein ski resort's 200km of ski runs are among the best in Austria. There is a network of five main ski areas, the connecting buses and trains are included in the Gastein Valley Super Skipass. Bad Gastein ski resort also has plenty of natural snow - usually from the end of November until the end of April.
(only Vienna has more overnight guests)
resort ratings summary (out of 10):
Overall: 7
Skiing: 8
Snow: 6
Apres Ski: 7
Suitable for: beginner / intermediate / expert / non skiers
Resort Summary:
Population: 5600
Currency: Euro
Language:German
Resort Altitude: 1000m (3281ft)
Winter Season: December to March
Number of beds: 17036 beds in the whole Gastein Valley
Nearest Airport: Salzburg Airport is about one hour form Bad Gastein.
Nearest Town: Bad Gastein
Nearest rail station: Bad Gastein
Getting there by road:
Snow:
Snow reliability: more reliable than most low-altitude Austrian resorts, with the high Sportgastein area nearby as back-up.
Current snow conditions: snow conditions from the BBC
About the slopes:
Total piste length: 250km
Vertical Drop: 1600m (5249ft)
Number of slopes:
Beginner %: 24
Intermediate %: 66
Advanced %: 10
Snowboard parks: 1
About the ski lifts:
Highest Lift: 2700m (8858ft)
Lowest Lift: 1100m (3609ft)
Number of Lifts: 59
Lift capacity: 70000 per hour
The cost of ski passes (2004 / 05):
Adult 1 day: 57 Euro
Adult 6 days: 165 Euro
Child 1 day: 28.50 Euro
Child 6 days: 83.50 Euro
Restaurants, Apres ski and non skiers:
With its grand hotels, a casino, trinket shops and a cramped gorge-like setting, central Bad Gastein ski resort is a far cry from your standard chalet-style Austrian village. The apres-ski is not the liveliest around though. There are plenty of bars to choose from if you want a quiet drink, and many of the hotels have good restaurants. There are also plenty of off-slope facilities, many related to its origins as a spa resort. The indoor and outdoor thermal pool complexes are a must for any visitor. There is also sleigh riding, paragliding and tennis.
Resort contact details:
Address: Bad Gastein, Kaiser Franz Josef Str. 27, Bad Gastein, Austria, A-5640
Telephone: +43 (0)6434 25310
Fax: +43 (0)6434 2537
E-Mail: info@gastein.com
website: www.gastein.com
