One of the most lovely and well-known resorts in Salzburgerland (area of Salzburg) is Bad Gastein (or only Gastein as some call it). Bigger than most resorts, almost town-like, Bad Gastein is situated in the Hohe Tauern Mountains. The place has a long history of tourism, mainly winter sports. Today it is a town of splendid appearance with classically designed buildings. The town grew up, as its name might suggest (Bad - from German - a health resort near a spring or at the seaside), on seventeen natural thermal springs, which continue to rise as they have done for the past 3000 years. What better apres-ski can there be than submerging in a hot tub? Bad Gastein`s spa healing capacity was recognised as early as the 13th century, but its skiing potential was developed in the 1950s after the first cable car in Austria was introduced.
So today the resort is famous both for its ideal health-treating conditions, and for its well-organized ski tourism. Especially famous is the Gastein Thermal Gallery.
The trails available have a cumulative length of 250 km.

Bad Gastein is not only spa and ski resort - it has historical significance, too. It offers variegated apres-ski activities. For the nature-lovers there are many delightful guided wood trails.

The Gastein ski area, one of Austria'a largest ski complexes, is separated into 4 areas, served by four resorts and several small peripheral lift base areas. The most huge of the ski areas begins on the Stubnerkogel Mountain above Bad Gastein and is lift-linked, through the small Angertal Ski Centre, to the Schlossalm above Bad Hofgastein. The highest ski area in the region is the small territory above Sport Gastein which has a base at 1600 metres and a snow-sure top lift at 2685 metres on the Kreuzkogel mountain. The off-piste powder trails down from here are particularly highly acclaimed.

There are 16 lifts (4 trams, 4 chairs, 8 surface). The cross-country pistes (especially picturesque) are 35 km.

The Gastein Super Skischain (with one Super Ski Pass) includes all of the resorts in the Gastein Valley and the trains and bus services for connection among the various ski areas between 8 am and 6pm so long as you use these when skiing or snowboarding. Bad Gastein is one of the first resorts to introduce the Power Pass, an electronic ski credit which is charged with a certain value, taxed automatically each time a lift is used. The Power Pass can be used in various ski areas including all of the Gastein Valley and popular attractions like the famous big wheel in Vienna.

Being a place with interesting history, Bad Gastein also has intense culture life. There is a theatre, a few concert halls, public library, ball dancing hall. If you don't feel like waltzing, you can go to one of the modern discos or pubs. For those of you with flair for gambling, there are also a few casinos, which offer various ways to multiply (or lose) your money, depending on your luck.