AT · Salzburg · 47.10°N 13.02°E

bad gastein

A waterfall through a steep spa town, Belle Époque buildings and high mountain walks.

Best time
January–March is ski season, and June–September is best for mountain walks. In May and November many hotels and restaurants close; the thermal pools are the fallback on bad-weather days.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop to Munich, usually via Singapore, Dubai or Istanbul, about 15–17 hours all in. The train from Munich airport takes about 4 hours, changing at Salzburg. Austria is 6 hours behind KL in summer and 7 in winter.
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AT · Salzburgbad gastein47.10°N 13.02°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A waterfall through a steep spa town, Belle Époque buildings and high mountain walks.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBad GasteinAT, Salzburg
KLbad gastein
≈ 9,651 km from KL, as the crow flies
Hotel de l´Europe

Photo: Thomas Ledl · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Bad Gastein is a spa town built up the sides of a gorge, with a waterfall crashing through the middle and Belle Époque hotels stacked above it. Hot springs, ski slopes and mountain walks are all close to the station.

Makan

  1. KaspressknödelFried cheese dumplings, good with salad; in soup, the broth is usually beef.Map ↗
  2. KaiserschmarrnA shredded pancake with fruit compote, sometimes made with rum-soaked raisins.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Gastein WaterfallThe river drops 341 metres in three steps right through the middle of town, under the bridge and the old spa hotels.Map ↗
  2. FelsenthermeThermal pools near the station, fed by the local hot springs, with mountain views from the outdoor pool.Map ↗
  3. StubnerkogelA gondola up to a ridge with a long suspension bridge and views deep into the Hohe Tauern.Map ↗
  4. Belle Époque centreGrand old hotels and villas clinging to the slopes around the waterfall, many restored in recent years.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Stay near the station if you have heavy bags; the town is all stairs and steep slopes.
  • Austrian saunas are usually mixed and nude; the swimming pools are swimsuits as normal.
  • Halal meat is hard to find here; bring food from Salzburg, or stick to cheese dumplings and trout.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.