Travel from Exeter to the twin resorts of Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein. Family friendly.
In the Hohe Tauern National Park, at the heart of the Gastein Valley, the twin resort of Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein form a vast panoramic 200km ski circuit most suited to intermediate and advanced skiers. The historic and grand spa town of Bad Gastein offers the more sophisticated apres ski, while the village of Bad Hofgastein has some world class snowboarding areas for both freeriders and freestylers. There are many cosy and traditional huts dotted on the mountain, some long, testing runs for confident intermediates, and a varied choice of black runs and off-piste for advanced skiers. Non-skiers can enjoy well-prepared walking paths or enjoy the world famous thermal spas in both resorts. Bad Hofgastein has an attractive pedestrianised centre and the town of Bad Gastein has many shops, bars and restaurants.
The Gastein valley isn’t widely known internationally. It deserves better: its slopes are impressively extensive, and mainly quite challenging – great for intermediates who are happy on real red runs. With its grand hotels, trinket shops and cramped gorge-like setting, central Bad Gastein itself is a far cry from your standard chalet-style Austrian village. But staying above the center near the lifts offers a more normal winter sports experience, and both Bad Hofgastein and Dorfgastein, respectively a few miles and a few more miles down the valley, are equally well worth considering as a base.
With an excellent ski and snowboarding school there is something for beginners, but the main runs are mainly suited to confident intermediates and upwards.
Family friendly
Good for all levels
Large ski area
Alpine charm
Good mountain restaurants
Good off piste
Scenic
Good night life
Short airport transfer
Budget resort
Bad Gastein
Altitude: 1000m (3281ft)
Bad Hofgastein -
Altitude: 860m (2821ft)
Getting to Bad Hofgastein
Flights from either Exeter International or Bristol Airport to Salzburg, then transfer by coach.
