Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trains trundle through Bad Gastein's station every two hours, connecting the town to
points north and south including Spittal-Millstättersee (€11.80, 40 minutes), Salzburg
(€19.20, 1½ hours) and Innsbruck (€37, 3½ hours). When travelling north from Bad
Gastein to Bad Hofgastein, sit on the right side of the train for the best views.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Bad Gastein
Stepping 3.5km south of Bad Gastein, you reach the unassuming village of
Böckstein
,
whose medieval gold mine has been reinvented as a much-celebrated health centre, the
Gasteiner Heilstollen
(Gastein Healing Gallery; 6434-375 30;
www.gasteiner-heilstollen.com
; Heilstollenstrasse
19; mid-Jan-late Oct)
. Visitors board a small train at the Gasteiner Heilstollen that chugs
2km into the depths of Radhausberg mountain, where you absorb the healing radon va-
pours. The trial session costs €29.90, while the full three-week cure will set you back
€591 (includes 10 entries to the tunnel).
Seven kilometres north of Bad Gastein is the sibling spa town of
Bad Hofgastein
(858m),
home to the architecturally innovative
Alpen Therme
(
06432-829 30;
www.alpentherme.com
;
Senator-Wilhelm-Wilfling-Platz 1; 4hr ticket adult/child €23.50/14.50; 9am-9pm Sun-Wed, 9am-10pm Thu-Sat)
This mammoth spa is split into four different 'worlds', where experiences stretch from
relaxing in radon-rich thermal baths to racing down white-knuckle flumes. The sauna vil-
lage comprises brine grottoes, loft saunas, red-hot Finnish saunas and an ice-cold plunge
pool. For some pampering, pop over to the beauty centre for treatments such as goat's-
milk wraps and hot-chocolate massages.
Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein and Böckstein are linked by both bus and rail. The scenic
7km Gastein Alpine Road (per person €5; price included in the Ski Amadé ski pass) links
Böckstein to Sportgastein via tunnels and galleries.
