Bad Hofgastein - Ski Area Guide

An old spa village in the centre of one of Austria's largest ski areas, the Gastein Valley. The area is famous for its thermal healing weater, accessed by several spas as well as the huge and varied ski area linking several resorts in the region, with runs up to eight kilometres (five miles) long.

Who is Bad Hofgastein good for?

Bad Hofgastein Ski Area Height

Bad Hofgastein

The Austrian Ski Resort of Bad Hofgastein is part of the Gastein ski area with access to 205km of downhill skiing, with 178 individual pistes, served by 50 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Bad Hofgastein itself (175km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Gastein ski resorts of Bad Gastein, Dorfgastein, Graukogel and Sportgastein.

With skiing above 2000 metres, snow cover is generally reliable.

There is an airport within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Bad Hofgastein are perfectly feasible.

Skiing in Bad Hofgastein

The Gastein ski area, one of Austria's largest, is separated in to five ski areas, rising up to 2,700 meters in altitude, served by three resorts and several small additional lift base areas. With over 200 prepared pistes between them this is one of the longest and highest Austrian ski areas with a big choice for everyone from beginners to experts.

The ski area directly above Bad Hofgastein is based on the Schlossalm which is more-or-less lift-linked to Bad Gastein, the biggest settlement in the valley, via the small Angertal Ski centre. This takes you to the largest of the ski areas on the Stubnerkogel mountain above Bad Gastein.

Beginners are likely to start off on the Angertal area, reached by ski bus from the resort.

A second lower area, reached by train or bus down the valley, links Grossarl (in the next valley) to Dorfgastein at the bottom of the Gastein Valley and a short ski busride down the valley. The ski link is over the Kreuzkogel Mountain (2027m). The third and highest ski area is the small sector above Sport Gastein which has a base at 1600 metres and a snow-sure top lift at 2685m on the Kreuzkogel mountain. The off-piste powder trails down from here are particularly highly regarded.

So you may choose between the ski circuit connections of Stubnerkogel-Angertal-Schlossalm and Dorfgastein-Großarl, the world championship area of the Graukogel and the high alpine Sportgastein. Free guided tours to help you make the most of the area are offered to Guest card holders staying in local accommodation. There are also weekly ski races for guests. The high altitude terrain and extensive snow making cover mean poor snow cover is rarely a problem here.

More advanced skiers will probably tend towards the blacks on the Stubnerkogel and guides can often find good off piste powder runs down from Kreuzkogel.

If the whole Gastein Valley doesn't offer enough challenges you'll find its part of the Ski Amade ticket, one of the world's biggest ticket systems, which offers skiing at two dozen ski areas in the region - best bring your car.

Snowboarding in Bad Hofgastein

In this large area, which has hosted world Cup boarding events, there are plenty of deep powder pistes (hopefully) for freeriders to enjoy. For freestylers the Funpark Boarder's Paradise on the Dorfgastein - Grossarl link is located on the Grossarl-side, near to piste number 9.

Both ski schools at Bad Hofgastein have snowboarding classes from ages six and up, teaching everything from beginners to experts both park and piste technique.

.

Bad Hofgastein Aprés Ski

Bad Hofgastein's pedestrianised centre has a good range of bars and cafes such as the Röck which serves high value meals. For a particularly high brow evening's ambience try the Girardi piano bar in the Grand Park hotel. There are also several sophisticated night clubs for night owls. Remember to try the locally bottled Gastein spring water.

Other après options include a billiards hall, toboggan evenings and trips to the casino up the valley in Bad Gastein. Or just hit one of the many pools.

Bad Hofgastein in brief

Bad Hofgastein Ski Resort is:
Very good for Expert Skiers.
Very good for Intermediate Skiers.
Good for Beginners.
Good for Snowboarding.

Bad Hofgastein Season Dates

We have no confirmed season dates for Bad Hofgastein.

 Open.

Usual opening - Late Dec.

Usual closing - Mid April.

NOTE:- Opening subject to Snow Conditions in Bad Hofgastein.

Bad Hofgastein Webcams

The Webcams in Bad Hofgastein are not always up-to-date. Please check the date on the image to ensure you are seeing current snow conditions.

Bad Hofgastein Webcams

Snow Forecast for Bad Hofgastein

Bad Hofgastein Piste Map

Map of Bad Hofgastein

Bad Hofgastein Snow Making

Snowmaking :- Bad Hofgastein is able to augment natural snow, on 96km of ski runs, with 300 Snow Cannons.

Bad Hofgastein Ski Lift Capacity

Ski Lift Capacity :- The 13 Ski Lifts of Bad Hofgastein are able to uplift 25,000 skiers / snowboarders per hour.