Winter in Gastein
Winterwonderland!
Carving Meets Powder Snow
Skiing is simply the coolest!
Indeed! Here in Gastein Valley especially, with its 4 major ski areas – Stubnerkogel-Angertal-Schlossalm, Graukogel, Sportgastein, and Dorfgastein-Großarl – and boasting 208 different pistes, all true-blue ski fans are sure to be thrilled. Did you know that Gastein actually boasts two superlatives? Sportgastein is the highest glacier-free ski area in Salzburg, and on the Schlossalm, you'll find the longest downhill run in the Eastern Alps at 10.5 km!
ON WITH YOUR SKIS
then hit the trail
According to sports physicians, cross-country skiing is one of the healthiest sports there is! Gliding through nature away from the slopes is also balm for the soul. On 50 km of perfectly maintained tracks – the highest situated at 1600m above sea level – you can indulge yourself in this healthy form of outdoor enjoyment. On the Kurparkloipe, you will also need a steady hand and a keen eye in order to excel at the laser biathlon!
IN PURSUIT OF WINTER SILENCE
Snow shoeing
Hiking in Gastein is an incredibly beautiful pleasure, especially in winter! The forest is blanketed in deep snow, and snow-laden branches hang low. The silence is only interrupted by your breath and the crunch of snow beneath your snowshoes. The air is cold, and almost exhilarating to inhale. As you leave your own tracks in the snow like the wild animals, you will also experience a unique feeling of complete serenity!
Winterwonderland: yay!
Even more winter sports
THE DIVERSITY OF WINTER
Away from the pistes
Whilst winter vacations often bring skiing to mind first and foremost, Gastein also offers numerous ways to experience this special season from different perspectives. For instance, how about ice skating or a game of “ice stock” at the ice arena, an evening toboggan ride under floodlights, or a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride?
Awaken the joy of skiing
Skiing with children
Anyone who enjoys skiing or snowboarding on Gastein's slopes would also like to pass on their joy of winter sports to their children. But it is often very difficult to teach your own children to ski or snowboard and it is also much more fun with people of the same age. In the Gasti ski parks it's even twice as much fun!
THE MOST ENCHANTING PRELUDE TO CHRISTMAS
Traditions in Gastein
The run-up to Christmas is the most beautiful time of year for so many Gasteiners! Snowflakes fall, time seems to stand still, and the hustle and bustle of the outside world is kept at bay. Reflective music accompanied by the scent of baked apples and cinnamon evokes memories of Christmases past. At the Advent markets, you'll find traditional and handmade gifts, while festive wind music, Nativity plays, and storytellers captivate everyone. A particularly unique tradition is the "Passenlauf" on December 5th and 6th. 100 Krampus troupes, along with Saint Nicholas and angels, go from house to house, rewarding or admonishing those who have been “good or bad”. From afar, you can hear their bells, rattles, and devilish cries. The hand-carved wooden masks adorned with ram and goat horns are quite scary and even on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List!
