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5 Things to do in Bad Hofgastein During summer

Last updated Sep 7, 2024

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Austria | Blog | Destinations | Europe

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Bad Hofgastein is not the same as the neighboring Bad Gastein. However, Bad Hofgastein is a great place during winter and during summer. We got to experience it during the summer and had the best time ever. This town is so cozy and nice and we ended up going to a concert and eating at a great restaurant. Bad Hofgastein has it all!

Table of Contents

1. Strolling around Bad Hofgastein

All the Gastein- towns are different even if they are close to each other. Bad Hofgastein has a more cozy city center and a laid-back feeling that the other cities are somewhat missing. Just stroll around the city center and enjoy the narrow, welcoming streets.

Forget about huge stores and shopping malls. Bad Hofgastein is a place where the stores are smaller and the service is better. You can find a lot of stores here that are selling sporting goods. No wonder since this is a ski paradise during winter. However, summer has a lot to offer here too!

2. Alpentherme Gastein

One of our absolute highlights during our visit to Bad Hofgastein was visiting the Alpentherme. This must be one of the most beautiful places to immerse yourself in thermal baths. Enjoy the warm water as you look at the amazing Alps. This is the best thermal bath in the area. There is one in Bad Gastein too that we checked out but this one was better.

When entering this place, you also get access to the saunas. We didn’t spend that much time inside the saunas since it was a nudist place (and we are shy Swedes) but the ice room was super cool. Check out our post about our visit to Alpentherme Gastein to find out more.

3. Eat vegetarian at Kraut & Ruben

A vegetarian restaurant that has been here for over ten years now and still is super consistent with its food. They have a large menu with both vegetarian and vegan options. The staff is super friendly and we were lucky because when we showed up, we didn’t have any reservations. However, there was room for us and we got a table. After sifting through the menu, we ended up ordering.

Mini ordered “Vital” – a salad plate with cashews, oranges, apples, and a yogurt dressing. I chose the Rösti with three different cheeses over baked pear and walnuts. Both of the dishes were super tasty and we also ordered an elderflower juice. We think that everyone visiting Bad Hofgastein should come here and open their minds to the vegetarian and vegan options that are out there.

Information about Kraut & Ruben

Address: Pyrkerstrasse 3, Bad Hofgastein.
Opening hours: Daily 11.00 – 21.00.
Website of Kraut & Ruben.

4. Watch A Concert With The Philharmonie

During our visit to Bad Hofgastein, we got to watch an amazing concert with the Salzburg Philharmonie. During the summer a part of the orchestra comes to Bad Hofgastein and offers free concerts for the people visiting the city. Sometimes the concerts are outside in nature and sometimes it’s inside. When we went there it was inside the Kursaal. We sat down and enjoyed a fantastic concert.

We didn’t know how much you could enjoy classical music because we did love it. The musicians were world class and the whole place was in awe after their performance. We had a hard time believing that a concert of this magnitude could be free of charge. So, if you are in the area during the summer, make sure to check for the summer schedule for the Philharmonie and catch a show.

5. Visit the Hotel Blu Gastein

Enjoy the view from thereof at Hotel Blu.

Like a breath of fresh air. This hotel and restaurant is located right in the heart of Bad Hofgastein. It’s hip, and fresh and serves the most divine dishes. I ordered grilled cauliflower and Mini ordered a burger. This place has a terrace outside where you can enjoy your meal and do some people-watching.

While visiting this place, also make sure to visit the roof of the hotel where you can get a nice view of the city center. Grab something to drink and just enjoy your visit to Bad Hofgastein. If you are not traveling by motorhome and staying at a camping – make sure to book a room at Blu Gastein and spend a night (or a couple) in the center of the city.