If you are going to the Gastein Mountains with children, the most important thing is to choose the best routes for family walks. It is better if these are not multi-day hikes, but short trips for 1 day or half a day. We did so when we arrived in Gastein and checked into a hotel.
Our hotel "Zum Stern"
The first thing we learned at the hotel was the Gastein Card discounts. This is the name of the guest card, which provides many discounts on goods and services in Gastein. With the Gastein Card, you will save money when booking walks, tickets to concerts of local musicians, transportation and much more. For example, from Bad Gastein to Dorfgastein on the Gastein Card, we traveled for 1.2 euros by bus, and not for 2.4 (one ticket). Save 50%! But back to mountain walks.
So, the first route we chose "Drei-Waller-Kapelle" ("Chapel of the Three Pilgrims"). According to the Gastein Card, it was in the form of a bonus, that is, completely free!
View from the window of our guide Josef, village Unterberg
Chapel of the Three Pilgrims
"Drei-Waller-Kapelle" is an ascent to a height of 1425 meters. At first we were worried that a five-year-old child of our friends would not cope with such a path, but the guide Josef (a local resident from the village of Unterberg) convinced us. Indeed, the route was not difficult. The unhurried ascent and descent back to the valley took only 4-5 hours.
On the way to the Drei-Waller-Kapelle
What is this Drei-Waller-Kapelle place?
The name "Drei-Waller-Kapelle" ("Three Pilgrims") has been known since 1529 and is associated with a local legend. Once upon a time, three Austrian pilgrims went to the Holy Land to see the places where the Lord lived. But the way back turned out to be too difficult for them - exhausted by hunger and disease, they came to the mountain separating them and their native village. The strength was running out. They asked the Lord for one thing - at least for the last time to look at their Dorfgastein valley. And God gave them the strength to rise. On the mountain they embraced, and their hearts stopped. Locals erected a chapel on the spot where the bodies of the pilgrims were found in their last embrace.
Here is such a beautiful, but sad legend. It leaves no one indifferent, as well as the beautiful views on the way to the chapel itself. We admired the alpine meadows and drank the purest water from mountain springs. By the way, the water of mountain streams is very tasty and refreshing.
Chapel "Drei-Waller-Kapelle"
Gasteiner Höhenweg route
The next day we went on an easy mountain hike - 2 times shorter than the "Drei-Waller-Kapelle". This is the Gasteiner Höhenweg. The distance is short, only 5, 5 km. Travel time is about 2 hours. We went alone without a guide - just following the signs.
Höhenweg is translated from German as "Mountain trail". You can go from both Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein. That is, the beginning of the journey may be Cafe Gamskar in Bad Gastein, and the finish line is Cafe Gamskar of the same name in Bad Hofgastein. Or vice versa. Whoever is more convenient geographically.
We started from Bad Gastein. By the way, good white wine is served in this cafe (take local production). And here you can have a snack after a walk. A glass of wine and strudel will cost 5-6 euros.
In general, when choosing local wine in Gastein restaurants, you often hear such names as "Burgenland" and "Lower Austria". These are two territories, two of the most important wine regions in Austria. Taste wines made in these locations. You will not regret.
The Höhenweg is a path through flower meadows, mills, forests and ravines in the Gastein Valley. Places of amazing beauty!
We met deer along the way
And the most unforgettable road leads through the waterfall. We walked through tunnels illuminated by red and green light and came out to a small mountain waterfall.
This is a great route for walking with children. You can relax and enjoy the beauty of nature while the kids play on the playground.
Playground on the Höhenweg route
There are other places for walking with children. For example, you can get to the Sportgastein stop (for 3.3 euros with a Gastein card), walk in the valley, drink milk in a hut and taste real goat cheese.
What else is worth trying in the Gastein mountains
In general, Gastein has such a large selection of entertainment that it is difficult to decide. You can ride horses, shoot a bow, go to the gold mining museum and even try your luck in the valley where gold is “washed”. See the full list here.
We loved the open-air thermal springs and pools of AlpenThermen. Just keep in mind that AlpenThermen only has 2 days a week for children. The rest of the time only adults and only negligee swim there. There is also a very good pool in Bad Gastein (Felsenterme thermal spa). There is a 70-meter slide, a water cave and pools for the little ones!
I must say that some walks do not have to be ordered at all, there are signs everywhere, you don't even need to look at the map. We went so spontaneously to Achenpromenaden (literally "Promenade along the stream"). The Achen stream flows through the entire Gastein Valley. And we walked along the stream to the Gasteiner Badesee lake, where we bathed. The price for going to the lake is 5, 5 euros. You can splash around all day.
If you want to walk along more difficult routes, it is better to book a walk and get a guide. You can see detailed route descriptions on the Tsum Stern website. I think next time we will definitely book a trip to the Spiegelsee mountain lakes, climb the pine forests on the Graukogel mountain and take a walk in the Hohe Tauern national park. This time we just didn’t have enough time for it, but we will definitely come back again.
