Bad Gastein is built vertically into a steep gorge in the Salzburg mountains, with a 341-meter waterfall running through the town center and 19th-century grand hotels stacked on both sides. It was the Habsburg imperial spa resort of choice, drawing Emperor Franz Joseph and the European royal circuit to its radon-laced thermal waters from the 1860s onward. The faded Belle Epoque architecture, now attracting a creative scene alongside traditional wellness visitors, gives Bad Gastein a character unlike any other Austrian destination. The Gastein Valley ski area links the town with Bad Hofgastein and Dorfgastein for 200 kilometers of piste. The Gasteiner Heilstollen, a thermal radon mine tunnel used for specific therapeutic treatments, is unique in the world. About 1.5 hours from Salzburg by car or train.