The vast majority of the springs are strictly protected and access to them is prohibited. There is only one spring to see, the Elisabeth Spring, which can be found on the nature trail that starts in the centre of Bad Gastein at the stone bridge.

However, you can access the water from the other springs, which are used by selected hotels and spas for medical treatments. Five million litres of radon water at a temperature of 40-50 °C flow through the baths every day.

The Gastein springs have been sought after for their beneficial therapeutic effects for several centuries. The development of the spa industry was triggered by the mining of gold in the valley, during which the therapeutic effects of the local adits were discovered. They had such a positive effect on the miners that they attracted many celebrities who were treated for their ailments.

In the 1920s, the German novelist Thomas Mann, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud and the Roosevelt family, for example, tasted the healing springs. Later, the site was visited by the band U2, actress Anita Ekberg, Liza Minelli, Jude Law and Nicolas Cage. Pope John Paul II often returned to Bad Gastein.

Therapeutic baths in the thermal water help to relieve various kinds of pain and are also great for rehabilitation after injuries. People suffering from asthma, bronchitis, allergies and sinus infections will also benefit from their effects.

Bad Gastein was the first place where radon treatment was offered. Today it is a common practice. Treatment is either by bathing, drinking radon water, inhalation or a combination of these methods.

If you want to experience the effects of radon water for yourself, there are several baths or spas open to the public. Among the most popular are the Felsentherme rock baths, which offer a sauna complex as well as an outdoor and indoor pool. They are also built directly into the rock, offering a unique atmosphere.

Another popular location is the Alpine Spa, which is more modern than the Felsentherme and is also the largest spa in the valley. In addition to the outdoor and indoor pools, there is a large area for smaller children and an aquatic multiplex cinema. There are also two water slides, one gentler, the other steeper. A special area is reserved for ladies, where men are not allowed.

The smaller, cosy Solarbad spa can be found in the village of Dorfgastein. In winter they only function as a sauna, but in summer they are a great attraction for the whole family. It includes a water slide and a children's pool. An ideal place to relax after a hard hike.