This year, Austria’s wellness sector attracted notable visitors looking for luxurious ways to improve their health. Celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Rebel Wilson, and Elizabeth Hurley traveled to Austria for treatments aimed at metabolism, detoxification, and various wellness and medical needs.
However, it’s not just celebrities who are drawn to Austria’s wellness offerings. According to Booking.com’s Travel Predictions for 2025, over half of American travelers are willing to invest in vacations that promote longevity and well-being, indicating a rising interest in health-focused activities.
Adding to Austria’s allure, Simply Red, Sting, and Bryan Adams will perform at a ski season kickoff event in the Schladming-Dachstein region—the highest peak in Austria—on December 6-8, 2024.
Wellness options are still a key consideration even for those primarily visiting for winter sports or concerts. Data from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) indicates that secondary wellness travel makes up 88% of all wellness trips. These travelers intentionally look for healthy accommodations, nutritious food, and wellness experiences, even if their main reason for the trip differs.
Although Austria isn’t classified as one of the “Blue Zones” yet, is it emerging as a new destination for wellness travelers? These unconventional offerings certainly create distinctive wellness spots.
Discover Inner Peace Through Forest Bathing in Leogang
Forest bathing was introduced by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982 to encourage people to connect with nature. Its growing popularity has led to numerous scientific studies highlighting the emotional, restorative, and revitalizing benefits of spending time in forests.
Asitz Mountain in Leogang stands out as the center of forest-focused wellness in Austria. Known as the “Mountain of Senses,” this popular ski resort is home to Europe’s largest bike park.
Asitz features a “Senses Park” with 30 unique installations designed to engage visitors’ senses of sight, smell, sound, and touch. Its 5-mile-long forest bathing trail includes 14 stations, such as a wooden bridge, yoga platform, treetop bed, nature swing, and more. Guests can also enjoy “Peaceful Water,” which offers Kneipp hydrotherapy facilities, or unwind among the nature and music of TONspuren Islands.
Naturhotel Forsthofgut, located at the base of Asitz Mountain, provides immersive nature-centered wellness experiences like forest bathing. The surrounding forests are regarded as the property’s “most precious place of power,” according to owner Christoph Schmuck. The staff aims to share the tranquility and energy of nature with every guest.
Visitors can indulge in the expansive 61,000 sq ft spa facilities or choose from their signature experiences. One highlight is “waldHARMONIE,” a 110-minute treatment that begins with a mindfulness hike and includes stretching and breathing exercises, followed by an open-air full-body massage in a forest clearing.
Radon Therapy in Bad Gastein’s Healing Cave
Radon therapy is offered in only a few locations worldwide, and Gastein Heilstollen (or “Gastein Healing Gallery”) in Bad Gastein, located in Austria’s Salzburg region, is one of them. This therapy is distinctive because visitors take a 1.2-mile train ride through a tunnel beneath Radhausberg Mountain before the treatment starts.
The therapy combines natural radon gas, high humidity, and heat to provide substantial pain relief and immune system benefits. Participants spend about 60 minutes in the therapy area, where the temperature is maintained at 98.6°F with around 70% humidity.
Research indicates that radon therapy can help with rheumatic-inflammatory diseases, respiratory issues, skin conditions, and more. The treatment at Gastein Healing Gallery is recognized by Austrian and German health insurance providers, underscoring its medical credibility and effectiveness.
Austrian Phytobalneotherapy: Traditional Healing Hay Baths
Hay baths are a traditional wellness treatment in Austria’s Alpine region, particularly popular in the Tyrolean Alps. Their origins trace back centuries to Seiser Alm in Italy, the German-speaking region of South Tyrol, and the largest high-altitude Alpine meadow in Europe.
This therapy combines the benefits of fermented plants (phytotherapy), thermal bathing (balneotherapy), and the positive health effects of high-altitude environments (climatotherapy), creating a unique and holistic approach to relaxation and healing.
The hay bath involves soaking in warm, fermented alpine hay, which is harvested at high altitudes and contains therapeutic herbs like arnica and chamomile.
Several eco-hotels across Austria offer hay baths, including Landhotel Schermer in Westendorf, Alpenresort Schwarz in Obermieming, and Bio-hotel Stanglwirt in Going am Wilden Kaiser.
Boosting Your Immune System the Austrian Way
The Mayr Cure is a gut-health cleanse developed by Viennese doctor Francis Xavier Mayr over a century ago, long before gut health became a popular topic.
The Mayr Method focuses on detoxifying the digestive system through three main pillars: rest (including fasting), detoxification (avoiding alcohol, caffeine, refined sugars, and fatty foods), and mindful eating (such as thoroughly chewing each bite and eating in silence).
VIVAMAYR Health Resorts have gained recognition for their modern approach to the Mayr Method, which they refer to as “Modern Mayr Medicine” for gut health and overall wellness.
Research shows that about two-thirds of the immune system resides in the gut microbiome. A diverse gut flora strengthens immune defenses. Fasting can be an effective tool for enhancing immune health, along with maintaining an alkaline diet, focusing on relaxation, and even incorporating cuddle time between outdoor activities— all part of VIVAMAYR’s strategy for promoting a resilient immune system.
From forest bathing in the tranquil alpine woods of Leogang to phytobalneotherapy in Tyrol, Austria invites you to relax, unwind, and recharge. Radon therapy in Bad Gastein’s underground caves and VIVAMAYR’s holistic treatments against the stunning backdrop of the Alps exemplify why Austria is celebrated for wellness tourism.
