A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bad Gastein vs. Cairngorms National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bad Gastein or Cairngorms National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bad Gastein and Cairngorms National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bad Gastein or Cairngorms National Park?

Bad Gastein

Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is an over 1,700 square mile park in the center of Scotland and is home to some of the most beautiful sights in the country. Voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by National Geographic Traveler Magazine, the park features everything from castles to wildlife tours to white water rafting. There is really no bad time to visit the park, as you will always have something to see and do here! In the winter, from late November-March, you can ski the slopes and go on snow treks. Summer, from May-September, is fantastic for walking, hiking, and canoeing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.


Which place is cheaper, Cairngorms National Park or Bad Gastein?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bad Gastein is €122, while the average daily cost in Cairngorms National Park is €139. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bad Gastein and Cairngorms National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bad Gastein 62
    Cairngorms National Park 65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bad Gastein 124
    Cairngorms National Park 130
Compare Hotels in Bad Gastein and Cairngorms National Park

Looking for a hotel in Bad Gastein or Cairngorms National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bad Gastein


Hotels in Cairngorms National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bad Gastein Hotel Prices and Cairngorms National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bad Gastein 40
    Cairngorms National Park 62

Is it cheaper to fly into Bad Gastein or Cairngorms National Park?

Prices for flights to both Cairngorms National Park and Bad Gastein change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bad Gastein 35
    Cairngorms National Park 35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bad Gastein 21
    Cairngorms National Park 31

Tours and Activities in Cairngorms National Park

For Cairngorms National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Walking Tour to Ben Macdui Scotland: $114
  • Cairn Gorm Mountain Adventure Private Hike: $168
  • Private Guided Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $177
  • Private Guided Ridge Scrambling Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Rock Climbing Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountain Walking Experience in the Cairngorms: $202
  • Private Guided Winter Mountaineering Experience in the Cairngorms: $222

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bad Gastein 7.86
    Cairngorms National Park 9.83


When comparing the travel costs between Bad Gastein and Cairngorms National Park, we can see that Cairngorms National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bad Gastein Expensive? and Is Cairngorms National Park Expensive?.