Zell am See resort guide - a general overview
Zell am See is a charming lakeside town and year-round resort with lively après ski and plenty to do off the slopes. It offers substantial, mainly intermediate, skiing - backed up by a snow-sure glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun.
The slopes are pretty, tree-lined and with great views down to the lake. However, their limited extent will begin to frustrate reasonable, intermediate skiers and above after a few days. Luckily Kaprun, with its snow sure glacier, is only a few minutes ride on the bus.
There is quite a lot of choice on restaurants with a range of cuisine and many atmospheric eateries are spread around the mountains. There are also a few ski and snowboard schools, with specialist centres for cross-country skiing in the nearby resort of Kaprun. Ski holidays in Zell am See are good for parties that include non-skiers looking for an all-round winter holiday.
Resort stats
130km
755m - 2,000m
Level of skiing
- Beginners
- Intermediates
- Experts
- Snow sure
- Off-piste
- Ski area
Qualities
- Charm factor
- Non-skiers
- Nightlife
- Resort layout
- Fine dining
- Short transfer
- Resort value
Airports
- Salzburg
- 2hrs
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cross-country trails - extensive areas with 40 kms to exlpore
- The non-skier - museums, sleigh rides, alpine flights, train trips, walks and a sports centre
- Nightlife is atmospheric and lively but not crowded
- Pretty and charming lakeside resort
Cons
- Often, there are poor conditions due to height of resort and the sun on the slopes
- Queues can be a problem at the cable cars and gondolas
- It can be a bit of a walk or busy bus ride from a lot of the accommodation to the lifts
Restaurants
Zell am See Resort Restaurants
Zell has more non-hotel places than is usualy in a small Austraian resort. Giuseppe's is an italian with excellent food. Kupferkessel and Traubenstuberl both do wholesome regional dishes. There are also chinese restaurants in Zell.
Zell am See Mountain Restaurants
There are lots of cosy, atmospheric huts dotted around the Zell slopes. Among the best are Glocknerhaus, Kettingalm, Areitalm, Breiteckalm and Blaickner's Sonnalm. Another favourite is the Pinzgauer Hutte in the woods behind Schmittenhohe where snowmobiles will tow you back to the lifts. The berghotel at Schmittenhohe is good but quite expensive and very good for apres ski with music being played throughout the afternoon.
Zell am See Apres Ski
Apres ski is lively and varied with cafes, bars and discos aplenty. When it's sunny, Schnapps Hans Ice bar outside the Berghotel really buzzes with great music, a crazy DJ and dancing on tables and on the bar. The Diele disco bar is also very popular.
Funicular
Cable Car
Gondola
Chair lift
Drag lift
Property
