Zell am See is the most popular alpine resort in Salzburg. Along with Tyrolean Sölden and Mayrhofen , Zell am See offers prices in a democratic budget. The resort works all year round and is considered universal. Couples, noisy companies, families with children and even those who don’t ski like Zell am See.
Back in the 8th century, a monastic order founded a town on the shore of a mountain alpine lake. Built in Zell am See in a high mountain valley with stunning views at an altitude of 757m. The resort is considered the most beautiful in Austria. Lovers of the alpine atmosphere come here in summer and winter, bringing incredible alpine photos in any season.
Ski area Zell am See
Almost all Zell am See ski trails start at the top of Schmittenhoeh (2000 m). Forested slopes and wonderful views of the Kitzsteinhorn lake and glacier. The heights are small, but they are compensated by a competent location and a high-quality profile of the tracks. Snow guns abundantly fertilize every centimeter. The difficulty level of the tracks is distributed in roughly equal proportions, but their relatively small number can upset another expert or rider. Without a doubt, beginners, intermediate skiers and true connoisseurs of first-class prepared tracks will be satisfied.
For variety, there is Kaprun next door with its large glacial skiing area. It is only a 15-minute drive from Zell am See. Both resorts are part of a single ski area called Europa-Sportregion. The bus connection between them is free, the ski pass is the only one.
The lifts in Zell am See are mostly modern. Sometimes you need to get to them by bus, and sometimes – on foot in a couple of minutes. It depends on where you live.
Entertainment
Mountain slopes in Zell am See
In the summer, the center of general attention at the resort is Lake Zell, on the shore of which Zell am See is located. The lake is considered alpine, it was once formed from the waters of a melted glacier. The lake is located at a certain height, you can climb here either independently along the marked routes or on a lift that will allow you to enjoy the local mountain scenery.
Among active sports, in winter, in addition to mountain and cross-country skiing, you can experience snowshoeing or go climbing on the glacier in Kaprun, but in summer, the main entertainment is the local “roller coaster”, which is a mixture of the famous attraction and tobogganing. this fun brings fun to both adults and children. Extreme enthusiasts can also try paragliding and paragliding in Zell am See.
Lake Zeller
Zell am See can also delight you in terms of gastronomy, namely, there are many restaurants serving local Tyrolean cuisine, which is both hearty and refined. You can find restaurants both in the city itself and when you climb the mountains, where in addition to a first-class lunch or dinner, you will get an additional portion of pleasure in the form of panoramic views.
Gastronomy in Zell am See
In Zell am See , as in all popular winter resorts in Austria, there is always a holiday. Music plays on the mountain, dancing on tables starts in the middle of the day, and in the evening the city begins to buzz – bars, discos, bowling alleys, restaurants… By the way, there are more independent (not hotel) restaurants in Zell am See than in any other Austrian city resorts of a similar scale, there is even a Chinese one.
There is always a reason for celebration. A parade, a show of ski instructors or a night slalom in the middle of the city, as well as a launch of balloons, fireworks, concerts, drinking local drinks, etc.
It is pleasant to just walk along the central pedestrian zone. Medieval houses-frescoes-balconies, very romantic. Even more romance on the promenade near Lake Zeller. Good shopping. However, you can go shopping in Salzburg, which is an hour’s drive away. In addition, good transport connections allow you to reach Innsbruck , Munich and even Vienna in an average of 2-4 hours. And this is not only shopping, but also culture, architecture and other intelligentsia.
Local cuisine
On the tops and along the slopes, there are many huts-cafes, bars with comfortable sunbeds, where you can have an inexpensive snack and drink coffee. For 15-20 € you can get a lunch consisting of Wiener schnitzel, thin caramel pancakes, cheese dishes. Many establishments offer dishes of national cuisine.
Classic Austrian dishes can be found in all restaurants and cafes in Zell am See . Any establishment serves a traditional Austrian breakfast – scrambled eggs with bacon and fried potatoes. Kiahil – pie with sauerkraut, dumplings with various fillings, Austrian desserts: “Sacher” cake, rolls with cream or fruit are very popular. Residents are proud of their regional wines, which can be tried in any restaurant.
Settlement
In Zell am See there are quite a few places to stay for every taste – they can be hotels of different stars, apartments, chalets, guest houses, bed and breakfast hotels, holiday homes and even hostels. As for hotels , most of them are made in a typical Tyrolean style, many of them have such additional options on their territory as outdoor and indoor pools, spa areas, parking spaces, restaurants.
In addition, hotels in Zell am See, as a rule, offer breakfast included in the price of accommodation, and hotels in the 4 and 5 star category often offer half board. The price policy is the average for ski resorts in Austria. In order to find the ideal option in terms of price / quality ratio, it is recommended to book hotel rooms in advance at least a few months before the expected date of travel.
Incomparably more popular in Zell am See is renting apartments, which are often cheaper than staying in hotels. The main distinguishing feature of apartments from standard hotels is the presence of their own kitchen area where you can cook on your own. Another accommodation option popular with tourists in Zell am See is renting a chalet. This option is more suitable for large companies or family vacations, since a chalet is a separate house consisting of one or two floors.
The closer the hotel is to the lake, the higher the accommodation price. Up from the lake there are many homely, budget hotels, with a price of less than 70 euros per night.
When choosing a place for resettlement, pay attention to the village of Schüttdorf, which is close to Zell am See . It is not so picturesque, but prices are lower on average due to guesthouses and family mini-hotels, and a local ski lift drops you into the main skiing area. Perhaps this is a good option in the high season, when queues accumulate on the main lifts. In addition, this is an excellent start for beginners.
Resume. The popularity of the resort is determined by the following: a good location, a good combination of natural objects – mountains, a lake and a glacier, guaranteed snow, a variety of leisure activities and excellent conditions for family vacations.
P.S. The first significant tourist to visit Zell am See in 1885 was the wandering empress Elizabeth of Bavaria. Her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I, visited here only 8 years later. The first hotel and the first boat launched in connection with the opening of steamships on Lake Zeller were named after Elizaveta. It remains to be decided what role Ferdinand Porsche played in the development of the resort, but this is a completely different story, which will be a separate story …
How not to get tired of your own children in Zell am See
Zell am See is not child friendly at all. Parents are the object of his attention. After all, being a father at a ski resort is a nightmare. So if you are 7 years old, this information is not for you.
So, dear parents, let’s discuss urgent issues. The first of them is where to run?
It can be solved at the stage of resettlement in Zell am See. If you choose a hotel of at least 4 stars, look at the level of his care for you. Take, for example, such hotels as Amiamo or Hotel Stadt Wien. Here you will be provided with cots, high chairs, changing tables, bottle warmers and a babysitter on request. Children’s menu in the restaurant, swimming pool, game rooms, playgrounds and much more. And in addition to everything else, the Grand Hotel Zell am Zee also has a club for children 3-10 years old, which is open on weekdays, similar to a kindergarten.
However, kindergartens/clubs are also available in Zell am See ski schools. For example, Zell am See and Sport-Alpin schools take care of children aged 2-3 years. They are not allowed to ski yet, but they play on the playground, draw, sing and fight with their peers.
Older children join the mysteries of the plow on separate playgrounds, amusingly decorated and equipped with their own lifts. More advanced draw arcs on slopes for beginners. Learning takes place in the form of games and fun exercises, so coax the child “again!” you won’t have to go to school. In addition, at the end of his studies, he will receive a medal for participating in competitions!
Teenagers who have grown up to the level of red tracks spin their first figures in the fan park or try off-piste for a taste – in small groups of up to 5 people.
If you prefer individual lessons, the quality of education will not suffer from this. By the way, the first snowboarding lessons are given only in private.
When appointing a child to a ski school, do not forget about the “lunch” option – they will not only feed him lunch, but also make sure that no one takes the food, and yes – an entertainment program. And, finally, it is more profitable to take courses of up to 5 days, so you can win up to 50% of the cost.
Here we smoothly move on to the second question: what can you save on?
First, on accommodation. As a rule, in Zell am See, children under 10 stay with their parents for free or at a reduced price.
Secondly, on rental. If both parents are equipped, children under 10 receive their kit for free, including a helmet. With teenagers 10-15 years old, you can count on a 50% discount, and with youth 16-18 years old – on a 20% discount.
You pay twice as much for a ski pass for a child as for your own, and children under 6 years old are illegal by right.
Weekends in Zell am See are unusual – secret places, non-standard services and entertainment
Ski slopes of Schmittenhoch mountain
On the territory of the Zell am See resort, you can spend time skiing from December 15 to the end of March. The skiing area is located on the Schmittenhoch mountain, overgrown with forest. All tracks are marked with different colors and start at an altitude of 2,000 meters. The length of the longest of them is 6 kilometers. You can get to the top of the mountain using the CityXpress lift, which departs from the central part of the city. You will have the opportunity to choose a descent, the difficulty of which corresponds to the existing level of training, and admire the beautiful view of the city and Lake Zeller-See.
Take up snowboarding and conquer the cross-country skiing track
If you have never snowboarded before, then during your stay at the ski resort, you will have the opportunity to study at a specialized school that works on a glacier and is considered the largest in the country. But if you already have experience in this winter sport, you can use the halfpipe located on Schmittenhöhe, or spend time in one of the 3 snow parks in Kaprun, 2 of which are equipped with Sonnekarbann. You can also do freeride, freestyle, carving and conquer the cross-country skiing track.
Descend from Maiskogel mountain
In Zell am See, a breath-taking attraction called the Alpine coaster Maisiflitzer awaits you. It is a descent from the Maiskogel mountain peak on a 1-seater or 2-seater cart. During the dizzying fun, you have to overcome several steep turns and vertical loops, as well as drive along undulating sections of the track.
Active recreation at Lake Zeller See
In Zell am See, you can engage not only in skiing, but also actively relax on the freshwater lake Zell am See. In the winter months, it is covered with a thick layer of ice, so it will be possible to go skating or sledding. In the warm season of the year, you can go for a walk by renting a rowing boat, sailboat or catamaran; make a round trip on the ship MS Schmittenhöhe; bathe in clear water; sunbathe on the picturesque shore; go fishing; go windsurfing.
If you are a fan of scuba diving, you will have the opportunity to dive with scuba to a depth of 70 meters to look at exotic fish and sunken ships. During your stay at the resort, there will also be a chance to visit the sports and entertainment complex Zell leisure center, which is equipped with water slides, a diving platform and a 25-meter long sports pool.
Go trekking and paragliding at a ski resort
To admire the beauty of the local nature, you can choose one of the many trekking routes, for example, explore the slopes of Mt. Maiskogel, take a 7-hour hike on the Pinzhauer Spatzirgang trail, walk the Queen Sisi trail or go on an excursion through the Sigmund Thun Gorge, which is on Monday evenings. Preferring the last option of a walking trip, you can walk on wooden bridges over the river flowing along the bottom of the gorge. You will also have the opportunity to go paragliding, climbing with the help of a lift to Schmitt Peak.
Fun on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier
In the period from July to September, you will have the opportunity to use the services of a tour guide working in the Hohe Tauern National Park to go on a one-day trip through 4 climatic zones: from the alpine meadows to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, located at an altitude of 3029 meters. During the stay on the glacier, even in the summer months, the snow does not melt, so there is an opportunity to play snowballs and ride a toboggan. The research tour will end at the Top of Salzburg observation deck, from which you can admire the Alps.