Zell am See (Zell am See) is the most popular alpine resort in the state of Salzburg. Along with the Tyrolean Sölden and Mayrhofen, Zell am See offers prices in a democratic budget. The resort is open all year round and is considered universal. Zell am See is popular with couples, noisy companies, families with children and even those who do not ski.

Back in the 8th century, a monastic order founded a town on the shores of a mountain alpine lake. Zell am See is built 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, taking incredible alpine photos in any season.

Zell am See Ski Area

Almost all ski runs in Zell am See start at the top of Schmittenhohe (2000 m). Forested slopes and magnificent views of the lake and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. The heights are small, but they are compensated by the competent location and high-quality profile of the slopes. Snow cannons abundantly fertilize every centimeter. The slopes are distributed in approximately equal proportions by difficulty level, but their relatively small number may upset another expert or racer. Without a doubt, beginners, intermediate skiers and true connoisseurs of first-class prepared slopes will be satisfied.

For a change, there is Kaprun with its large glacier 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 service between them is free, and the ski pass is the same.

The lifts in Zell am See are mostly modern. Sometimes you have to take a bus to get to them, and sometimes you have to walk for a couple of minutes. It depends on where you live.

Entertainment

Mountain slopes in Zell am See

In the summer, the center of attention in the resort is Lake Zeller, on the shores 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 marked routes, or by lift, which will allow you to enjoy the local mountain landscapes.

Among the active sports, in winter, in addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, you can try snowshoeing or go mountaineering 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 sports can also try paragliding and paragliding in Zell am See.

Lake Zeller

Zell am See can also please 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 by climbing into 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, it is always a holiday. Music plays on the mountain, table dancing starts in the middle of the day, and in the evening the city starts 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 resort of a similar scale, there is even a Chinese one.

There is always an excuse for a holiday. It’s a parade, a ski instructor show or a night slalom in the middle of the city, and there are also balloon launches, fireworks, concerts, drinking local drinks, etc.

It’s nice to just walk along the central pedestrian zone. Medieval houses, frescoes, balconies, very romantic. Even more romance on the promenade near Lake Zeller. Not bad shopping. However, you can also go shopping in Salzburg, it’s an hour’s drive away. In addition, good transport links allow you to get to Innsbruck, Munich and even Vienna in an average of 2-4 hours. And this is not only shopping, but also culture, architecture and other intellectual activities.

Local cuisine

On the peaks and along the slopes there are many hut cafes, bars with cozy sun loungers, where you can have a cheap snack and drink coffee. For 15-20 € you can get a lunch consisting of Viennese schnitzel, thin caramel pancakes, cheese dishes. Many establishments offer dishes of national cuisines.

Classic Austrian dishes can be found in all restaurants and cafes in Zehl am See. Every establishment serves a traditional Austrian breakfast – scrambled eggs with bacon and fried potatoes. Kiahil – a 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 tasted in any restaurant.

Accommodation

Zell am See has a wide range of accommodation options to suit all tastes – hotels of various star ratings, apartments, chalets, guest houses, bed and breakfast hotels, holiday homes and even hostels. As for hotels, most of them are designed in typical Tyrolean style, many of them have additional options on their territory, such as outdoor and indoor pools, spa areas, parking spaces, restaurants.

In addition, hotels in Zell am See usually offer breakfast included in the price, and hotels in the 4 and 5 star categories often offer half board. The pricing policy is average for Austrian ski resorts. In order to find the perfect 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.

Renting apartments is incomparably more popular in Zell am See, which is 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 yourself. Another accommodation option that is popular with tourists in Zell am See is renting a chalet. This option is more suitable for large companies or family holidays, since a chalet is a separate house consisting of one or two floors.

The closer the hotel is located to the lake, the higher the price of accommodation. Upstream from the lake there are many homely, cozy, budget hotels, with prices less than 70 euros per night.

When choosing a place to settle, pay attention to the village of Schüttdorf, which is adjacent to Zell am See. It is not so picturesque, but the prices are lower on average due to the boarding houses and family mini-hotels, and the local lift takes you to the main skiing area. Perhaps this is a good option in high season, when the queues accumulate at the main lifts. In addition, it is a great start for beginners.

Summary. The popularity of the resort is determined by the following: a good location, a good combination of natural objects – mountains, lake and glacier, guaranteed snow, a variety of leisure activities and excellent conditions for family recreation.

P.S. The first significant tourist to visit Zell am See in 1885 was the wandering Empress Elisabeth 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 the Zeller Lake steamship were named after Elisabeth. 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 at all friendly to children. Parents are the object of its attention. After all, being a father in 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 the pressing issues. The first of them – where to run?

You can decide it at the stage of settling in Zell am See. If you choose a hotel not lower than 4 stars, look at the level of its care for you. Take, for example, hotels such as Amiamo or Hotel Stadt Wien. Here you will be provided with cots, high chairs, changing tables, bottle warmers and a nanny on request. Children’s menu in the restaurant, swimming pool, playrooms, playgrounds and much more. And in the Grand Hotel Zell am Zee, among other things, there is also a club for children 3-10 years old, which works on weekdays, an analogue of a kindergarten.

However, kindergartens / clubs are also in Zell am See ski schools. For example, in the Zell am See and Sport-Alpin schools, children 2-3 years old are looked after. They are not yet allowed to ski, but they play on the playground, draw, sing and fight with their peers.

Older children join the mysteries of the plow on separate platforms, amusingly decorated and equipped with their own lifts. More advanced ones draw arcs on slopes for beginners. Training takes place in the form of games and fun exercises, so you won’t have to persuade your child to go to school “again!”. In addition, at the end of the training, a medal awaits him for participating in competitions!

Teenagers who have grown up to the level of red slopes spin their first figures in the fun park or get a taste of off-piste – in small groups of up to 5 people.

If you prefer individual lessons, the quality of training will not suffer from this. By the way, the first snowboard lessons are given only privately.

When enrolling a child in a ski school, do not forget about the “lunch” option – they will not only be fed lunch, but also monitored to ensure that no one takes away the food, and, yes, an entertainment program. And, finally, it is more profitable to take courses for up to 5 days, so you can save 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 years old are accommodated with their parents for free or at a discounted price.

Secondly, at the rental. If both parents are equipped, children under 10 years old receive their equipment set for free, including a helmet. With teenagers 10-15 years old, you can count on a 50% discount, and with young people 16-18 years old – a 20% discount.

For a ski pass for a child, you pay half as much as for your own, and kids under 6 years old are free riders by right.

A weekend in Zell am See is unusual – secret places, non-standard services and entertainment

Ski slopes of Mount Schmittenhoch

On the territory of the Zell am See resort you can spend time skiing from December 15 to the end of March. The ski area is located on Mount Schmittenhoch, which is covered in forest. All trails are marked with different colors and start at an altitude of 2 thousand meters. The longest of them is 6 kilometers long. You can reach the top of the mountain using the CityXpress lift, which sets off 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 preparation, and admire the beautiful view of the city and Lake Zeller See.

Go snowboarding and conquer the cross-country ski trail

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 the 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 the Schmittenhohe or spend time in one of Kaprun’s 3 snow parks, 2 of which are equipped on the Sonnekarbann. You can also do freeride, freestyle, carving and conquer the cross-country ski trail.

Descending from Maiskogel

In Zell am See, you will find a breathtaking attraction called the Alpine coaster Maisiflitzer. It is a descent from the Maiskogel mountain peak on a 1-seater or 2-seater cart. During the dizzying entertainment, you will have to overcome several sharp turns and vertical loops, as well as drive along undulating sections of the track.

Active recreation on Lake Zeller See

In Zell am See you can not only ski, but also actively relax on the freshwater lake Zeller See. In the winter months it is covered with a thick layer of ice, so you can skate or sled. In the warm season you can go for a walk by renting a rowing boat, sailboat or catamaran; take a circular route on the MS Schmittenhöhe; swim in the 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 scuba dive to a depth of 70 meters to look at exotic fish and sunken ships. During your stay at the resort, you will also have the chance to visit the Zell leisure centre, which features water slides, a diving platform and a 25-metre long sports pool.

Trekking and paragliding at the ski resort

To admire the beauty of the local nature, you can choose one of the numerous trekking routes, for example, exploring the slopes of the Maiskogel mountain, taking a 7-hour hike along the Pinzgauer Spatziggang trail, walking along the Queen Sisi trail or going on an excursion to the Sigmund-Thun gorge, which is held on Monday evenings. If you prefer the latter option of a hiking trip, you can walk on wooden bridges spanning the river flowing along the bottom of the gorge. You will also have the opportunity to go paragliding by taking the lift to the Schmidt Peak.

Fun on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier

From July to September, you will have the opportunity to use the services of a guide working in the Hohe Tauern National Park to go on a day trip through 4 climatic zones: from the alpine meadows to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, located at an altitude of 3029 meters. While you are on the glacier, the snow does not melt even in the summer months, so you can play snowballs and go tobogganing. The exploration tour will end at the Top of Salzburg observation deck, from which you can admire the Alps.