Zell am See

Clive - Ski Expert

"It’s well worth taking the trip up to Gipfelwelt 3000 at the glacier's pinnacle, for non-skiers as well. Enjoy the varied après scene, and you can also take a trip to Kaprun and ski the glacier, which is on the same lift pass"

 

Great for: Short transfer, traditional town, apres ski, large ski area, sight seeing

Zell Am See

Zell am See has become a popular ski holiday destination over the last few years. The stunning views of the lake, the horseshoe mountains and the medieval centre give Zell am See the perfect dramatic backdrop to make your ski holiday photos stand out from the crowd. The location overlooking Lake Zell is simply stunning and the cobbled streets - full of restaurants and cafés - create a lively atmosphere throughout Zell am See, adding to its charm.

The beautiful tree-adorned pistes lower down and the wide open runs higher up offer a fantastic variety of skiing to test advanced skiers, as well as an abundance of gentle runs cater magnificently to beginners and intermediates.

The nearby glacier of Kaprun extends the ski area to boast 138km of pistes, plenty of slope to cover during a short break or long weekend. Even better, the link with the Saalbach Hinterglemm Ski Circus makes the area one of Austria's largest.

Whilst it won't reach the heights of St. Anton or Ischgl, the après ski is lively enough in Zell am See, and given you can reach the resort within 2 hours by train from Salzburg airport, or 1.5 hours by mini-bus transfer, it is a great option for a short break.

With extensive cross-country trails, snowshoeing and great sports facilities there's also plenty to do off the slopes in Zell am See. This includes the chance to catch a game of ice hockey if you time it right. And, in the midst of winter, if you’re lucky, the lake is so thickly frozen over you can walk right across it or try a spot of lake skating.

Our top hotel picks for a ski holiday in Zell am See: Hotel Neue Post.

SKI AREA OVERVIEW

Zell am See is linked with Kaprun, and together create a snow sure ski area for winter sports enthusiasts, with 408km of perfectly groomed pistes ready and waiting for you.

For beginner skiers, there are nursery slopes at Schuttdorf and Schmittental, whilst intermediates will enjoy the numerous long cruisy blues around the ski area as well as the skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, above neighbouring Kaprun.

For those wanting a little more gradient, the area of Sonnkogel has some open and spacious reds to explore, and give the 63% Black Mamba piste a go on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

Although the lower tree lined runs are a popular choice, the pick of the more advanced routes can be found on the back of the mountain down the Kettingbahn providing some of the best snow in Zell am See. There are also a couple of black runs over in Schmittental.

The fast lift system makes it easy to get around the resort and the many mountain huts are well worth frequenting. You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to lunchtime and if you fancy a change of scenery, Kaprun's Kitzsteinhorn Glacier is easily accessible via the well-linked bus routes and is included in the lift pass.

Zell am See ski holidays await!