Pretty Zell am See is perched on the edge of a lake - making for a beautiful backdrop to your skiing
A much-loved, historic town, Zell am See is one of Austria's best ski resorts, making it a popular pick for those looking for ski holidays in Austria.
While the town itself is relatively low, its ski area certainly isn’t. Combined with a good snow record, you shouldn’t have any snow-related issues here.
Meanwhile, it caters to all abilities of skier, and is linked to other impressive ski areas - Kaprun and Saalbach - nearby.
Zell am See is also a beautiful town, suiting families and groups of all ages. The après scene is good, although if you’re after a genuine party town then have a look at our pick of the best après-ski resorts.
Keep reading for all the key details!
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1. Reliable snow conditions throughout winter
Zell am See’s ski area stretches up to an impressive 3,029m, making it one of Austria’s highest ski areas.
You’ll be catching a gondola from town which’ll shoot you straight up to the snowiest parts of the mountains, where snowfall averages over the last 11 years have been very encouraging.
Each month throughout the winter has seen snow land by at least 20cm each week, if not more.
2. It’s a great resort for beginners
One of Austria’s best resorts for a beginner ski holiday, Zell am See has a range of well-groomed, gentle slopes and a fantastic ski school. The learning area is also perched high in the mountain with spectacular views of the lake and mountains.
There are 30km of blues (making up 39% of the resort), with beginner lifts in Schüttdorf and near the main Schmittenhöhebahn lift. Magic carpets and button lifts are there to help you learn the ropes.
Runs around the Areitbahn and Glocknerbahn lifts are suitable, and once you’ve built up some confidence then you should aim for the lovely, wide runs near the Sonnkogel, which are quiet and great for practising new skills.
Have a read of our beginner’s guide to skiing in Zell am See for much more detail.
Zell am See has a good amount of easy and intermediate skiing - all with stunning views
3. It’s got fantastic links to other nearby resorts
Let us be clear - the skiing in Zell am See is great!
But that doesn’t mean it’s not fun to explore as much terrain as possible, and you can easily do that over in lovely Kaprun and Saalbach.
You can reach Kaprun by jumping on the free ski bus from various stops in Zell am See. This connection expands the amount of skiing from about 140km to a whopping 408km. One of the major pluses of exploring Kaprun is the Kitztenhorn Glacier - we’ll talk about that more in the next point.
You can also ski the majority of the way to the Saalbach by getting down to the Viehofen area at the bottom of a red run (or getting the ‘zellamseeXpress I’ gondola down) before a quick (and free!) 10-minute ski bus up the road. Saalbach has 270km of pistes itself, meaning there’s a vast range of skiing that can be done when you’re based in Zell am See.
4. Intermediates and advanced skiers will do well
Thanks to these expanded areas, intermediates and advanced skiers have vast amounts of terrain to explore.
One of the best places for intermediates, for example, is the Kitztenhorn Glacier over in Kaprun, where there is a wide range of reds and blues above the treeline that you can cruise about on.
There are also plenty of pretty tree-lined runs on the Schmittenhöhe mountain, which is in Zell am See’s local territory. Intermediates should also aim for the Langwiedpiste, Kristallpiste and Gletscherseepiste routes for a great time.
Advanced skiers meanwhile should think about the Black Mamba and Mauerpiste 1 and 2 runs. There are 9 black runs in the area which can be tackled over and over again in various ways, as well as 19 reds, of which some are harder than others.
The lake freezes over in winter - meaning you can ice skate and walk on it
5. Lake Zell is incredible
Skiing in Zell am See provides some of the most spectacular views you’ll get - and that’s not of other mountains! Instead, the lake that Zell am See is built next to glimmers all winter.
When it’s frozen over or not, the views from the slopes remain beautiful all winter.
And when it is frozen, you can go onto it and have fun. Whether that’s ice skating or simply going for a stroll around it, it really is a surreal experience.
There are also several event days on the lake - with the World Academic Winter Games, various ice races and motorbike skijoring all taking place.
6. Zell am See is a proper town
If you’re someone who enjoys skiing but likes to immerse yourself in the local culture and feel like you’re really somewhere, then Zell am See is a good pick.
It’s not a purpose-built ski resort and instead dates back to the 8th Century as a Roman settlement. It’s gone through many eras of history and as a result has some beautiful buildings and streets.
It’s packed full of quaint restaurants, cafés and bars and has lovely walks around the lake and other parts of town.
There’s also the indoor ice rink which hosts the Zell am See Polar Bears ice hockey team, who play in a regional league against various teams from Austria - the games tend to involve the crowd as well for a great laugh. The rink is also open to the general public for use when the team isn’t playing or training.
There’s also a train station which connects Zell am See with various other Alpine villages in the vicinity. It’s easy to get around and a great way to explore - the train also goes right along the edge of the lake for a beautiful view.
Zell am See is a genuine town with loads going on - head to Villa Crazy Daisy on the right for a fun night
7. It’s got a decent après scene
Zell am See’s certainly not a bad place for some fun after the sun goes down - although if you’re after a proper party town then maybe aim for somewhere like Mayrhofen or St Anton.
Whether you fancy some pints and a boogie up in the mountain at SchnapHans Bar or the Cabrio Bar or a fancy dinner in town followed by live music at Villa Crazy Daisy, there’s a good variety of stuff going on in Zell am See.
You can catch any important sport at the various pubs and bars, and then head to the Greens Pub, which also has an underground vault where everyone properly lets their hair down to dance music.
Have a read of our complete après and nightlife guide to Zell am See for more information.
8. Relax at the gorgeous leisure centres
Located next door to the town’s indoor ice rink, Zell am See’s leisure centre has an indoor swimming pool and various wellness and sauna facilities to help you recover from a great day of skiing up in the mountains.
The indoor pool is heated and the facility also includes a diving tower and 74-metre water slide. The lanes are 25m long and the sauna area has a Finnish sauna, bio sauna and herbal sauna, while there is also a steam bath and infrared cabin.
For those with young ones, there’s also a toddler pool with a pirate play ship.
Meanwhile, over in Kaprun there’s the marvellous TAUERN Spa which is open all year round. There are 12 pools, ten saunas and steam baths, a children’s area and a spa and cosmetics section.
Kaprun's stunning TAUERN Spa is well worth a visit
Discover how great Zell am See is for yourself
If Zell am See sounds like it could be the place for you, then get in touch so we can help you organise your perfect getaway.
We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency - all our staff have done seasons in the mountains and we know exactly what we’re talking about. We can help you nail down the details, including which resort, where to stay and all the little bits like lift passes, ski schools and which slopes to tackle.
Give us a call on 020 3848 3700 or make an enquiry and we’ll get back as soon as possible. You can also book online by yourself - have a look at our best Zell am See ski deals.
Meanwhile, if you’ve been put in charge of booking for a group, then read our group booking guide - it’ll make things easier for you and give you clarity on how to go about the process.
