Discover Zell Am See: Lake, Mountains and Special Trails

Zell Am See combines Lake Zell with Schmittenhöhe and the impressive mountain world of the Hohe Tauern. Between the gentle grassy mountains of the Pinzgau and the rugged walls of the Hohe Tauern, a destination with an unusually wide range of possibilities unfolds: you can choose scenic trails, spend a day by the water, discover regional specialities or explore history and art. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, the desired balance of nature, activity, culture and relaxation is therefore particularly important.

Hiking between the lake and the high mountains

Zell am See-Kaprun offers more than 400 kilometres of marked hiking trails, mountain tours and paths. Schmittenhöhe opens up views of Lake Zell, the town of Zell Am See and up to 30 peaks over 3,000 metres high. If you prefer a manageable route, you can plan the approximately one-kilometre-long Sisi Circular Trail. It takes around 30 minutes and starts and ends at Elisabeth Chapel. A considerably longer option is the Pinzgauer Spaziergang: the high-altitude trail leads from Schmittenhöhe to Schattberg in Saalbach, is around 17 kilometres long and takes approximately six hours.

The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail also makes the region appealing for multi-day hiking plans. It comprises 17 stages, is 275 kilometres long in total and leads from the foot of the Krimml Waterfalls to Schmittenhöhe above Zell Am See. If you prefer to combine a route with a return journey, you can cycle from Zell Am See to Krimml along the well-signposted Tauern Cycle Path and use the Pinzgau Railway for the return trip.

Schmittenhöhe, Kitzsteinhorn and experiences for different age groups

The Schmittenhöhe ski area has 77 kilometres of pistes: 30 kilometres of blue, 28 kilometres of red and 19 kilometres of black runs. Along the high-altitude promenade there are special panoramic telescopes, information boards about the diverse flora and fauna, viewing platforms and play stations. For children, Schmidolin’s Adventure Trail Feuertaufe offers tricky questions, tests of courage and exciting tasks. The E-Motocross Park at the mountain station of the areitXpress is aimed at riders aged 6 to 17.

At Kitzsteinhorn, modern cable cars take you to an altitude of over 3,000 metres. Gipfelwelt 3000 includes the National Park Gallery, a panoramic platform at the end of a 360-metre-long tunnel. In summer, guided tours of the dam walls are offered at the high-mountain reservoirs of Kaprun. The Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden dam walls are situated at an altitude of 2,036 metres.

Lake, regional cuisine and culture

Those looking for water-based experiences will find three lidos at Lake Zell: Strandbad Zell Am See, Strandbad Thumersbach and Strandbad Schüttdorf. They offer direct access to the lake, sunbathing lawns, diving towers and slides, water trampolines, children’s playgrounds and heated pools. Excursion boats provide views of the historic old town of Zell Am See and the Alpine landscape. The Vettermann Sailing and Surfing School on the northern shore of Lake Zell offers taster and beginner courses in sailing and surfing.

For culinary discoveries, it is worth visiting Stadtplatz: from March to September, market stalls selling regional specialities as well as fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers are set up there every Friday morning. With its interactive permanent exhibition Mythos Zell am See, the Vogtturm Museum presents the history, art and culture of the town and its region, from the first human settlement to the present day. The Vogtturm was probably built around the middle of the 12th century. The collection ranges from archaeology and folklore to painting, photography and tourism history, with a particular focus on objects connected with Lake Zell. Kaprun Castle was built in the 12th century as a fortress and residence for noble families; a medieval festival takes place there every summer.

Choose the right base for your trip

Before booking a holiday apartment or holiday home, consider whether your days should be shaped primarily by long hikes, excursions into the high mountains, time by the lake or cultural discoveries. For overnight guests in Zell am See-Kaprun, the Guest Mobility Ticket is valid on all public transport throughout the federal state of Salzburg. The nearest airport is Salzburg W. A. Mozart Airport; from Salzburg, there are bus or train connections to Zell Am See. This means that your journey can be incorporated into your planning just as easily as your preferred daily activities.

More local pages for your search

Königsleiten, Aisdorf, Hintermoos, Hütten, Jochbergthurn, Lenzing, Krössenbach, Lend, Enzingerboden, Maishofen, Maria Alm Am Steinernen Meer, Mittersill, Almdorf, Fusch An Der Grossglocknerstrasse, Bramberg, Dienten Am Hochkönig, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Kaprun, Krimml, Leogang, Lofer, Högmoos, Hasenbach, Hinterthal, Berg, Neukirchen Am Großvenediger, Niedernsill, Piesendorf, Rauris, Saalfelden Am Steinernen Meer, Sankt Martin Bei Lofer, Stuhlfelden, Taxenbach, Unken, Uttendorf, Viehhofen, Wald Im Pinzgau, Zell am See, Schüttdorf, Embach, Almdorf Königsleiten, Walchen, Hollersbach Im Pinzgau, Gries Im Pinzgau, Paßthurn, Mühlberg, Sulzau, Reith, Sankt Georgen, Reitlehen, Vorderglemm, Thalbach, Rain, Niederland, Weißbach Bei Lofer, Vorstanddorf, Oberkrimml, Bruck An Der Großglocknerstraße, Igelsberg, Großsonnberg, Gföll, Gumping, Lengdorf, Grubing, Bucheben.

To the higher-level travel overview: Salzburgerland.