Pros:
– A very picturesque place, one of the most beautiful resorts in Austria
– The resort is a small town with all its inherent infrastructure
– Possibility of skiing on a glacier
– Suitable for companies with completely different levels of skiing
– Very long season, year-round skiing on the glacier
– Good selection of hotels and guesthouses; – Good selection of apres-ski entertainment.

Minuses:
– During peak season – queues for the main lifts
– The ski area in Zell am See is a bit difficult for beginners
– You need to get to Kaprun by bus (about 25-30 minutes), they can be very busy
– The condition of the lower tracks is not ideal
– The resort itself is located low, the highest point is 2000 m (not counting Kaprun)

Zell am See: how to get there

Ski passes
For 1 day: 51 euros for adults, 25 euros for children 6-15 years old, 38 euros for teenagers (16-19 years old).
for 6 days: 252 euros for adults, 126 euros for children, 189 euros for teenagers.

Discounts on ski passes at the beginning of the season (from 1 to 22 December). A passport is required to receive an age discount. When purchasing a ski pass for 8 days or more, a photograph is required. The deposit for the ski pass card is 2 euros. Zell am See and Kaprun are also included in the Salzburg Super Ski Card (www.salzburgsuperskicard.com), which unites all major ski resorts in Salzburg. It makes sense to buy this ski pass if you plan to ski more than just one resort.

Zell am See: Alpine skiing

Despite the proximity to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (Kitzsteinhorn, 3203 m), getting there without a car is not very easy, as the buses can be overcrowded. But recently the number of ski-bus flights has been increased (E-line buses run between Kaprun and Zell am See from 8.00, 30 minutes from the city center to the glacier, and 15 minutes to Schmittenhohe, subject to ski availability). pass - free).

Zell am See: about the resort

Restaurants in Zell am See

Things are also going well with mountain restaurants: in all ski areas there are small restaurants in chalets, as well as more affordable self-service and bars. For typical local cuisine, head to the restaurant of the Berghotel Schmittenhohe - on a sunny day it is especially pleasant to dine there on the spacious terrace. For magnificent views and good cuisine, visit any of the restaurants in the Kaprun ski area, for example, the recently renovated Alpincenter at an altitude of 2,450 meters.

Zell am See: with children

The winter kindergarten Areitalm and the Ursula Zink nursery in Zeller-Moos are located on the outskirts of Schuttdorf. All ski schools accept children from 3-4 years old. For children from 3 years old, the Areitalm ski school has a kindergarten and a playroom (9.00-16.30).

Photo: Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus GmbH/Faistauer

The charming old town of Zell am See (www.zellamsee-kaprun.com) is located on the shores of the majestic Alpine lake Zeller See, just north of the middle reaches of Salzach. This is a rather unusual place for the mountainous regions of Tauern - tectonic forces have formed here a basin that is vast by local standards, which the river turned into an almost flat plain, in the northern part occupied by the waters of a majestic and almost always calm lake, and in the southwest abutting the Kaprun and gray roads slopes of Mount Hoer Tenn (3368 m). The combination of mountains of different heights, a beautiful lake and a green valley has been attracting tourists from all over the world for several decades.

Summer holidays in Zell am See

In summer, Zell am See turns into an equally famous center for water sports - Zeller See often warms up to +22°C. In Zell am See, almost all summer sports are represented, the main lifts to the mountain trails and to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier are open, where there is snow even in the hot summer months. In the summer, music festivals and water skiing competitions are held. By the way, in summer the resort also stands out for its high level of service at very affordable prices.

Ski holidays in Zell am See

As a mountain resort, Zell am See is more suitable for middle-class skiers. The town itself lies at an altitude of only 757 meters above sea level, and most of the routes come from relatively small mountains like Strambachkopf(1856 m) in the northwest. Here, on gentle slopes with heights ranging from 756 to 2200 meters (Mt. Schmittenhohe), there are about 75 km of ski slopes, running down both to Zell am See itself and to the town of Schüttdorf, which lies just to the south, or to the saddle of Mount Maurerkogel (2074 m) in the northwest.

The level of difficulty is distributed fairly evenly - approximately 33% each falls on the "blue-green", "red" and "black" slopes, and the longest descent stretches for 6.2 km. For beginners, the narrow slopes in the Schüttdorf area with their easy slopes and good snow, as well as the Schmittenhöhe area, are suitable. Experienced skiers can climb the Kaprun Glacier (3029 m), where there are many challenging and interesting slopes (the area is connected to Zell am See by a single pass and a ski bus system). There is a half-pipe (100 m) under the Glocknerbahn lift and even a winter golf course.

The area is served by 28 lifts, which does not seem insufficient - the orography of the slopes is very convenient for connecting the slopes with a small number of mechanisms. However, together with the cable cars of the surrounding areas, their number reaches 60. From Zell am See, a cable car goes to the Mittelstation station, from where, by changing two chairlifts, you can reach the top of Schmittenhohe (2000 m). From this peak the tracks descend into the valley in four rays. The southernmost one leads to the town of Schuttdorf, the central one leads to Zell am See, and the two northern ones converge at the village of Schmittental, halfway between Zell am See and the peak of Schmittenhöhe. After going down to Schüttdorf or Schmittenthal, you can get to Zell am See by constantly running buses.

There are 45 km of flat ski tracks (there are even two short ring trails on the Kaprun glacier and at the top station of the Zell am See gondola). There are 5 ski schools and a specialized ski kindergarten.

The skiing season here lasts from late December to late March.

Attractions and entertainment in Zell am See

Zell am See has an excellently developed recreation infrastructure - many restaurants (almost 100!) and cafes, nightclubs and discos, its own museum, art gallery, Cathedral of Saint Hippolytus And Pilau fortress, wellness center with indoor swimming pool, bowling center, cinema, swimming pool and ice skating rink, numerous excursions are organized around the surrounding area, to and even to Venice.

Horse riding enthusiasts can take professional dressage lessons here, while small children can learn to ride ponies. You can also have fun with parachute jumping, sledding on the lake, playing golf and tennis, take part in traditional evenings on the lake with Austrian music, attend concerts and theater performances.

Ski passes and ski passes in Zell am See

In addition to the Salzburg Super Ski Card, which provides access to the 23 main ski areas of Salzburg and numerous surrounding areas, there is a subscription system http://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/summer/zell_am_see_kaprun_card/en/ with a separate discount system.

The Europa Sportregion Zell am See - Kaprun (ESR) pass covers the slopes of Zell am See, Kaprun and the Pitztal region. Its cost for 2 days for adults ranges from 70 to 76 euros depending on the season, for 6 days - 172-192 euros (for children and teenagers the discount is from 25% to 50%). You can use AllStarCard (resorts Kitzbühel, Wilder Kaiser - Brixenthal, Schneewinkel, Hochtal, Wildschonau, Alpbachtal, Zell am See and Kaprun) - for 1 day for adults it will cost 43-45 euros, for 6 days - 204 euros ( Discounts apply for children and teenagers).

How to get to Zell am See

Salzburg Airport is about 85 km by road (about 1.5 hours by car). It is also possible to reach by rail via Saalfelden in the north or Bruck and Kaprun in the south (Zell am See has its own train station).

Zell am See- a large ski resort with the status and attributes of a real city on the shores of the picturesque Lake Zeller, which is its calling card. On the map, the city resembles a woman's breast - a hemisphere enters the lake, and at the top (or whatever you want to call it) is a peninsula on which the oldest hotel Zell am See - the Grand Hotel, built in 1894, rises.

This geographical poetry is not without reason. Zell am See is very popular with women. He is handsome, intelligent, caring, generous with pleasures and does not limit freedom. Women sing his praises. Men are somewhat more reserved, so it is better to come with the whole family.

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

For variety, there is a vast glacial ski area nearby. It is just 15 minutes from Zell am See. Both resorts are part of a single ski area called Europa-Sportregion. The bus service between them is free, and there is a single ski pass.

In Zell am See, as in all popular winter resorts, 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 at the hotel) restaurants in Zell am See than in any other Austrian resort of a similar scale , there is even Chinese.

There is always a reason to celebrate. Either a parade, or a show of ski instructors or a night slalom in the middle of the city, as well as balloon launches, fireworks, concerts, drinking local drinks, etc.

It's nice to just walk around the central pedestrian zone. Medieval houses with frescoes and balconies, very romantic. Even more romance on the boardwalk at Lake Zeller. Not bad shopping. However, you can also go shopping to Salzburg, which is an hour’s drive away. In addition, good transport links 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 intellectual stuff.

When choosing a place to settle, pay attention to the village of Schüttdorf, neighboring Zell am See. It is not so picturesque, but prices are on average lower due to boarding houses and family mini-hotels, and the local ski lift takes you to the main ski area. This might be a good option in high season, when there are queues at the main lifts. In addition, this is an excellent starting point for beginners.

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

Summary. The popularity of the resort is determined by the following: good location, good combination of natural objects - mountains, lake and glacier, guaranteed snow, varied leisure activities and excellent conditions for family holidays (see).

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 a shipping company on Lake Zeller were named after Elizabeth. It remains to be decided what role Ferdinand Porsche played in the development of the resort, but this is a completely different story, about which there will be a separate story...

Zell am See in Austria is located on the shores of the picturesque lake Zeller See, at the foot of the Schmittenhohe mountain at an altitude of 726 m above sea level. It has gained fame as a high-class multi-functional resort thanks to the beauty of the alpine nature, developed infrastructure and excellent conditions for any type of recreation - skiing, beach, health, active. Here, every traveler can choose entertainment to suit his own taste.

Business card

Austrian Zell am See It has a mild, temperate climate: in winter the air temperature ranges from 0°C to -3°C, and in summer the air warms up to +23°C. The ski season lasts from November to April. On the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (3029 m), located a 25-minute drive from the resort, skiing is possible all year round.

What to see, where to visit

Zell am See is a pleasant Austrian town. Its main buildings are the Cathedral of St. Hippolytus with a 36-meter tower, visible from anywhere in the city, and a medieval defensive fortress, within the walls of which the hotel is located today. Also in the vicinity of the resort you can find several museums, natural attractions (Sigmund-Thun-Klamm waterfall, Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Hohe Tauern National Park, etc.) and high-mountain viewing platforms. And finally, vacationers are offered excursions to Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich and other European cities.

Trails, slopes, lifts

Zell am See in Austria, together with the neighboring resort of Kaprun (and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier), form part of the "European Sports Region". The maximum elevation difference here reaches 2275 m, and the variety of trails pleases all skiing fans without exception: beginners, professionals, skiers, snowboarders and freeriders. The slopes of the region are united by a common ski pass, a network of lifts and ski bus routes.

In the Schmittenhohe ski area, which belongs directly to Zell am See (elevation difference - 750-2000 m), there are about 75 km of slopes. The busiest routes are between the Schmittenhohe and Mittel stations, designed mainly for beginners and intermediate skill levels. Experienced athletes are more interested in the black slopes of Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

On the slopes of Zell am See there are also 4 toboggan runs, a 100-meter half-pipe (Glocknerbahn) and 6 ski schools offering group and individual lessons for both adults and children. In addition, there are 58 km of ski tracks in the vicinity of the resort, and in neighboring Kaprun cross-country skiing on illuminated slopes continues until 22:00.

Beaches

Zeller Lake is a source of health and pleasure. The purest water, which you can drink directly from the lake, well-equipped beaches, a variety of water sports (windsurfing, diving, water skiing or kayaking, etc.), fresh mountain air - that’s why in the summer season Zell am See in Austria is no less popular than in winter. In addition, in the summer you can go hiking, mountain biking or play golf.

Springs and healing

A great addition to your holiday at the Zell am See resort in Austria is healing thermal treatments. The largest thermal complex Tauern Spa with an area of ​​48 thousand square meters. m is located in Kaprun. The list of services includes visits to various types of baths, aromatherapy, swimming in a panoramic thermal pool, spa treatments, massages, etc. The complex has a separate Kidstein area for children with a children's pool and slides (children under 3 years of age have free admission).

Thermal centers operate on the basis of many hotels in Zell am See, offering guests all kinds of relaxation and wellness programs.

Entertainment and active recreation

Alpine skiing, snowboarding, water sports in summer, golf, tennis, mountain trails, fitness - Zell am See in Austria offers excellent conditions for a wide range of outdoor activities. Entertainment includes restaurants, bars, discos, a cinema, as well as numerous holidays: ski instructor shows, fireworks, “Mountain Festival” in June, night festival in July, Christmas markets, etc.

Local cuisine and wines

In cozy restaurants on the slopes of Zell am See (for example, in Breiteckalm on Schmittenhohe), vacationers are offered traditional local snacks - cheese dumplings "kasnoken" with hot mulled wine. The menu of restaurants located in the town itself includes dishes not only of Austrian, but also of Mexican, Chinese or Mediterranean cuisine. In addition, Zell am See has a couple of pizzerias (Giuseppe or Zum Cesar), a Vanini patisserie with fresh pastries and several bars with live music.