The ski resort on the lake.
In the west of the Salzburg region of Austria, you can find one of the most beautiful ski resorts in Europe, Zell am See
. Zell am See at the evening.© Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus
In this article, you will find everything you need to know before planning a vacation in Zell am See. In addition, you’ll get some great tips to help you make better decisions, save time and, most importantly, money!
Schmittenhöhe peak(2000m).top station of Schmittenhöhebahn. .© Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus
How to get to Zell am See?
The closest airports to Zell Am See are Salzburg, with a transfer time of 1 hour and 11 minutes; Innsbruck, with a transfer time of 2 hours and 9 minutes and Munich, with a transfer time of 2 hours and 28 minutes.
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From Munich airport, you can take a train to Zell am See.
Schmittenhohe ski area
Schmittenhohe ski area trassxpress gondola top station on the other hump of Schmittenhöhe peak.
Zell am See ski area is spread on the Schmittenhohe mountain, peaking at 2 km and comprised of 77 km of connected ski runs. 30km of blue runs, 28 km of red runs and 19 km of Black runs. Although it is not big, you have an amazing view of the lake from most of the slopes.
. Schmittenhöhe south ridge. Fantastic views on both ridges. .© Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus
The new Alpin card ski-pass
Since the 2019/20 season, the union the Ski Circus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See, and Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun to one Alpin card skipass.
Maiskogel and Kitzsteinhorn glacier from Schmittenhöhe peak. .© Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus
The Alpin card ski pass enlarged the total km of the skipass from what used to be 138km to 408km and from 49 total ski lifts to 121 total lifts!
Six-day skipass prices for the 21/22 season costs 302€ for adults, 226.50€ for youth, and 151e for a child.
You can begin to ski from 3 pm the day before the validity of the skipass, so better use it to check your rental equipment and make some runs to get the rust off!
both humps of Schmittenhöhe peak
The new Zell am See – Ski Circus connection
Since winter 2019/20, the Schmittenhöhe has been one step closer to a connection with the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Apart from the three access points in Zell am See, there is also a new lower terminus in the Glemmtal Valley since December 2019. With the completion of the lower section of the zellamseeXpress, you can now ski down to Viehhofen in the Glemmtal Valley. A ski bus service takes you to the Skicircus within a few minutes!
On your way back, take the comfortable blue natural snow piste 168 from the Grober Asitz Peak back to Viehhofen, and ride the new 10-person gondola back to Schmittenhöhe Peak.
both humps of Schmittenhöhe peak
The new Maiskogel- Kitzsteinhorn connection
you don’t need a skibus anymore between kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn.©Kitzsteinhorn
Ten minutes ski bus ride south from Zell am see centre, you’ll arrive in Kaprun. Upgraded Kaprun.
The Maiskogel family mountain has been offering the highest comfort level with the MK Maiskogelbahn, a new 10-person gondola lift circulating on one cable, already since December 2018.
the new MK Maiskogelbahn. ©Kitzsteinhorn
The top-modern 3K KONNECTION, the first three-cable circulating lift in Salzburger Land, officially started operating between the Maiskogel and the Kitzsteinhorn on 30 November 2019.
3K K-connection that made kaprun a united ski area.Kitzsteinhorn in bkgd. ©Kitzsteinhorn
Thus, Kaprun, the Maiskogel family mountain and the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier ski resort become a fascinating united entity. The result is a top-modern ski-in-ski-out from the centre of Kaprun directly uphill to the glacier and back. Thus, the fantasy of generatons of skiers finally becomes a reality!
Guests can also enjoy the new Kaprun-Center, an innovative service centre with cash desks, a ski depot with over 2,000 storage spaces and a modern rental & sports shop at the lower terminus.
Kaprun center. From here you can get directly to the Kitsteinhorn. ©Kitzsteinhorn
The Maiskogel in Kaprun is not only the new entrance directly from Kaprun to the Kitzsteinhorn; with its wide pistes, the family mountain is the soft and comfortable contrast to the high alpine glacier ski resort. Small and tall kids who love to move prefer the new Maisi Park with wave tracks, banked curves, jumps and a snowpark line. The “Salzachblick “platform, with a beautiful panoramic view of the Salzachtal Valley and the surrounding mountain world, awaits visitors at the modern upper terminus in 1,570 metres above sea level.
MK-Maiskogel top station and the connection to 3K K-onnection. ©Kitzsteinhorn
Skiers and non-skiers get to the summit terminus of the Kitzsteinhorn on 3,029 meters by using six cable cars. The twelve-kilometre long panoramic ride is not just the longest continuous cable car axis in the Eastern Alps, with 2,261 altitude metres – it also manages the biggest difference in altitude.
Glacier park on the kitzsteinhorn. ©Kitzsteinhorn
Apres- ski in Zell am See
One of the unique experiences in Zell Am See is the night skiing slope, which operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 6:30 to 9 pm and is free for skipass holders.
the night ski slope in Zell am See.free. .© Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus
The town of Zell am See, located at an altitude of 757 meters above sea level, is charming and has a pedestrian area in an old town from the lake shores almost to the city express ski lift.
Zell am See. beautiful old town with pedetrian area from the lake, almost to the slope.
you can try your luck in the Casino or get some drinks at the apres-ski alee, in the Diele, or offpiste bar, or watch a cover band after dinner in Crazy Daisy.
apres ski alley. Here you’ll find Diele, Offpiste and insider bars.
Ratings and Conclusion
To conclude, here are our ratings for Zell Am See:
- Snowboarders: 7.5
- Advanced skiers: 8.
- Intermediate skiers: 7.5.
- For beginners: 8.5
- Freestylers: 7
- Free riders: 6.5
- Nightlife: 7
- Aprés ski: 7
- Resort charm: 9
Our total score for Zell Am See is: 8
On the one hand, the immediate ski area of Zell am See is small, and you still need a ski bus to ski in Kaprun or the ski circus.
On the other hand, Zell am see seat in the middle of the Alpin card ski-pass area, and The built of the lifts mentioned above, made it possible to ski all the 408 km of ski slopes in a week holiday.
Our bonus tips for Zell am See:
If you are not taking ski-school lessons, we recommend you to ride the Sonnealm lift in the morning because it’s less crowded.
ride the Sonnealm lift in the morning because it’s less crowded.(if you don’t take ski school lessons).
If you have a car, we recommend you visit the berggasthof in Thumersbach, for the fantastic views.
the view from the berggasthof in Thumersbach.
