Ski Resort Guide
Zell am See
Ski Resort Guide
Zell am See
Introduction
Beautifully situated, Zell am See lounges alongside its namesake lake, hemmed in by jagged mountain peaks. It's a year-round magnet for tourists. Easily accessible by road and rail, it has the facilities of a town and the intimacy of a village.
Zell am See has teamed up with the nearby and smaller Kaprun to create the large Zell am See-Kaprun skiing region. Skiing gathered pace early here. Downhill descents were recorded as far back as 1893, and the Kitzsteinhorn was the first Austrian glacier to be skied. Unfortunately, unwanted publicity came in November 2000 from a devastating fire in Kaprun's Glescherbahn mountain railway, in which 155 died.
Mountain facts
Resort elevation: 758m (2,487ft).Top elevation: 3,029m (9,938ft).Base elevation: 758m (2,487ft).Number of lifts: 57.Number of runs: 76.Average annual snowfall: 5m (16.4ft).
Where in the world?
Zell am See lies in the Central Alps, south of Salzburg and east of Kitzbühel. The Dientener Berge mountains rise skywards from across the lake, but the really big stuff is to the south and east, in the Hohe Tauern range. Part of this range is Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, at 3,797m (12,457ft).
Hit the slopes
The season runs from late November until mid April. Additionally, the 3,203m (10,509ft) Kitzsteinhorn glacier is skiable year round except in high summer.
Skiing is best for intermediates. Despite the altitude, the glacier runs are mostly easy to medium, in a relatively smooth arena circled by peaks.
The best twisting, expert runs are above Schmittenhöhe, where the cable car ascends to 1,965m (6,647ft). Following the fire, the Glescherbahn has remained closed, and has been replaced by a new cable car.
Off-piste skiing is discouraged in most places in the interests of environmental protection. There's a snowboard park at the Gipfelbahn, and halfpipes on the glacier.
Beyond the slopes
Other options on the mountains include tobogganing (on Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe) and hiking or Nordic walking. It is often possible to skate across the lake to Thumersbach.
The parish church has an elegant interior, despite its sturdy exterior. Close by, the medieval Vogtturm (Stadtplatz) houses local crafts, including examples of the scary, horned masks used in the annual Krampus festival on 5 December. The world-class attractions of Salzburg are within reach of a day trip.
Family fun
Several ski schools vie for your custom. Sport-Alpin at the Zeller Bergbahn base station gets good reports. They have a kindergarten Mini Club for age two and up at the fun park by the Schmittenhöhe base station, and a Kiddy Club for those aged three to four years. Joys (Anton Wallner Strasse 9) is a crèche taking toddlers over 12 months.
The family-friendly leisure centre, Freizeitzentrum (Steinergasse 3-5), has a swimming pool with water slides, saunas, bowling and an ice stadium. There's an Alpine Centre above the old Glescherbahn.
Retail therapy
With a resident population of 10,000 to cater for, the town has no shortage of shops in the centre. There are plenty of outlets for sports and crafts, as well as flashy boutiques, and stores selling more pragmatic items. Hierner (Stadtplatz 6) is good for crafts and decorative glass.
Après ski
Crazy Daisy (Brucker Bundesstrasse 10-12) is one of the mainstays of the vigorous après-ski scene. A more mature clientele frequents Einkehr (Schmittenstrasse 12) and Greens XL (Seegasse 1). The Rock Bar (Bahnhofplatz 2a) is open from 1800 and has occasional theme nights. Late at night, try the Viva nightclub (Kirchengasse 1).
Eating out
Kupferkessel (Brucker Bundesstrasse 18) is good for pizzas and more, all housed in a former petrol station. Also inexpensive, but specialising in Austrian food, is Steinerwirt (Schlossplatz 1).
The restaurant in the Hotel Zum Hirschen (Dreifaltigkeitsstrasse 1) is a good mid-price choice, serving fish from the lake in a wood-panelled room. For top quality dining in refined surroundings, there's Salzburger Stuben (Salzburgerhof Hotel, Auerspergstrasse 11).
Getting around
A free ski bus links Zell am See and Kaprun and all the main lift hubs. There's a small pedestrian-only area in the centre of Zell am See.
Splashing out
For the ultimate off-piste skiing, the environmental restrictions allow you to hire a guide and ski off the back end of the glacier down to the Niedersill valley. It's an exhilarating ride. The return trip is by bus. Contact Offpiste Adventures (website: www.offpiste.at) or Mont Alpin (website: www.mont-alpin.at) to make the arrangements.
Accommodation
Luxury
Hotel Tirolerhof
Hotel facilities include a swimming pool/sauna complex, and there are bright, clean, well-equipped rooms, with friendly staff and good meals on half-board deals.
Auerspergstrasse 5
Tel: (06542) 772.
Website: www.tirolerhof.co.atModerate
Hotel Krone
In the southern suburb of Schüttdorf, but still convenient for the centre and ski lifts, Krone offers fresh-looking rooms or apartments, plus a garden and sauna.
Kitzsteinhornstrasse 16
Tel: (06542) 574 210.
Website: www.hotel-krone.atBudget
Pension Hubertus
This good-value pension is housed in a chalet near the Zeller Bergbahn and provides amenable staff, fine breakfasts, and rooms in varying styles.
Gartenstrasse 4
Tel: (06542) 72427.
Website: www.hubertus-pension.at
Getting there
Nearest airport: Salzburg (SZG).
Distance to resort: 100km (62 miles).
Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Nearest railway station: Zell am See.
Website
This resort is good for...
Non-skiers, Environmental awareness, Après ski, Snowboarders, Beginners, Families, Intermediates, Summer skiing, Snow reliability
Introduction
Beautifully situated, Zell am See lounges alongside its namesake lake, hemmed in by jagged mountain peaks. It's a year-round magnet for tourists. Easily accessible by road and rail, it has the facilities of a town and the intimacy of a village.
Zell am See has teamed up with the nearby and smaller Kaprun to create the large Zell am See-Kaprun skiing region. Skiing gathered pace early here. Downhill descents were recorded as far back as 1893, and the Kitzsteinhorn was the first Austrian glacier to be skied. Unfortunately, unwanted publicity came in November 2000 from a devastating fire in Kaprun's Glescherbahn mountain railway, in which 155 died.
Zell am See has teamed up with the nearby and smaller Kaprun to create the large Zell am See-Kaprun skiing region. Skiing gathered pace early here. Downhill descents were recorded as far back as 1893, and the Kitzsteinhorn was the first Austrian glacier to be skied. Unfortunately, unwanted publicity came in November 2000 from a devastating fire in Kaprun's Glescherbahn mountain railway, in which 155 died.
Mountain facts
Resort elevation: 758m (2,487ft).
Top elevation: 3,029m (9,938ft).
Base elevation: 758m (2,487ft).
Number of lifts: 57.
Number of runs: 76.
Average annual snowfall: 5m (16.4ft).
Where in the world?
Zell am See lies in the Central Alps, south of Salzburg and east of Kitzbühel. The Dientener Berge mountains rise skywards from across the lake, but the really big stuff is to the south and east, in the Hohe Tauern range. Part of this range is Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner, at 3,797m (12,457ft).
Hit the slopes
The season runs from late November until mid April. Additionally, the 3,203m (10,509ft) Kitzsteinhorn glacier is skiable year round except in high summer.
Skiing is best for intermediates. Despite the altitude, the glacier runs are mostly easy to medium, in a relatively smooth arena circled by peaks.
The best twisting, expert runs are above Schmittenhöhe, where the cable car ascends to 1,965m (6,647ft). Following the fire, the Glescherbahn has remained closed, and has been replaced by a new cable car.
Off-piste skiing is discouraged in most places in the interests of environmental protection. There's a snowboard park at the Gipfelbahn, and halfpipes on the glacier.
Skiing is best for intermediates. Despite the altitude, the glacier runs are mostly easy to medium, in a relatively smooth arena circled by peaks.
The best twisting, expert runs are above Schmittenhöhe, where the cable car ascends to 1,965m (6,647ft). Following the fire, the Glescherbahn has remained closed, and has been replaced by a new cable car.
Off-piste skiing is discouraged in most places in the interests of environmental protection. There's a snowboard park at the Gipfelbahn, and halfpipes on the glacier.
Beyond the slopes
Other options on the mountains include tobogganing (on Kitzsteinhorn and Schmittenhöhe) and hiking or Nordic walking. It is often possible to skate across the lake to Thumersbach.
The parish church has an elegant interior, despite its sturdy exterior. Close by, the medieval Vogtturm (Stadtplatz) houses local crafts, including examples of the scary, horned masks used in the annual Krampus festival on 5 December. The world-class attractions of Salzburg are within reach of a day trip.
The parish church has an elegant interior, despite its sturdy exterior. Close by, the medieval Vogtturm (Stadtplatz) houses local crafts, including examples of the scary, horned masks used in the annual Krampus festival on 5 December. The world-class attractions of Salzburg are within reach of a day trip.
Family fun
Several ski schools vie for your custom. Sport-Alpin at the Zeller Bergbahn base station gets good reports. They have a kindergarten Mini Club for age two and up at the fun park by the Schmittenhöhe base station, and a Kiddy Club for those aged three to four years. Joys (Anton Wallner Strasse 9) is a crèche taking toddlers over 12 months.
The family-friendly leisure centre, Freizeitzentrum (Steinergasse 3-5), has a swimming pool with water slides, saunas, bowling and an ice stadium. There's an Alpine Centre above the old Glescherbahn.
The family-friendly leisure centre, Freizeitzentrum (Steinergasse 3-5), has a swimming pool with water slides, saunas, bowling and an ice stadium. There's an Alpine Centre above the old Glescherbahn.
Retail therapy
With a resident population of 10,000 to cater for, the town has no shortage of shops in the centre. There are plenty of outlets for sports and crafts, as well as flashy boutiques, and stores selling more pragmatic items. Hierner (Stadtplatz 6) is good for crafts and decorative glass.
Après ski
Crazy Daisy (Brucker Bundesstrasse 10-12) is one of the mainstays of the vigorous après-ski scene. A more mature clientele frequents Einkehr (Schmittenstrasse 12) and Greens XL (Seegasse 1). The Rock Bar (Bahnhofplatz 2a) is open from 1800 and has occasional theme nights. Late at night, try the Viva nightclub (Kirchengasse 1).
Eating out
Kupferkessel (Brucker Bundesstrasse 18) is good for pizzas and more, all housed in a former petrol station. Also inexpensive, but specialising in Austrian food, is Steinerwirt (Schlossplatz 1).
The restaurant in the Hotel Zum Hirschen (Dreifaltigkeitsstrasse 1) is a good mid-price choice, serving fish from the lake in a wood-panelled room. For top quality dining in refined surroundings, there's Salzburger Stuben (Salzburgerhof Hotel, Auerspergstrasse 11).
The restaurant in the Hotel Zum Hirschen (Dreifaltigkeitsstrasse 1) is a good mid-price choice, serving fish from the lake in a wood-panelled room. For top quality dining in refined surroundings, there's Salzburger Stuben (Salzburgerhof Hotel, Auerspergstrasse 11).
Getting around
A free ski bus links Zell am See and Kaprun and all the main lift hubs. There's a small pedestrian-only area in the centre of Zell am See.
Splashing out
For the ultimate off-piste skiing, the environmental restrictions allow you to hire a guide and ski off the back end of the glacier down to the Niedersill valley. It's an exhilarating ride. The return trip is by bus. Contact Offpiste Adventures (website: www.offpiste.at) or Mont Alpin (website: www.mont-alpin.at) to make the arrangements.
Accommodation
Luxury
Hotel TirolerhofHotel facilities include a swimming pool/sauna complex, and there are bright, clean, well-equipped rooms, with friendly staff and good meals on half-board deals.
Auerspergstrasse 5
Tel: (06542) 772.
Website: www.tirolerhof.co.at
Moderate
Hotel KroneIn the southern suburb of Schüttdorf, but still convenient for the centre and ski lifts, Krone offers fresh-looking rooms or apartments, plus a garden and sauna.
Kitzsteinhornstrasse 16
Tel: (06542) 574 210.
Website: www.hotel-krone.at
Budget
Pension HubertusThis good-value pension is housed in a chalet near the Zeller Bergbahn and provides amenable staff, fine breakfasts, and rooms in varying styles.
Gartenstrasse 4
Tel: (06542) 72427.
Website: www.hubertus-pension.at
Getting there
Nearest airport: Salzburg (SZG).
Distance to resort: 100km (62 miles).
Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Nearest railway station: Zell am See.
Distance to resort: 100km (62 miles).
Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes.
Nearest railway station: Zell am See.
Website
This resort is good for...
Non-skiers, Environmental awareness, Après ski, Snowboarders, Beginners, Families, Intermediates, Summer skiing, Snow reliability
Book Hotels in Zell am See:
Esplanade 22, Zell Am See, 5700
Schmittenstrasse 79, Zell Am See, 5700
Schmittenstrasse 79, Zell Am See, 5700
Schmittenstrasse 47, Zell Am See, 5700
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