Zell am See is a ski resort in Austria with 138 km (lokalt) / 408 km (Ski Alpin Card) of pistes and 57 lifts. Skiing reaches up to 3 029 m (Kitzsteinhorn) above sea level and the village sits at 757 m. Accommodation with lift pass included can be booked directly, you arrange your own travel there.
Zell am See-Kaprun is one of Austria's most romantic and varied ski resorts, offering the truly special combination of a beautiful lakeside town and one of the most snow-sure glacier areas in the Alps. A ski holiday to Zell am See offers an experience that no other destination in Europe can match.
The ski area consists of three separate sections: Schmittenhöhe right above the town centre, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Kaprun with snow-sure skiing up to 3,029 metres, and a network of connected lifts giving access to 400 kilometres of pistes with a Ski Alpin Card.
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier is the resort's crown jewel. At 3,029 metres, snow is guaranteed from September to May, and the views from up here are among the most beautiful in the entire Alps. The gondola system is modern and efficient, and the glacier offers wide, well-groomed pistes for all levels.
The centre of Zell am See is one of the most charming in the Austrian Alps. The historic town core with its medieval church tower, the lakeside promenade, and a good selection of restaurants and shops create an atmosphere that feels more "Alpine town" than "ski village", and that's a big part of the resort's appeal.
Ready to book a ski holiday in Zell am See? Find accommodation with lift pass included in the price. You arrange your own travel there.
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Did you know this about Zell am See?
Zell am See is one of the few Alpine resorts in the world offering skiing right beside a lake. The Zeller See often freezes over in winter, providing the chance to skate, while the Kitzsteinhorn glacier guarantees snow throughout the winter season.
5 tips about Zell am See
- Kitzsteinhorn-breen Besøk Kitzsteinhorn-breen på 3 029 meter, et imponerende naturunder med snø garantert nesten hele året.
- Strandpromenaden Ta en tur langs strandpromenaden ved Zeller See, en unik alpeopplevelse med utsikt over vannet.
- Schmittenhöhe Schmittenhöhe byr på et av Østerrikes vakreste panoramaer med utsikt til 30 alpetopper.
- Kaprun slott Besøk det middelalderske slottet i Kaprun utenfor byen, en historisk perle i den snødekte dalen.
- Ski Alpin Card Med et Ski Alpin Card inkluderes Saalbach-Hinterglemm og Leogang for et enormt skieventyr.
Pistes and lifts in Zell am See
Zell am See-Kaprun boasts an impressive ski system with 57 lifts and 138 km of local pistes, extending to 400 km with a Ski Alpin Card. The skiing spans three distinct areas: Schmittenhöhe right above Zell am See with varied runs, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Kaprun with Austria's highest groomed terrain up to 3,029 metres, and Maiskogel, which links the town with the glacier. The total vertical drop of 1,780 metres from the top of the Kitzsteinhorn down to the village at 757 metres provides some of the longest continuous runs in the Alps.
The lift system is modern and efficient, with the Kitzsteinhorn gondola and the newer 3K gondola linking Kaprun town centre with the glacier via Maiskogel, so you don't need to drive between them. Schmittenhöhe is reached by gondola directly from the centre of Zell am See. Skiing in Zell am See offers a unique combination of high-altitude glacier skiing and lakeside pistes with panoramic views over the Zeller See, a combination no other ski area in the Alps can match.
Piste map for Zell am See
The map downloads as an image file. On your iPhone it lands in the Files app. Tap the icon at the bottom of the address bar to open the map straight away.On your iPad it lands in the Files app. Tap the icon at the top right of the address bar to open the map straight away.On your phone it lands in the Downloads folder. Tap the download notification that appears to open the map straight away.The file lands in the Downloads folder. You can also look for the icon at the top right of the screen and open the map from there.
Snow reliability in Zell am See
Zell am See-Kaprun is one of the most snow-sure destinations in the Alps thanks to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which guarantees skiing from October to May. The glacier, at 3,029 metres, has natural snow virtually all year round, and the pistes at Schmittenhöhe are supplemented by an extensive snowmaking system. A ski holiday in Zell am See during the winter season gives you double reassurance: even if the lower pistes at Schmittenhöhe experience thin snow cover during milder spells, you can always count on perfect snow up on the glacier. Cold temperatures in the valley, with nights down to -8 degrees in January, also contribute to excellent natural snow at all levels.
Best time to travel to Zell am See
The best time for a ski holiday to Zell am See depends on what you're after. If you want maximum snow reliability and cold conditions, January and February are ideal, with daytime temperatures between -3 and -1 degrees. March brings longer days and sunny skiing, with good snow conditions still guaranteed by the glacier. A unique advantage of Zell am See-Kaprun is its extremely long season: the Kitzsteinhorn opens as early as October and doesn't close until May. If you fancy a slightly different kind of ski holiday, consider travelling in November or April, when prices are lower and the glacier pistes still offer excellent skiing.
How to get to Zell am See
You arrange your own travel, and many drive their own car. Taking the Eurotunnel from Folkestone and arriving at Calais, it's roughly 1 147 km to Zell am See, around 11,9 hours of pure driving time through France. Remember that studded tyres are banned in France and Germany.
Zell am See is suitable for
⭐ Excellent choice
Suitable to some extent
Limited selection
⭐ Very snow-reliable
Read more about ski holidays
Ready to book? Choose from accommodation in different price ranges. Lift pass is included in the price, you arrange your own travel there.
See prices for ski holidays in Zell am SeeFrequently asked questions about Zell am See
Yes, the Kitzsteinhorn normally opens as early as October and has Austria's longest ski season. The glacier, at 3,029 metres, guarantees snow for almost the entire year, and you can ski right through into May.
The two ski areas are separate but easily accessible. From Zell am See, you take the gondola straight up to Schmittenhöhe. To reach the Kitzsteinhorn in Kaprun, there's the new 3K gondola linking Kaprun town centre with the glacier via Maiskogel, or you can take the ski bus between the two.
Yes, the lake often freezes over during cold winters, offering the chance to skate and even curl right on the ice. It's a unique Alpine experience to skate with mountain panoramas all around you. Whether the lake freezes varies from year to year depending on the temperature.
The Ski Alpin Card extends the skiing from Zell am See-Kaprun's local 138 km to a full 400 km of pistes, including Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Leogang. This gives enormous variety and the chance to explore several world-class ski areas during the same holiday.
