Zell am See holidays

© Zell am See Kaprun Tourismus / Zell am See, Austria

Popular holidays

Cobbled streets, mountain peaks and an alpine lake on the doorstep – holidays to Zell am See have the lot.

Outdoor days

Make the most of the shining Lake Zell on your doorstep – you can stroll around the lake itself in about 3 hours, or spend a day down by water at the Strandbad lido. There's all kinds of things to do there, like taking a dip or trying stand-up paddle-boarding – and there’s a grassy bathing lawn if you fancy lying back and losing yourself in a good book. Away from the lake, days outdoors in Zell are all about the mountains. You can catch summer lifts up for some seriously great views – and get free access to lots of them with a Zell am See-Kaprun summer card (available at selected accommodations). Plus there's over 400km of trails to pick from, whether you fancy strolling through an alpine meadow, or hiking to mountain summits. Or swap two feet for two wheels and hop on a mountain bike or e-bike instead.

Old Town exploring

Zell’s the perfect spot for some boutique browsing and street strolling – with a coffee stop along the way of course. In the centre is the Medieval main square, with the stone tower of the church at one corner and a bubbling fountain in the middle. Canopied-covered cafés spill out onto the flagstones here, so take a seat and munch on strudel as you watch the world go by. Then afterwards, potter down side streets and pick up a keepsake or two in the souvenir shops.

Top-notch trips

Want to tick off some of Salzburgerland’s best bits? There’s no better place to base yourself than Zell. It’s cameras at the ready as you follow winding alpine roads on a trip to see the summit of Austria’s highest peak, Großglockner. Nearby, you’ve also got the impressive Krimml waterfalls, which tumble over 380m from top to bottom – the biggest drop in the country. And you can’t forget the region’s capital, Salzburg. Catch a train from town and you can be filling up on history and culture in the home of Mozart in less than two hours.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in Zell am See:

• Lake bathing
• Boat trips
• Cycle routes
• Waterfalls
• Indoor pool
• Outdoor pool
• Museum
• Fishing
• Wildlife spotting
• Paragliding

Popular hotels in Zell am See

Top things to see and do in Zell am See

Beaches

Seespitz

Seespitz has a large sunbathing area on the shore of Lake Zell.

Thumersbach

On the eastern shore of Lake Zell is Thumersbach, where you'll find a lido, sandy beach and a heated pool. There's also a beach club where you can pop in for a great range of refreshments and snacks.

Zell Lido

The lido is a great place to take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Zell. It comes with sun loungers and parasols as well as a solar-heated swimming pool. Refreshments can be bought from the onsite restaurant.

Shopping

Bargain buys

Depending on the weather, Zell am See holds a town market in the main square. This is a great opportunity to get some holiday snaps and soak up the vibe. Plus, you might pick up some bargain souvenirs, including local and regional produce.

Mid-range buys

Zell am See has plenty of shops to wander round. You'll find lots to browse, including everything from casual clothing shops to fashion-led retailers.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

A lakeside evening stroll is the perfect end to the day. And to make it even better, you can grab an ice-cream or a waffle from one of the outdoor stalls.

Lively evenings

Here's something to remember. At 10pm, three times a week, the town hosts a 20-minute-long Magic Lake Show, with an impressive display of water, lights, music and lasers. You can catch the performance from the Elisabeth Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Food & drink

International cuisine

Most restaurants in Zell am See serve a range of international cuisines. The restaurants and cafés are spread out across the resort - you'll find a good few between Salzmannstrasse and Loferer Strasse.

Coffee to go

As well as the cafés and restaurants, coffee houses are also a popular choice for a cosy stop.

Getting about

Buses

You'll get a Salzburg Guest Mobility Ticket included with your stay here - giving you free, unlimited public transport throughout the Salzburg region. From the two main bus stops at the railway station and the Postplatz terminal, you can jump on a bus to the nearby town of Kaprun (20 minutes) or Saalbach (30 minutes). Buses are very efficient, with some departing two or three times every hour.

Ferries

Boats cross the lake from Zell to Thummersbach and run every half an hour between 9.30am and 6pm. Or, if you want to explore the area further, you can catch a round-trip boat that stops off at six locations around the lake. This boat runs once an hour between 10am and 5pm, and you can buy tickets with our reps in resort - easy.

Summer lifts

The CityXpress gondola, the Schmittenhöhebahn gondola and the Sonnenalm gondola are just a few of the lifts that run throughout the summer. Most are open between June and September and run between the hours of 9am and 5pm. It's possible to buy lift tickets with our reps in resort, and you can get free access to lots of lifts with a Zell am See-Kaprun summer card - so it's worth checking to see if your accommodation offers this. If the lifts aren't operating, the resort offers buses from neighbouring Kaprun up to the Maiskogel instead.

Trains

The Salzburg Guest Mobility Ticket you'll get for free when you check-in will make getting around on trains a doddle, with unlimited public transport throughout the Salzburg region. The train station is situated on the Bahnhofplatz 1 near the lake. From here you can journey to Kitzb’hel in just under an hour and Salzburg in 1 hour and 40 minutes. These trains run once or twice every hour, so don't worry if you miss one.

On foot

Wander around authentic cobbled streets in the charming, traffic-free medieval town centre or walk down to the waterfront for calming views of the lake.

Walking

Walk around the lake

One gentle walk that's very rewarding is the 12km walk around Lake Zell itself. If you get tired, you can always catch the ferry back to town.

Pinzgauer Spaziergang

Summer lifts will whisk you to the Schmittenhöhe and Maiskogel peaks where a network of marked trails awaits. The Pinzgauer Sparziergang walk is one of the most beautiful in the Eastern Alps, with incredible 360-degree views over valleys and snow-capped mountains.