Well hidden among the Alps of Austria and not as famous as Innsbruck or Hallstatt, there is Zell am See, a picturesque village with only 10,000 inhabitants and charming landscapes.

 

A destination that you can visit together with Salzburg, located just an hour and a half away. Or even Vienna on a road trip for a few days.

 

  Although its size is relatively small, Zell am See is a highly complex place, suitable for leisure travelers and those who want activities that involve a lot of adrenaline.

 

 I admit I didn’t have high expectations before coming here, but it was a pleasant surprise. So lovely that I now recommend it to anyone who has plans to travel to Austria.

 

It’s the kind of place where you perfectly understand the notion of a hidden gem.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

  How to get to Zell am See:

  • by plane. The nearest airport is Salzburg
  • by car. The village is just 1 hour and a half away from Salzburg, 4 hours from Vienna, and 2 hours from Munich. I visited Zell am See on a 7-day road trip. I came from Slovenia, from Lake Bled, I stayed in Zell am See and continued with Hallstatt and Vienna. About these, I’m going to tell you in the following articles.
  • by train. Every hour trains go from Zell am See to Salzburg, Kitzbühel, or Innsbruck. Distances are less than two hours, and the ticket price varies between 12 and 32 euros.

 

 

 

 Best options for a last-minute trip to Zell am See

   If you are on the last hundred meters with planning a vacation in Zell am See, then this list is your main help to do it quickly and efficiently:

 

  Best experiences and tours in Zell am See:

  ♦ Rafting Tour on Salzachone of my favorite activities in Zell am See

Tandem Paragliding Flightideal for adrenaline junkies

 

 

Best hotels to stay in Zell am See:

♦  Schloss Prielau Hotel & Restaurantlooks like a mini castle

Salzburgerhof Wellnesswonderful garden

 

 

 

 

PIN IT FOR LATER ⇓

 

 

 

What to do in Zell am See

 

   Stay at a cottage overlooking the lake

  The lake with the same name as the village, Zeller See, has an area of about 5 square kilometers and is surrounded by chic chalets and the high peaks of the Alps. The view is always fabulous, so it would be a shame not to enjoy it right from your room window.

 

So, look for accommodation at the lake’s base or above. We stayed at a cabin for children’s camps called Junges Hotel Zell am See, but despite this detail, we liked it immensely, especially as we had a view of the lake.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

Other great places to stay in Zell Am See, Austria, depending on your budget:

 

  • budget: Gästehaus Haffner– free parking, free Wifi, very close to City Xpress cable car
  • mid-range: Hotel Seehof–  very close to Zell Am See lake, panoramic views, pet friendly, free Wifi, family rooms
  • luxury: Salzburgerhof Wellness– swimming pools, spa, close to the lake, private beach area, delicious breakfast

 

   Explore the lake on a boat or water bike


    5 km of water, swans, boats, colorful cabins, greenery, and the snowy ridges of the mountains. That’s what the beautiful lake near the village of Zell am See, the one you can explore long and wide, both on the shore and the water, looks like.

 

There are also regular tours or even cruises on the lake. More details you can find here.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

   Ride the Alpine Coaster

I was talking at the beginning of the article about adrenaline. Well, not even a ski session will give you the intense feelings you will feel when riding the roller coaster in Kaprun, the village neighboring Zell am See.

 

 In figures, it would translate to 730 meters to the top, 1300 meters back to the base, and 40 km/h maximum speed. The good part is that the speed depends entirely on you, as you will have a lever to control it throughout the route.

 

The price of a ticket is 11 euros/per person. If you arrive in Zell am See, you shouldn’t miss the Alpine Coaster! I assure you that you will love it! Find out all the details here.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria
what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

   Go hiking | Things to do in Zell am See Austria

  There are several walking and hiking tours, the most popular being Pinzgauer Spaziergang, 19 kilometers long. Starts in Zell am See and ends in Saalbach.

 

However, there are several options, so it depends only on the angle you want to look at the lake and all the gorgeous surroundings. The nearest peak is Mount Schmittenhöhe which has 1965 meters altitude.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria
what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

  Go skiing

 

  Winter sports remain the favorite activity in the Austrian Alps, and Zell am See is no exception. Approximately 138 kilometers of ski slopes await you.

 

 The most appreciated are Schmittenhöhe (1965m) and Kitzsteinhorn Glacier (3203m). The most convenient way to get there is to take the cityXpress gondola (18 euro adult, 9 euro children), which departs from the center of the village of Zell am See.

 

Being a very well-known destination for winter sports, prices can be 50% higher than in the hot season. So, if you are not a fan of these sports, I recommend you go here during spring or summer when temperatures and prices are more acceptable.

what to do in Zell am See Austria
what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

   Explore the city | What to do in Zell am See

   The city of Zell am See is so small that you won’t need transportation to explore it, but only a few hours at your disposal and maybe a bike. Stroll the narrow streets, admire the old St. Hippolyte, walk along the esplanade by the lake and test the cuisine at the restaurants in the city.

 

In many of them, you will find Arabic cuisine due to the wave of tourists coming from that region, but you will also have other varied options and top restaurants.

 

  Look at the light show on the lake

     On the opposite side of our accommodation, residents and tourists of Zell am See enjoy the dance and colors offered by the fountain on the lake.

 

It works a few times a week, and the show lasts for about 20 minutes. It is the ideal method of relaxing by the lake at the end of a full day in this beautiful mountain resort.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

 

  Admire the city from the top

    There are many streets that climb to high heights, so you can have a complete panorama of the city of Zell am See.

 

In my case, I got the perfect view at the Pfefferbauer chalet, located somewhere in the Northwest of the lake, just 6 a minute drive from downtown. I’ll leave the map of Zell am See, and the pictures speak for themselves.

what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria
what to do in Zell am See Austria

what to do in Zell am See Austria

I hope I convinced you that Zell am See is a destination not to be missed when you go on holiday in Austria 🙂