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• Resort Guide

Resort Height:762m

A different option to your traditional Austrian mountain village, Zell am See is a relatively low-lying lakeside town with a year round population of nearly 10,000. Although the local ski mountain – the Schmittenhohe – is rather low by modern standards, it shares access to its slopes with neighbouring Kaprun, where the ski area rises above 3,000 metres and is open year round with summer glacier skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.

The little town is dominated by numerous large hotels which are mini-resorts in themselves in many cases, often boasting swimming pools, health centres and other facilities. The old medieval centre of the resort is pedestrianised, making it a pleasant spot to stroll around shops and stop in pavement cafes.

Beginners

Beginners are most likely to make their first turns on the nursery slopes served by the Sonnenalm lifts, which are within walking distance of some parts of the resort, a free ski bus ride from others. Depending on where you stay, there may be more convenient places to learn to ski, but the ski school is second to none.

Intermediates

Intermediates will enjoy Zell am See’s local ski mountain the most with 50km (32 miles) of red and blue piste to enjoy. Particularly worthwhile runs include the six-and-a-half kilometer (four mile) long Schutt run descending the maximum possible 1200 metre vertical down Zell am See. Most intermediates will take advantage of the free bus service (for area pass holders) that runs to Kaprun every 20 minutes, taking 30 minutes to make the connection and opening up a whole new range of possibilities.

Advanced

There is a selection of moderate length blacks cut through the forest on quite steep slopes. These can provide some challenges, especially when left unpisted to cut up in to bumps. The ski area also holds some hidden gems for powder lovers when conditions are right. One piste not to be missed is the beautiful 4.1km (two and a half mile) long Trass black-graded descent to the bottom of the cable car, a vertical descent of 1,000 metres.

Snowboarding

There’s a permanent half pipe at Glocknerwiesee whilst Kaprun has a fun park up at 2900m on the glacier which is open in summer as winter. One of Europe’s first boardercross courses opened here too, a reflection of the area’s status as one of the leading boarding venues on the continent. There’s plenty of freeriding terrain all around the region.

Other Activities and Facilities

Zell am See’s size and year-round population means it is better equipped with more alternatives to skiing and boarding than most ski resorts. There is a sports centre with adventure pool, sauna and steam bath as well as an ice stadium for skating, hockey and curling. Other facilities include tennis and squash courts, indoor horse riding hall, a shooting gallery, bowling alleys, library, museums, cinema, galleries and theatre.

Cross country skiing is very popular in the area with 200km of marked trails including a 10km circular track around frozen Lake Zell, a five kilometre floodlit track and a three kilometre altitude track on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at 2900m. The frozen lake is also used for skating and ice surfing (like wind surfing but on ice!).

Other activities include ballooning, parascending, hang gliding, scenic flights, sleigh rides, hiking on 50km of prepared tracks, ice canyoning, ice climbing and floodlit toboggan runs. There really is a lot to do without even putting your ski boots on.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Zell am See usually has a lively nightlife with more than 20 bars and night spots. Popular choices include the Schnapps Hans Ice Bar, the Crazy Daisy, Greens, Resi Bar and Membar. Many activities are also available for après ski fun such as bowling, skating, sleigh rides or a floodlit toboggan run.

There are more than 60 restaurants ranging from American fast food burger bars to gourmet establishments. Dining options include Italian, Chinese and even Croatian. The many hotel restaurants mostly serve traditional Austrian fare, but often have a high value set menu for those on a budget. Traubenstüberl is a good choice for regional and traditional Austrian food.

Families

The local Schmittenhohe mountain is family friendly and has its own kids’ adventure park as well as tubing runs. There is a non-ski childcare facility which accepts children aged two and up, and then a choice of four ski school kindergartens. Ski - Snowboardschool Zell am See is the largest with 100 instructors and operates a mini club for children aged two and up with those three or older able to take first-time beginner lessons. Older children can work their way through regular ski school classes, especially tailored to their age group.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[5]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[5]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[4]

Piste Map for Zell am see

Accommodation in Zell am see

• Chalet Rasser - 2 star, catered
• Chalet Rasser - 2 star, catered
• Daxer - 3 star, half board
• Fischerwirt - 4 star, half board
• Freiberg - 4 star, half board
• Freiberg - 4 star, half board
• Freiberg - 4 star, half board
• Grand - 4 star, half board
• Grand - 4 star, half board
• Grand - 4 star, half board
• Grand - 4 star, half board
• Grand Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Grandhotel - 4 star, half board
• Heitzmann - 4 star, half board
• Heitzmann - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Berner - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Fischerwirt - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Fischerwirt - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Heitzmann - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Heitzmann - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Lebzelter - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Neue Post - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Salzburgerhof - 5 star, half board
• Hotel Seehof - 3 star, half board
• Hotel St. Georg - 4 star, half board
• Hotel St.georg - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Tirolerhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Traube - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Waldhof - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Zum Hirschen - 4 star, half board
• Jaga-alm - 4 star, half board
• Jaga-alm - 4 star, half board
• Lebzelter - 4 star, half board
• Martha - 3 star, half board
• Neue Post - 4 star, room only
• Romantik - 4 star, half board
• Romantik - 4 star, half board
• Romantik - 4 star, half board
• Romantik-hotel Zell Am See - 4 star, half board
• Schwebebahn - 4 star, half board
• Schwebebahn - 4 star, half board
• Schwebebahn - 4 star, half board
• Schwebebahn Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Seehof - 3 star, half board
• Seevilla Freiberg - 3 star, half board
• Seevilla Frieberg - 4 star, half board
• Sporthotel Alpenblick - 4 star, half board
• St. Georg - 4 star, half board
• St. Georg - 4 star, half board
• Stadtwien - 4 star, half board
• Stadtwien - 4 star, half board
• Stadtwien - 4 star, half board
• Tirolerhof - 4 star, half board
• Waldhof - 4 star, half board
• Waldhof - 4 star, half board

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