The Zell am See-Kaprun region lies between the gentle grassy mountains of the Pinzgau and the rugged faces of the Hohe Tauern. In Zell am See, the lake, the town’s history and mountain views come together: from Schmittenhöhe, the view stretches across Lake Zell and the town to 30 peaks over 3,000 metres. Excursion boats on the lake offer views of the historic old town and the alpine landscape, with its peaks and green meadows.

Schmittenhöhe: Slopes, trails and art

The Schmittenhöhe ski area has 77 kilometres of pistes: 30 kilometres of blue runs, 28 kilometres of red runs and 19 kilometres of black runs. Another way to explore the mountain is the Höhenpromenade on Schmitten. Its featured stops include special viewing telescopes, viewing platforms, themed information boards about the rich variety of local flora and fauna, and play stations.

The trails also offer different options in terms of length and duration. The Sisi Circular Trail is about one kilometre long, takes around 30 minutes and starts and ends at Elisabeth Chapel; it loops around the summit of Schmitten. The Pinzgauer Spaziergang is an approximately 17-kilometre high-altitude trail from Schmittenhöhe to Schattberg in Saalbach and takes around six hours. Those interested in art in the mountains can also find the 4 Lakes Art Hike on Schmitten, part of the “Art on the Mountain” initiative launched in 1995.

For children, Schmidolin’s “Feuertaufe” adventure trail features tricky questions, tests of courage and challenges. The E-Motocross Park at the mountain station of the areitXpress is for riders aged 6 to 17. In summer, mountain huts and restaurants on Schmittenhöhe serve Austrian cuisine, regional specialities and homemade desserts.

Lake Zell and town life

There are a variety of activities by the lake: Vettermann Sailing and Surf School on the north shore offers introductory and beginner courses in sailing and surfing. Three lidos are located around Lake Zell in Zell am See-Kaprun: Strandbad Zell am See, Strandbad Thumersbach and Strandbad Schüttdorf. Facilities listed for the three lidos include direct access to the lake, sunbathing lawns, diving towers and slides, water trampolines, children’s playgrounds and heated pools.

The town square offers a seasonal glimpse into everyday life: from March to September, market stalls are set up there every Friday morning, selling regional specialities as well as fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers. This brings together a specific day of the week and time of year with local produce—a different focus from the views out over the water or mountains.

History at the Vogtturm Museum

The interactive permanent exhibition “Mythos Zell am See” at the Vogtturm Museum explores the history, art and culture of the town and region from the first human settlement to the present day. The tower itself was probably built around the middle of the 12th century. The collection introduces visitors to archaeology, everyday culture, folklore, and economic and tourism history, as well as architecture, painting, drawing, printmaking and photography. A particular focus is on objects connected with Lake Zell.

Hiking region and more to explore in Zell am See-Kaprun

Zell am See-Kaprun offers more than 400 kilometres of marked hiking trails, mountain hikes and walking routes. One longer route is the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail: it covers 17 stages, is 275 kilometres long in total and runs from the foot of the Krimml Waterfalls to Schmittenhöhe above Zell am See. These figures describe different aspects: the stages divide the route, while the total distance indicates its overall length.

There is also a longer route to explore by bike: the cycle tour from Zell am See to Krimml follows the well-signposted Tauern Cycle Path; the Pinzgau Railway can be used for the return journey to Zell am See. In Kaprun, the Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden high-mountain reservoirs lie at an altitude of 2,036 metres; guided tours of the dams are offered there in summer. Kaprun Castle was built in the 12th century as a fortress and residence for noble families. A medieval festival is held there every summer.

Plan your journey and stay

The nearest airport is Salzburg W. A. Mozart. Bus and train services connect Salzburg with Zell am See; check the timetables for your travel dates. Guests staying overnight in Zell am See-Kaprun can use the Guest Mobility Ticket for all public transport in the state of Salzburg. Check the eligibility requirements and validity for your stay before travelling.

Discover more destinations:

Dienten am Hochkönig, Bucheben, Enzingerboden, Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße, Bramberg, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Kaprun, Krimml, Leogang, Lofer, Maishofen, Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer, Mittersill, Neukirchen am Großvenediger, Niedernsill, Piesendorf, Rauris, Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer, Sankt Martin bei Lofer, Stuhlfelden, Taxenbach, Unken, Uttendorf, Viehhofen, Wald im Pinzgau, Zell am See, Schüttdorf, Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße, Embach, Almdorf Königsleiten, Walchen, Hollersbach im Pinzgau, Gries im Pinzgau, Thumersbach, Lend, Paßthurn, Mühlberg, Sulzau, Lengdorf, Aufhausen, Almdorf, Högmoos, Reith, Hasenbach, Hinterthal, Sankt Georgen, Berg, Krössenbach, Reitlehen, Großsonnberg, Vorderglemm, Königsleiten, Hintermoos, Hütten, Jochbergthurn, Lenzing, Gföll, Aisdorf, Gumping, Igelsberg, Thalbach, Grubing, Rain, Niederland, Weißbach bei Lofer, Vorstanddorf, Erlberg, Oberkrimml

Go to the overarching travel guide: Salzburgerland.