Zell am See Ski Holidays - Heidi

Zell am See is great for...

Apres ski

Big ski area

Families

Beginners

Intermediates

Snowboarders

Traditional charm

Foodies

Non skiers

Welcome to Zell am See Ski Resort

When it comes to mountain views, few are as breathtaking and special as the sight you’re greeted with on top of the Schmittenhöhe mountain above Zell am See, Austria. It’s not just the sea of mountains stretching across the skyline but the sight of the 4km long lake Zell that makes it special. The skiing in Zell is fairly chilled – think tree-lined groomers with a few challenging red and black runs. But it gets more exciting in neighbouring Kaprun, which gives access to the wide pistes and high altitude of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. It’s home to some amazing off-piste just off the marked runs. Freestylers will also love the half pipes, jumps and rails in the terrain park. Zell is also now on the same lift pass as Saalbach-Hinterglemm, which makes the ski area pretty enormous.

Expand piste map

Resort Information

Resort Altitude

750m

Total Piste KM

408km

No. Skilifts

119

Snow Range

760m-3029m

Zell am See ski runs & ratings

TOTAL: 408km

Beginner(Distance: 199km)

8/10

Intermediate(Distance: 163km)

9/10

Advanced(Distance: 46km)

6/10

Best time to ski in Zell am See

Zell am See always sees some of the earliest and latest skiing in Austria thanks to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier which is sometimes possible to ski in summer. Officially, the resort is open from the beginning of December until mid April. Christmas is always magical in Austria so December is a fun time to go. But the skiing on Zell am See’s slopes only goes up to 2,000m so if you just plan to stay in the resort, going in January and February will offer the best chance of decent snow. If you’re happy to take the free shuttlebus to Kaprun, the glacier cable car will take you up to 3,000m where there’s great skiing all season.

Things to do in Zell am See

In Austria, the cultural mountain traditions are much stronger than in other Alpine countries. Here in the pretty cobbled streets, that are filled with cafes and shops, it’s the norm for bar and restaurant staff to be wearing the national costume – Lederhösen for guys and revealing dirndls for girls. Think glühwein, wiener schnitzels and large servings of apple strudel and cream. You’ll find all this and more in Zell am See’s picture postcard streets as well as Christmas markets in December. There’s also ice skating and paragliding – the lake being the finish line for the famous Red Bull X-Alps paragliding adventure race in summer. Overall, whether you’re a skier or not, it’s a great bet, as the decent sized town has plenty to do when you’re not on the slopes.