Austria / Zell am See & the Hohe Tauern / Zell am See & KaprunZell am See & Kaprun
A Lake, a Glacier and Year-Round Snow
A lakeside resort town and its neighbour Kaprun, the base for the Hohe Tauern: the Schmittenhöhe above the lake, and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun, where lifts reach the "Top of Salzburg" platform at 3,029 m with snow almost all year and an ice arena in summer, a stop on many tours from India and the Gulf. The Kaprun high reservoirs (late May to October) and the Grossglockner road (May to October) are day trips. Trains reach Salzburg in 1.5 hours and Innsbruck in about 2; a narrow-gauge line runs west to Krimml. Summer guest cards often include the lifts. A few Indian restaurants.
Highlights
- Top of Salzburg platform at 3,029 m on the Kitzsteinhorn
- Snow and the ice arena in midsummer
- Lake Zell by boat or on foot
- Schmittenhöhe ridge views
- Kaprun high reservoirs (late May – October)
- Skiing on the glacier and the Schmitten (winter)
Things to do
- Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts to the Top of Salzburg and the ice arenaMorning · 4h 30m
- Schmittenhöhe lift and ridge walkAfternoon · 3h
- Walk round Lake Zell, or a summer swim at a lidoAfternoon · 2h
- Kaprun high mountain reservoirsJun–OctMorning · 4h
- Sigmund Thun gorge walkMay–OctAfternoon · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.
When to go
Best time: June – September (summer); December – March (snow)
Heads up
Ski Season Prices
Winter is high season: rooms cost most and are hardest to find from Christmas to New Year and in the February school holidays, when many hotels sell only week-long stays. January (outside the holidays) and March are better value.
Worth knowing
Between Seasons: Hotels and Lifts Closed
After Easter until late May or June, and in November, many hotels, restaurants and lifts close between the ski and summer seasons, and trails above the village can be under snow. Check that the lifts you want are running before you book. The Kitzsteinhorn and the Ötztal glaciers keep some lifts open longer.
Heads up
Cold at 3,000 Metres
The Kitzsteinhorn's Top of Salzburg platform is at 3,029 m: below freezing much of the year and windy even in July, with strong sun on the snow. Take a warm jacket, sunglasses and sunscreen, and go up early before the cloud builds.
- Almabtrieb (cattle coming down from the high pastures) — From mid-September to early October herds come down from the summer pastures garlanded with flowers and bells, with village fairs on the day. Dates are set locally, often only weeks ahead.
- Krampus runs — In late November and the first week of December, around St Nicholas' Day (6 December), costumed Krampus devils with bells and horns run through Alpine towns; loud and a little rough, not for small children.