A Week in Zell am See, Austria
Discussion
We’ve decided to do something a little different (for us) this August and we’ve booked a week in Austria, staying in a hotel in Zell am See by the lake.
Apart from a day trip to Salzburg and enjoying a relaxing week with a few walks and enjoying the lake, is there anything else we must see/do in the area? Are there any particular walking routes destinations that we shouldn’t miss?
Any special/different places to eat & drink?
Thanks for any tips, advice & experience you can share.
Apart from a day trip to Salzburg and enjoying a relaxing week with a few walks and enjoying the lake, is there anything else we must see/do in the area? Are there any particular walking routes destinations that we shouldn’t miss?
Any special/different places to eat & drink?
Thanks for any tips, advice & experience you can share.
Stayed for a couple of nights in Zell am See in summer 2022
Lovely little town with lots of history around
Many of the hotels do a free “sommercard” which gives free travel on all the ski lifts, buses, local trains and the boat trips on the lake
Well worth it
There’s some lovely cafe/bars at the top of mountains which when we were there were full of walkers and hand gliders
It’s not far from Berchtesgaden and just outside the town is where Easy Company ( Band of Brothers) ended the war
Right by there is a wheeled toboggan run which is quite fun
And of course what can you say about the Grossglockner
I was there really for driving not mountain walking and it was just a R&R base for a couple of days but there are loads of walks between the various ski lifts plus you can hire mountain bikes for the trails
It really is stunning part of the world
Lovely little town with lots of history around
Many of the hotels do a free “sommercard” which gives free travel on all the ski lifts, buses, local trains and the boat trips on the lake
Well worth it
There’s some lovely cafe/bars at the top of mountains which when we were there were full of walkers and hand gliders
It’s not far from Berchtesgaden and just outside the town is where Easy Company ( Band of Brothers) ended the war
Right by there is a wheeled toboggan run which is quite fun
And of course what can you say about the Grossglockner
I was there really for driving not mountain walking and it was just a R&R base for a couple of days but there are loads of walks between the various ski lifts plus you can hire mountain bikes for the trails
It really is stunning part of the world
Love Zell am See, did Feb half term a few years ago just because we wanted a winter snow holiday with family (didn’t ski or board) and then went back with friends at Easter for 2 weeks when the weather was 27deg except 1 day where it snowed!
https://www.kitzsteinhorn.at/en is worth a day trip, get a bus from the bus station or train station and it will drop you at the ski lift, you can easily spend a day or more hiking the mountain, taking in the views and the food in the restaurant is good although the service can be considered “direct”.
There is also an alpine coaster at the bottom which was good fun.
The local railway isn’t going very far due to damage from a landslide but you can get a week ticket for transport (think it’s €29pp which I think will also get you to Salzburg) we got the bus to Krimml falls https://maps.app.goo.gl/XaYjDnrtDvLhshpS9?g_st=com... it’s a good day trip and the bus we jumped off in one of the towns on the way back to break up the journey.
You can walk around the lake of Zell am See in a couple of hours and that’s an enjoyable walk. And don’t rule out climbing up the mountain next to Zell am see if you walk past the city xpress cable car there’s a footpath which takes you up the mountain, we walked up to https://maps.app.goo.gl/u3suniTtq1HaW3xX6?g_st=com... and then down we found this place for a beer https://maps.app.goo.gl/BSEV9b3AtBX99vFC7?g_st=com... they were closed but sat outside drinking a beer said if we could yodel he’d serve us, then tried charging us €9 for 6 beers he was steaming, so we gave him €25 and left his new best mates.
You can get this map cheaper when you’re out there but covers all the good walks.
030 ZELL AM SEE - KAPRUN: 4in1 Wanderkarte mit Aktiv Guide und Panorama inklusive Karte zur offline Verwendung in der KOMPASS-App. Fahrradfahren. Skitouren. https://amzn.eu/d/7IqEFYe
https://www.kitzsteinhorn.at/en is worth a day trip, get a bus from the bus station or train station and it will drop you at the ski lift, you can easily spend a day or more hiking the mountain, taking in the views and the food in the restaurant is good although the service can be considered “direct”.
There is also an alpine coaster at the bottom which was good fun.
The local railway isn’t going very far due to damage from a landslide but you can get a week ticket for transport (think it’s €29pp which I think will also get you to Salzburg) we got the bus to Krimml falls https://maps.app.goo.gl/XaYjDnrtDvLhshpS9?g_st=com... it’s a good day trip and the bus we jumped off in one of the towns on the way back to break up the journey.
You can walk around the lake of Zell am See in a couple of hours and that’s an enjoyable walk. And don’t rule out climbing up the mountain next to Zell am see if you walk past the city xpress cable car there’s a footpath which takes you up the mountain, we walked up to https://maps.app.goo.gl/u3suniTtq1HaW3xX6?g_st=com... and then down we found this place for a beer https://maps.app.goo.gl/BSEV9b3AtBX99vFC7?g_st=com... they were closed but sat outside drinking a beer said if we could yodel he’d serve us, then tried charging us €9 for 6 beers he was steaming, so we gave him €25 and left his new best mates.
You can get this map cheaper when you’re out there but covers all the good walks.
030 ZELL AM SEE - KAPRUN: 4in1 Wanderkarte mit Aktiv Guide und Panorama inklusive Karte zur offline Verwendung in der KOMPASS-App. Fahrradfahren. Skitouren. https://amzn.eu/d/7IqEFYe
About an hours drive towards Salzburg ( 25 miles south of Salzburg) from you is 'The Worlds Largest ice cave' https://www.eisriesenwelt.at/de/ overlooking the Hohenwerfen Castle ( Where Eagles dare ).. Well worth a visit !
As per other replies, Only an hour or so driving to Berchtesgaden and you can visit The Eagles Nest, summer home of Adolf himself.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UEM79BnJqx6rB7eA6?g_st=ac
It's an absolutely fascinating tour, plus the town itself is lovely.
Also nearby is a tourist trio underground into the local salt mine, we did both locations in a day trip from Zell.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/umczbHWEGNosHGB36?g_st=ac
Salzburg as mentioned is beautiful.
We stayed at the grand Hotel in Zell am See and hired a car locally in the village really quite cheaply.
Also worth a trip up the kitzsteinhorn to the top at 3029m
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMKtDLRWxAfihdon6?g_st=ac
https://maps.app.goo.gl/UEM79BnJqx6rB7eA6?g_st=ac
It's an absolutely fascinating tour, plus the town itself is lovely.
Also nearby is a tourist trio underground into the local salt mine, we did both locations in a day trip from Zell.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/umczbHWEGNosHGB36?g_st=ac
Salzburg as mentioned is beautiful.
We stayed at the grand Hotel in Zell am See and hired a car locally in the village really quite cheaply.
Also worth a trip up the kitzsteinhorn to the top at 3029m
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CMKtDLRWxAfihdon6?g_st=ac
Austria in summer is spectacular. We stayed near the wilder kaiser for 2 weeks; lots of lake swimming, gondolas up to the mountain tops for walks/lunch, day trips to Salzburg and kitzbhule, local food, lots of chilling looking at the stunning views where we stayed etc. the Austrians and Germans are really friendly too. superb!
Boom78 said:
Austria in summer is spectacular. We stayed near the wilder kaiser for 2 weeks; lots of lake swimming, gondolas up to the mountain tops for walks/lunch, day trips to Salzburg and kitzbhule, local food, lots of chilling looking at the stunning views where we stayed etc. the Austrians and Germans are really friendly too. superb!
It isSpent many a year canoeing around Landeck then mountain biking (10000ft on a MB
)Its a beautiful country, and the Austrians are like Germans with a sense of humour.
Spent just over a week i bit further east/north east then Zell am Zee, so around Mondsee/Hallstatt/Wolfgangsee/Attersee.
Austria in the summer is beautiful, happy to recommened stuff in that area, but think maybe a bit far and you will have plenty where you are to enjoy without heading out in that direction!
We are stopping in Zell am See for a few hours in between driving from Munich and Lake Bled in August, planning to stop for a swim in the lake and lunch, then drive over Grossglockner with a couple of stop offs, then over to Lake Bled!
Austria in the summer is beautiful, happy to recommened stuff in that area, but think maybe a bit far and you will have plenty where you are to enjoy without heading out in that direction!
We are stopping in Zell am See for a few hours in between driving from Munich and Lake Bled in August, planning to stop for a swim in the lake and lunch, then drive over Grossglockner with a couple of stop offs, then over to Lake Bled!
We spend a lot of time in the Badgastein valley. If you like a great walk, then get the gondola in Bad Hofgastein up to the top and walk down to the halfway stop. Some spectacular views and it’s all downhill 
As said, the Grossglockner is a must. If you like a beer then the Augustiner Braugasthof Krimpelstätter in Salzburg is a fab place to go.
Another great walk is a circular trail around Gaisberg near Salzburg, with a great restaurant there also. Again all great views.
Oh, and Hallstatt.
As said, the Grossglockner is a must. If you like a beer then the Augustiner Braugasthof Krimpelstätter in Salzburg is a fab place to go.
Another great walk is a circular trail around Gaisberg near Salzburg, with a great restaurant there also. Again all great views.
Oh, and Hallstatt.
The Porsche museum at Gmund is well worth a visit: http://www.auto-museum.at
We stayed in Zell for a week last summer.
My grown up kids and a friend came to, they flew in, my wife and I drove down.
Things we did..
My son & I went paragliding.
We all hired bikes one afternoon and rode around the lake.
The sports centre and indoor and outdoor pools at Kaprun are a nice way of spending an afternoon.
Went up a cable car and walked down into town stopping for a few beers on the way down.
Wife and I got up seriously early and were one of the first cars up the Grossglokner.
We also popped to Salzburg and drove up to Kitzbuhel as well.
Quite busy all in all, but nice spot but we had quite changeable weather but to be expected in the mountains.
My grown up kids and a friend came to, they flew in, my wife and I drove down.
Things we did..
My son & I went paragliding.
We all hired bikes one afternoon and rode around the lake.
The sports centre and indoor and outdoor pools at Kaprun are a nice way of spending an afternoon.
Went up a cable car and walked down into town stopping for a few beers on the way down.
Wife and I got up seriously early and were one of the first cars up the Grossglokner.
We also popped to Salzburg and drove up to Kitzbuhel as well.
Quite busy all in all, but nice spot but we had quite changeable weather but to be expected in the mountains.
Not specifically Zell am See but I’m currently in my fourth summer working near the Walchsee, NW of where you’ll be.
The Tyrol is absolutely chuffing awesome.
As it’s basically one gigantic mountain playground it depends what you both fancy doing, but all these are possibilities:
Parascending
Hiring e-MTBs and smashing around a few easy trails
Getting Via Ferrata sets from an outward bound place and going climbing (highly recommend if you’re fit enough)
White water rafting
Hiking from alpine pub to alpine pub (I do this a lot). The Alms are everywhere and each one is nicer than the next
There may well be a local Volksfest nearby depending on your dates: if you give me the week you’re there I will see what I can find. Lederhosen, grilled pork, traditional dancing, whips on tables etc plus you may be the only non-locals there (which is most definitely a good thing)
The Tyrol is absolutely chuffing awesome.
As it’s basically one gigantic mountain playground it depends what you both fancy doing, but all these are possibilities:
Parascending
Hiring e-MTBs and smashing around a few easy trails
Getting Via Ferrata sets from an outward bound place and going climbing (highly recommend if you’re fit enough)
White water rafting
Hiking from alpine pub to alpine pub (I do this a lot). The Alms are everywhere and each one is nicer than the next
There may well be a local Volksfest nearby depending on your dates: if you give me the week you’re there I will see what I can find. Lederhosen, grilled pork, traditional dancing, whips on tables etc plus you may be the only non-locals there (which is most definitely a good thing)
Thank you all once again! Excellent and it looks like we’re going to be rather busy.
Barchettaman said:
There may well be a local Volksfest nearby depending on your dates: if you give me the week you’re there I will see what I can find. Lederhosen, grilled pork, traditional dancing, whips on tables etc plus you may be the only non-locals there (which is most definitely a good thing)
That’s very kind of you – thanks! We are there from Saturday 3rd August. Much appreciated.MarkJS said:
That’s very kind of you – thanks! We are there from Saturday 3rd August. Much appreciated.
Here’s everything going on from tourist information. https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en/events/event-c...
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