Zell am See

Introduction

Zell Am See lake

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Zell am See is one of the bigger towns in the Austrian Alps. Together with the town of Kaprun, which lies 2 kilometres to the south on the otherside of the Salzach valley, it makes up one of the most important ski resorts in Austria. Zell am See is also the starting point of one of the most scenic routes in Austria the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. This is a pass that leads you over the main ridge of the alps, passing the highest mountain of Austria, and ending up in Heiligenblut.

Sights and Activities

Kaprun Dams & Reservoirs

In the mountains above Kaprun lies one of the greatest engineering projects in Austria. The Tauernkrafwerke is a powerplant that uses two giant lakes and it's water to produce electricity. From Kaprun busses and a giant platform that's crawling up the mountain (and again busses) take you to the dams. The ride alone is a scenic one.

Hiking

The best way to see a lot of the mountains is to go hiking. Be prepared for the possible change in the weather, that can occur in the mountains. A large part of the Hohe Tauern mountain range, is national park, which means that it is closed for traffic.

Skiing

The ski region of Zell am See/Kaprun is a popular one. It has around 77 kilometres of slopes. The two main areas are at the Schmittenhöhe, for which you can take a lift in Zell am See, and the Glaciers at the Kitzsteinhorn at 3,000 metres. This is where you can even ski in the summer. This is also the place where the Austrian Alpine team trains in summer.

The Lake

As Zell am See is located on the Zellersee (See means Lake in German) there is the possibility in summer to go swimming, and to do some other watersports, like surfing and water-skiing. For the people that want to sit back and relax, there are tours with a couple of boats over the lake. During the summer holidays, there is a weekly firework display on the lake, that can be watched from the shore.

Events and Festivals

Getting There

By Plane

Although Zell am See has a small airport, no commercial flights are landing in Zell am See. The nearest airport is Salzburg Airport named W.A. Mozart Airport.

By Train

Zell am See has connections to Salzburg and Krimml in the Salzach valley. There is also a connection to Saalfelden, just north of the town, and beyond to Kitzbühel and Innsbruck. Check the website of ÖBB (Österreiche Bundesbahn) for more information and timetables.

By Car

Zell am See lies on a crossroad in the alps. The B168 that comes from Krimml and Mittersill, ends up in Zell am See. The B311 that comes from Saalfelden, continues it way in the Salzach Valley, until it changes name, and becomes a motorway (the A10, that lead to Salzburg. To the south lies the starting point of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, that leads to Heiligenblut and Lienz.

By Bus

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

For more information, it is best to check the Austrian Postal Service. They have more information about posting letters, postcards and packages to places both in Austria and to other countries in Europe and intercontinental destinations. The standard price for sending domestic letters/postcards is €0.55. Within Europe the price is €0.65, other places in the world are €0.90 to €1.40 for standard letters and postcards. Post offices typically are open between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday, though the main ones are sometimes open a few hours longer and on Saturdays (sometimes only mornings) as well.