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What can you do in Zell am See during the winter? The answer is pretty simple. Zell am See is one of the cozier winter sports villages in Austria. With about 400 kilometers of slopes, cozy restaurants and bars, and fun winter activities, this is a destination for young and old. Because when the mountains are covered in a thick layer of snow and the sun is shining brightly, the heart of every winter sports enthusiast beats faster. Have you booked a ski vacation to Zell am See or need inspiration for your next trip? These are all our tips for a great winter in Zell am See!
Where is Zell am See and how do you get there?
Zell am See is located in the state of Salzburg in Austria. The cozy village gets its name from its iconic location on Lake Zell. One of the highlights of Zell am See. You can reach Zell am See easily and quickly by flying into Salzburg (find the best deals here), but you can also travel to Zell am See by car. From the middle of the Netherlands it's about a 10-hour drive, this is without stops. Are you interested in a more environmentally conscious option? Then a train trip from the Netherlands is definitely recommended (view all train trips here).
What can you do in the winter in Zell am See?
That you can do winter sports in the Austrian Alps is of course a matter of course during the winter months, but what else can you do during the winter in Zell am See? Find out here!
1. Winter sports in Zell am See
Zell am See is the ultimate winter sports destination for many Dutch people because this region offers many possibilities. From beginner to advanced, there are slopes for every type of winter sportsman. With the ski pass Alpin Card you can ski and snowboard in three areas: Zell am See, Kaprun and Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn (often included when booking through Sunweb or TUI). Added together, you then have a ski area of no less than 400 kilometers!
You can reach Kaprun's glacier, Kitzsteinhorn, from Zell am See with the free ski bus (660). Generally, the snow here is of the best quality and you can enjoy winter sports from October into summer. This is because you are at an altitude of 3,029 meters here.
The ski areas of Zell am See and Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn are connected by gondolas, but free ski buses also run between the areas.
2. Après-ski in Zell am See
If you are in Zell am See during the winter you should definitely spend an afternoon and evening portion on après-ski. This is the partying that skiers, and of course snowboarders, do after a day on the boards. These are our three favorite bars for après-ski in Zell am See:
Schnaps Hans Alm-Bar (On the mountain, so from here you still have to ski down!)
Pinzgauer Diele in Zell am See
Dorfschenke Schüttdorf in Zell am See-South
3. Eating out in Zell am See
Wiener Schnitzel, Tiroler Gröstl, Käsespätzle, Apfelstrudel... These are some typical Austrian dishes to lick your fingers at. For us, a vacation to Austria would not be complete without enjoying one of these dishes. And preferably we order a Franziskaner Weissbier to go with it. They may not be the most culinary delights, but they taste just the same.
Along the slopes you will find several restaurants in the winter months where you can go for a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or a nice lunch, but dinner you do in winter in your hotel, your own apartment or at one of the restaurants in Zell am See. The range of restaurants is varied, so there is something for everyone. These are our two recommendations:
Restaurant Adria - a busy and chaotic Croatian restaurant with a very tasty international menu.
Restaurant zum Hirschen - eating out in a typical Austrian restaurant. A nice place for meat or cheese fondue!
4. Paragliding in Zell am See
You might not expect it, but you can paraglide in Zell am See in winter. It is an activity where your adrenaline shoots up, but which you can enjoy immensely. After all, there is no other activity where you have such a spectacular view of the Alps and, of course, Lake Zell. A well-regarded organization is Falken Air Tandem Paragliding.
5. Take a trip to Kaprun, Saalbach or Hinterglemm
In the vicinity of Zell am See you will find several more cozy villages that you can definitely take a trip to. Take a look at the stores, go for some après-ski or an evening out for dinner.
Thus, we can absolutely recommend a trip to Saalbach for those who want to go tobogganing. Laughter, banter and roar guaranteed! Just keep in mind that this is not possible on Wednesday evenings because you can night ski then and the slopes are not open for tobogganing. Look here for more information about winter activities in Saalbach.
Tips for booking your winter sports trip to Zell am See
As an avid winter sports enthusiast, your heart will no doubt have started beating faster after reading these fun winter tips. So what are you waiting for? Book that winter sports vacation! But before you do, here are some practical tips.
Winter sports are very popular, so the earlier you book the cheaper your trip will be.
Surely the best deals are easily booked with the well-known travel companies TUI and Sunweb. Why is this? Because they often have good agreements with local hotels and apartments. And because their offer often includes a ski pass (and sometimes even transport, for example by train). This offer can be very attractive!
The TUI Ski Express departs from Amsterdam and Utrecht train stations and travels to more than 15 train stations in Austria. View here all TUI Ski Express deals!
Our favorite hotels in Zell am See
Can't find an attractive deal? Or do you prefer to book your winter sports vacation yourself? Of course you can.
Picking your own hotel and traveling by plane or car is just as much fun. Speaking for myself, I don't mind driving to the ski destination at all, it's part of the vacation. On average it takes about 11 hours to get to the Austrian Alps. This is perfectly doable. But are you not comfortable with this? Then it is good to know that Skycanner in winter flies daily to Innsbruck airport, from where you can drive to Gerlos within 1.5 hours. Ideal!
Fine accommodations to stay in Gerlos I find VAYA Zell am See and Hotel Der Waldhof. Both hotels offer comfortable rooms and are ideally located in the city.
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
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