By air
Salzburg (SZG), ~1 h
Europe · Austria
Zell am See, Austria
A lake, a glacier and alpine roads
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September; December to March for skiing
Don't miss
Lake Zell
The Kitzsteinhorn
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The Schmittenhöhe
Things to do
Lake swimming
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier
The Grossglockner road
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Bestzeller · Public domain
What to pack
Layers
A quieter corner
The Krimml Waterfalls
Questions travellers ask
When should I go to Zell am See?
June to September, or December to March for skiing. Bring layers.
What's the draw of Zell am See?
Swimming in Lake Zell, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, the Schmittenhöhe, and a drive on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
Are there waterfalls near Zell am See?
Yes — the Krimml Waterfalls are the hidden gem here.
How far is Zell am See from Salzburg?
About 1 hour from Salzburg (SZG). Once there, try Kasnocken.
About Zell am See
- Lakeside
- Mountains
Where it is
Zell am See is a town in the Austrian state of Salzburg, on the western shore of Lake Zell in the Pinzgau region, with the Schmittenhöhe above it and the glaciers of the Hohe Tauern to the south.
History
Zell grew around a monastic cell founded in the early Middle Ages, which gave the town its name, and for centuries it was a market town under the prince-archbishops of Salzburg. The railway arrived in the 1870s and turned it into a summer resort, and skiing on the Schmittenhöhe and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier made it a year-round destination in the 20th century.
People
Zell am See's people speak German with the dialect of the Pinzgau, and tourism, farming and forestry are the main livelihoods. The region is known for its Pinzgauer cattle and for hearty mountain dishes such as Kasnocken, cheese dumplings with fried onions.
Known for
- Swimming and boating on Lake Zell
- Skiing on the Schmittenhöhe
- The Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun
- The Grossglockner High Alpine Road
- The Krimml Waterfalls
Did you know?
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which begins just south of Zell am See, crosses the Hohe Tauern at about 2,500 m, below Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.