Zell am See travel guide: the lake, the Schmittenhöhe and the old town
Zell am See is a lakeside town in the Pinzgau valley of SalzburgerLand, with the Schmittenhöhe mountain rising behind the old town and Lake Zell in front of it.
Families come for the combination of a swimmable alpine lake, an easy town centre with cafés and shops, and a mountain that is reachable by cable car straight from town. In summer the lake lidos, boat trips and the lakeside promenade fill the day. In winter the Schmittenhöhe ski area is on the doorstep, and Kaprun's Kitzsteinhorn glacier is a short drive away.
Our Zell am See chalets suit larger families and groups who want space: four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a living room, with a sauna and a balcony or terrace. Staying here puts you within easy reach of Kaprun, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and day trips to Salzburg city.
Approximate driving times from Zell am See.
Where you can stay in Zell am See
Family Chalet in Zell am See
10 guests · 4 BR · 4 BA · ≈150 m²A spacious four-bedroom chalet in Zell am See for families and groups of up to 10 who want privacy and room to spread out, close to the lake and the Schmittenhöhe.
Luxury Chalet in Zell am See
10 guests · 4 BR · 4 BA · ≈150 m²Our most refined Zell am See option: a four-bedroom luxury chalet of about 150 m² for up to 10 guests, suited to long family stays and winter holidays.
What to do in Zell am See
Summer
Swimming at the Lake Zell lidos, boat trips, the Schmittenhöhe by cable car, hiking and cycling around the lake.
Winter
Skiing on the Schmittenhöhe, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier in nearby Kaprun, winter walks along the lakeshore.
Rain day
Tauern Spa Kaprun thermal baths, the town centre's cafés, or a day in Salzburg city.
Staying in Zell am See
Is Zell am See good for families?
Yes. The lake lidos, the flat lakeside promenade and cable-car access to the Schmittenhöhe make it one of the easiest alpine towns for children. Our Zell am See chalets sleep up to 10 guests with four bathrooms.
Is it better to stay in Zell am See or Kaprun?
Choose Zell am See if you want the lake and a town centre on foot. Choose Kaprun if your plans centre on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and mountain activities. The two are about 15 minutes apart by car, so either works as a base for both.
When is the Zell am See–Kaprun Summer Card valid?
The Summer Card runs from 15 May to 31 October and is issued by partner accommodation in the region. We confirm which benefits come with your booking in your written quote.
Planning your trip to Zell am See
We have two four-bedroom chalets in Zell am See, each for up to ten guests: the Family Chalet and the Luxury Chalet. Both have four bathrooms and a sauna, so a large family or two families travelling together can share one house. If your group is smaller, or you want more choice of dates, our Kaprun properties are 15 minutes away.
Getting there
Salzburg airport is roughly an hour and a quarter by car, and Munich around two and a half hours. Zell am See has a railway station on the main line between Salzburg and Innsbruck, close to the lake and the old town. A car is useful for day trips with a large group.
When to come
Summer is the peak season for families: swimming at the Lake Zell lidos, boat trips, the Schmittenhöhe cable car straight from town and day trips on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. In winter the Schmittenhöhe ski area is on the doorstep and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun is a short drive away. Advent and the shoulder seasons are quieter.
Who Zell am See suits
- Families and groups of up to ten guests
- Two families sharing one chalet with private bathrooms
- Guests who want the lake and the town centre close by
- Skiers who want the Schmittenhöhe and the Kitzsteinhorn within reach
How booking works
Send your arrival date, number of nights and number of guests on WhatsApp. We reply with what is free, the full price including final cleaning and local tourist tax, and the terms, before you commit. There is no online checkout: every booking is confirmed in writing first. Each property has its own page with a full photo gallery, or you can compare all our stays side by side.
Check dates in Zell am See
Send your arrival date, nights and group size. We reply with availability and the full price.