SUMMER IN ZELL AM SEE-KAPRUN
The lake is calling. And so are the mountains.
Glaciers, mountains, and a lake—all in a single day—hardly any other region in the Alps can offer that. And you’ll be staying right in the middle of it all, right on the lakefront promenade.
🌊 Lake Zell
Crystal-clear, drinkable water, panoramic mountain views all around, and the lakeside promenade right outside our door. Swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, taking an electric boat out, or hopping on a boat to Thumersbach for a sundowner—your summer day at the lake practically plans itself.
- Beach resorts and swimming spots around the lake
- SUP, boat, and sailboat rentals on the promenade
- Boat Tours on Lake Zell – Boarding Area Within Walking Distance
🥾 Hiking & Peaks
The Schmittenhöhe is your local mountain: Take the mountain railway up, where panoramic trails await with views of more than 30 three-thousand-meter peaks—and head back down on foot or take a leisurely ride on the gondola. Want some more mountain air? The Kitzsteinhorn takes you up to 3,029 meters, even in summer.
🥾 Highlight: The Pinzgau Walk
One of the most beautiful high-altitude trails in the Eastern Alps—and it practically ends right here. You start early with the Schattberg Cable Car in Saalbach and hike all day at an altitude of around 2,000 meters along the Panoramarücken ridge until the Schmittenhöhe cable car takes you back down to Zell am See.
Don't be fooled by the name: This isn't exactly a "stroll," but it's technically easy—and it offers views of the Hohe Tauern, the Kitzsteinhorn, and Lake Zell that you won't soon forget.
- Route: approximately 18 km from Saalbach (Schattberg) to Schmittenhöhe
- Hiking time: about 6 to 6.5 hours, about 650 meters of elevation gain
- Elevation: approximately 2,000 m throughout, highest point around 2,080 m
- Important: There are no shelters along the way—be sure to bring enough food and water.
- Directions: Take bus 680 to Saalbach—free with the Guest Mobility Ticket
💡 Our tip: Start your first ascent early, and you'll have the ridge all to yourself—and in the evening, the Seebar will be waiting for you.
🚴 Biking & Cycling
Take a leisurely ride around the lake, cruise along the Tauern Bike Trail, or head toward Kaprun on an e-bike and let the motor handle the climb. Bike rentals are within walking distance—we’d be happy to help you arrange it.
- Tauern Bike Trail: A leisurely ride along the water—one of Austria’s most popular bike trails
- Around Lake Zell: a flat loop, ideal for families and e-bikes
- Mountain Bike Trails: Countless Routes in the Hohe Tauern National Park
- For Experts: Leogang Bike Park and the legendary trails in Saalbach—accessible by car or bus in about 30 minutes
Bikers Welcome
Your starting point for the region
Zell am See is right in the middle: the Salzach Bike Path is right outside the door, Austria’s largest biking region is just a bus ride away, and glacier trails are in the neighboring valley. Three days are enough to experience the best of it all—without having to change accommodations.
🚆 Register to bring your bike on the Lokalbahn by 2:00 p.m. the day before
🎟️ Free bus ride with the Guest Mobility Ticket
All tours can be taken without changing accommodations
—the train station is within walking distance, and bus 680 goes directly to Saalbach
Cold beer on the lakeside terrace of the Seebar
Motorcyclists Welcome
The 1,000-Kilometer Challenge
Experience 1,000 kilometers of Alpine passes in four days. From the Hochkönig over the Großglockner to Obertauern—back to the same room every evening, a new dream road every morning. Zell am See is located right where the major passes converge.
All four tours are loop routes—no need to pack a suitcase
, Glockner, Gerlos, and Felbertauern are all within easy reach
: Cold beer on the lakeside terrace of the Seebar
🪂 Even More Adventures
- Golf: 36 holes at the Zell am See-Kaprun Golf Club, one of Austria's largest golf courses
- Tandem Paragliding: Zell am See from Above – Launch Sites on the Schmittenhöhe
- Sigmund-Thun Gorge & Kaprun's High-Mountain Reservoirs: A Classic Day Trip for Hot Days
- Recreation Center (5-minute walk): 25-meter lap pool, for when you want a break from the lake
💡 Tip: As a SEEHOF guest, you automatically receive the Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card (May 15–October 31)—which gives you 100% access to many attractions, from the mountain railways to the beach.
: Großglockner High Alpine Road
🏔️ Großglockner High Alpine Road
The most spectacular panoramic road in the Alps starts practically right outside your front door: The climb begins in Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße, just a few kilometers from Zell am See. Over 48 kilometers and 36 hairpin turns, the road takes you through the Hohe Tauern National Park up to 2,504 meters at the Hochtor —past glaciers, marmots, and views you’ll never forget.
At the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2,369 m), you’ll find yourself standing directly across from the Großglockner—Austria’s highest mountain at 3,798 meters—and looking out over the Pasterze, the country’s longest glacier.
- Length: 48 km with 36 hairpin turns, from Bruck to Heiligenblut
- Highest point: Hochtor at 2,504 m
- Season: approximately early May through late October (weather permitting)
- Designation: Listed as a historic landmark since 2015 and an official candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status
- Travel time from Zell am See: The starting point is about 15 minutes away
💦 Krimml Waterfalls
Europe’s largest waterfalls thunder down the valley just under an hour’s drive from us: a 385-meter drop in three massive stages, with 3,750 liters of water per second. A 4-kilometer-long waterfall trail with viewing platforms brings you so close to this natural spectacle that you can feel the spray on your face.
Best of all: The fine mist has been proven to be beneficial to health. A clinical study has shown that the aerosol from the waterfalls can noticeably alleviate symptoms of allergies and allergic asthma.
- Height of drop: 385 m in three stages (145 m / 100 m / 140 m)
- Water flow rate: up to 3,750 liters per second
- Waterfall Trail: 4 km with several viewing platforms
- Location: Hohe Tauern National Park, awarded the European Diploma for Nature Conservation
- Directions: approx. 55 km – or take a leisurely ride on the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn
🚆 Tip: With the Guest Mobility Ticket, you can ride the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn for free all the way to Krimml—without having to worry about finding a parking spot.
: Krimml Waterfalls
: Rafting, Flying Fox, and Tree-Top Trail
🪂 Pure adrenaline
If swimming and hiking are too laid-back for you: The area around Zell am See offers plenty of action—all within a 30-minute drive.
- Rafting on the Saalach: from a leisurely family trip to a thrilling whitewater ride
- Flying Fox XXL in Leogang: 1.6 km across the valley in "Superman" style—at speeds of up to 130 km/h
- Mega Flying Fox in Hinterglemm: 2.5 km of zip lines, up to 120 m above the valley floor
- Hinterglemm Tree Top Walk: Europe’s highest tree top walk—across the “Golden Gate Bridge of the Alps,” 200 meters long and 40 meters high
🧊 Must-See Destinations
Two classics that are great even when the weather is iffy—and both are worth a day trip.
- Eisriesenwelt Werfen: the world’s largest ice cave. Located 42 km deep inside the mountain, with about 1 km accessible to visitors; guided tour lasts approximately 75 minutes. Open from early May through early November.
- Kaprun's High-Mountain Reservoirs: turquoise-blue reservoirs at over 2,000 m, spectacular dams, and panoramic views of the Hohe Tauern—just 20 minutes away.
- Sigmund-Thun Gorge: a roaring gorge on the way to Kaprun—perfect for hot days.
Why Zell am See?
Because there's still something going on here in the evening.
Many mountain towns close their sidewalks at 6 p.m. Not Zell am See. Our pedestrian zone right in the heart of town is unique in the Pinzgau region—restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops right on the lake, all within walking distance of us.
🍻 And after that? Let's wrap up the night at our Seebar.
☀️ Live weather in Zell am See
Ready for your next adventure? Whether you're after bright sunshine for a dip in the lake or fresh powder on the slopes – check the live weather right here at the SEEHOF today.
📅 What's going on in Zell am See?
Bored? Not on our watch. From laid-back sunset concerts right by the lake and traditional weekly markets to top sporting events – find out what's happening during your stay in Zell am See and Kaprun.
Summer. Lake. SEEHOF.
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