Fans of ski resorts probably know the name of the town of Zell am See, located in Austria. It is located on the coast of a very beautiful lake, which is its hallmark. The Zell am See ski resort is a great place to have a great time.
Location
The Zell am See ski resort is located on the southwestern lands of Salzburg, on the shores of the lake. The ski season in the town lasts from late December to late March. The resort has schools for training programs of different levels of complexity.
Local slopes are designed for mid-level skiers. In addition, it is worth saying that the Zell am See ski resort is an ideal place for those snowboarders who are just starting to ride. The city even has kindergartens and schools.
How to get to the town?
How to get to the ski resort of Zell am See? The closest international airport to the town is located in Salzburg. You can get from it to the resort by bus in 2-2.5 hours, and by car even faster - in 1.5 hours (the distance from Salzburg is 80 km). Innsbruck Airport (101 km) is located a little further, the road from it takes about an hour by car and 1.5 hours by bus.
But from Munich to get to the resort by train is not very convenient, because you have to make transfers. The train can also be reached from Klagenfurt, Villach, Salzburg. From Vienna Station, it takes 4 hours to get to Zell am See.
A little bit about the resort ...
In the eighteenth century, on the coast of a beautiful lake, monks founded a monastery. Thus began the story of the town of Zell ama See, which now has become an attractive resort. On its territory there are many five-star hotels. The town will appeal to those travelers who are accustomed to luxury and high quality service. Surprisingly beautiful place is part of the "European sports region."
The finest conditions of the Zell am See ski resort allow you to engage in various sports at any time of the year. On its territory you can do sledding and ice skating, tennis, horse riding, squash, bowling, sailing on the ice, flying on a glider.
Advantages and disadvantages of the resort
Experts recommend the ski resort of Zell am See in Austria for people with different levels of training and even for families who have not yet skated. The town has a number of advantages that cannot be kept silent:
- It is located in an incredibly picturesque place. The resort is one of the most beautiful in Austria.
- The region has all the necessary infrastructure.
- The resort offers a glacier ride.
- The region is characterized by a long skiing season. And on the glacier skating is possible throughout the year.
- The resort has an excellent selection of hotels.
With all the advantages of Zell am See, there are some disadvantages:
- In high season, you can see the lines on the main lift.
- For beginners, the ski area may seem difficult.
- The resort is not located as high as we would like. The highest point is at an altitude of two thousand meters.
- The condition of the lower runs is far from always ideal.
Mountain trails
In the resort of Zell am See, you can find tracks of different difficulty levels: from simple training courses to black and red. True connoisseurs will appreciate the impressive elevation reaching 1200 meters. The best time for skiing on the tracks of Zell am See is the period from December to March. Of greatest interest to professionals is skiing on Mount Schittenhöhe, which has black, red and blue tracks. Their quantitative ratio has approximately the same value. Real professionals should try track number 6, which offers stunning views of the valley and mountains. Slopes No. 13 and No. 14 are usually very crowded, so it is better to visit them at the beginning of the day.
Red pistes for mid-range people are located under the Sonnkogelbahn ski lift. The descent leads to the suburb of Zell am See - Schuttdorf. A lot of skiers choose accommodation in this particular town, because living in it is cheaper, and you can find yourself on the mountain much faster, bypassing the queues. Some routes leading to the resort, at the beginning of the season or in low snow periods, may be unpleasant. And sometimes even dangerous. For beginners, experts recommend starting their skiing on Kaprun (glacier), where there are numerous gentle and wide slopes.
Resort Restaurants
According to reviews, the ski resort of Zell am See is one of the best in the lands of Salzburg for real gourmets. On its territory you will find many interesting institutions with excellent cuisine. Among them, it is worth highlighting Salzburgerstube. The chic restaurant is located within the walls of the hotel of the same name. He was awarded many awards, which indicates a high level of the institution. On its menu you can find wonderful Austrian dishes.
No less attractive is the Michelin-starred Mayer's restaurant, which is named after the chef. It is located in a traditional Austrian castle, converted into a hotel. Experts say that the restaurant is among the ten best institutions in Austria. And his chef is known far beyond the borders of the country.
All the best ski resort hotels in Zell am See have excellent restaurants. You can also find good places in Schuttdof. Most of them are Austrian and Italian restaurants. Some of the best are Papa Rudolfo and Antonio. On the streets of the resort you can find many coffee houses and pastry shops that offer hot coffee and delicious desserts at any time of the day. As for night life, it is not too stormy and corresponds to the status of tourists. Among such establishments, the Viva disco and the Classic bar are especially popular.
Not bad things with mountain restaurants. There are also many good places in the ski areas. If you want to enjoy Austrian cuisine, you should visit the Berghotel Schmittenhohe. On sunny days, it is very pleasant to dine on the terrace of the establishment. No less excellent restaurants and cafes are located in the ski area of Kaprun.
Resort with children
Zell am See is a ski resort adapted for families with children. Here, skiing is just one option for a good leisure. But far from the only one. The resort provides everything for a great vacation. The valley offers excellent hiking and cross-country skiing trails. The resort has a wonderful sports complex. Which has a pool, gym and saunas. You can play tennis at Schuttdorf. At the disposal of tourists there are several skating rinks. In addition, everyone has the opportunity to ride horses, sleighs, play curling. And in the castle of Rosenberg there is an art gallery. You can get acquainted with the history of the region in the museum of local lore. By car and train, you can get to Salzburg fast enough to see its wonderful sights.
On the outskirts of Schuttdorf there are winter nurseries and a kindergarten. In ski schools, kids 3-4 years old are accepted for training.
Hotels
In the resort of Zell am See in Austria there is a large selection of hotels, among which there are the best five-star complexes and more budget three-star establishments. If you want to settle in a cozy family pension with a budget price, then you should go in search of housing in Schuttdorf or Kaprun.
Zell am See has three areas in which most of the hotels are located. According to tourists, it is best to settle in one of the institutions in the central part of the resort region, since the main ski lift is located within walking distance. Equally attractive hotels with lake views. Tourists leave good reviews about the ancient institution Grand Zell Am See 4 *. True, not far from the hotel complexes of this region there is a railway, from which noise sometimes emanates.
At the top of Zell am See is the excellent Hotel Schmittenhohebahn. It is very close to the center from it, and the lift in this place is not so overloaded.
You can also pay attention to the hotel Der Waldhof 4 *, which is located in the upper area of the resort. The three-star Seehof 3 * and Gruener Baum 3 *, Neue Post 4 * and Traube 3 * are no less attractive.
Summer resort
The advantage of the resort is that it is interesting at any time of the year. You can ski here even in the summer on a glacier in the town of Kaprun.
Alpine lake is the main feature of summer holidays. Three times a week an excellent light show is arranged over him. In the warm season, lovers of hiking trails gather in the city. The resort has everything you need for a summer vacation.
Tourists reviews
Many tourists who visited Zell am See leave enthusiastic reviews about it. The resort is of interest not only in terms of skiing. On its territory there is a lot of entertainment, thanks to which the vacation becomes unforgettable. Every year, shows are held in the city with the participation of famous groups in honor of the opening and closing of the season. In the center of Ul am See, there are all kinds of shops, cafes and restaurants. One of the local hotels even has a casino.
According to tourists, in winter, the lake is especially attractive. Its frozen surface becomes a real arena for ice skating. Spending time here is very fun and interesting. In addition, the city has an ice palace with an ice rink. For those guests who love spa relaxation, the resort has a center offering all kinds of treatments.
According to vacationers, the resort has a well-developed infrastructure. There are a lot of entertainment and just beautiful places. You can visit Zell am See not only for skiing. No less attractive is the resort for summer outdoor activities.
By mid-summer, the water in the local lake warms up to +22 degrees, so it is quite possible to relax on its coast. In the warm season, music festivals and sporting events are held in the city. In summer, resort life does not freeze for a minute. And local hotels offer a high level of service at very reasonable prices.
Instead of an afterword
According to tourists, the resort is attractive in many ways. Of course, modern ski slopes are its main object. But at the same time, the city allows you to have a great time even for those who are not a fan of skis and snowboards. It is very important that the resort is adapted for families. Here kids can learn the basics of skiing and have a great time with children in nature. Therefore, Zell am See can be visited with the whole family, because here for everyone there is entertainment for everyone. The all-season resort attracts tourists with its stunning natural beauty.