The Skiers' Guide to Zell am See - Kaprun

Excellent slopes on the glacier for all levels. A lot of variety and interest. Guaranteed great snow with a magnificent view on sunny days. Lifts work great. Decent food about from a food stand or restaurant at the viewing station however could do with a few more options as the area does get quite busy. Easy access to resort via bus and parking.

One of the first resorts i went with my family. It was a beautiful experience, well rounded resort with something to do for everyone. The weather was treacherous a few days and we had quite an adventure going down the slopes with children- but we all had a lot of fun! The lift lines were regular waiting time, and they were equipped with top notch equipment and protection from the winds. Would recommend this resort for its beautiful town and great slopes!

Zell is a beautiful lake-side Austrian town. Really pretty and with a great choice of apres bars, restaurants and night life.
Theres lots of options for skiing, to keep it interesting, with easy bus rides to Kaprun and Saalbach.
If the snow isnt great in Zell, nearby Kaprun is snow sure and well worth a visit. You can ski back, almost, to Zell - conditions allowing.
Very friendly, picturesque town that makes it feel like a special holiday.

Awesome resort.

Great snow and lifts.

Highly recommended. Been twice and would happily go again

It was a great resort covering all skiers abilities. Drink and food was also reasonable. And the skiing up on the glacier was extreme good too.

A fab ski resort based around a beautiful little town. Great locker system available to rent at bottom of main ski lift as a number of accommodations are a short walk away. The village has a fantastic vibe with some great apres bars.

The slopes are varied and challenging but perfect for every type of skier. The ski lift is busy but fast and distributes quickly across the mountain. Would potentially be better for a long weekend as a whole week got a little repetitive.

Been to Zell and Kaprun many times - it's a place that just keeps giving. Snow sure on the 3000m glacier at Kaprun, some good runs at the top all be it a bit flat in places, there are a couple of challenging blacks to keep you entertained! It's easy to get between the two areas on the buses, and Zell offers more variety and the possibility to ski down and get to Saalbach too. Have always found both towns big enough to have lots of eating and entertainment options, selection of equipment shops, and it's easy to get to from Salzburg by car or train.

Zell am See has a lot to offer both the family and the hard core skier and snow boarder. The mountain and equipment is partly owned by the Porsche family, who come from Zell, so you can be sure of good piste grooming and high quality lifts. The resort offers a range of skiing from beginner slopes and pistes of increasing difficulty all the way up to the Trass piste home of one of the oldest ski races in the Alps. With a gradient of up to 70% and 1000m descent it will test any skier.
Zell is coupled with Kaprun and Saalabach Hinterglem so there is a huge variety of skiing available. Kaprun has the second highest glacier in Austria so good conditions are always available from October until May.
When the skiing is over there is a huge range of restaurants to suit every price and taste.
Zell is located on an unusually beautiful lake so for the walker and langlaufer there is plenty of opportunity in unusually beautiful surroundings. Finally if you just want to relax the Tauern Spa has top quality facilities, saunas, pools and beauty treatments. You won't be dissaponted.

I spent 2 days skiing the Kaprun area. It was quite crowded and lift queues were mostly quite long. The food self service restaurant has plenty of seating and a good range of food. Generally reasonable value for money.

Great ski resort with plenty for everyone, loads of facilities for couples and families. Busy ski resort with loads of people but plenty of space on the slopes and lots of options for different lifts, even if there is a queue they move quite fast.

Zell is an amazing place that draws me back every year! Access to nearby resorts is included in lift pass. Austrians are friendly and fun and make you very welcome

One of the most comprehensive resorts with a glacier in Kaprun that has a lot more riding days in a season. And a lovely tree covered slopes at zell am see and awesome night slopes with great view of the lake.

Spare ski is meh, but if you have the right crowd you could still have a great time.

Food around town is pretty standard for an Austrian alpine village. Decent, but wont be posting selfies with it.

Ski schools and instructors levels are pretty high. Guaranteed to get some top level instructing by most local ski schools.

Bus to go to either side of the mountain where you can spend a whole day on either.
Went around new year so the apres ski and evenings were amazing, lots of bars along the streets and some on the mountain as well.
Lovely slopes with varieties of challenges.
Good ski park as well.

Zell am See, a picturesque ski resort nestled by Lake Zell, offers an appealing mix of charm and scenery, but its skiing and overall experience leave room for improvement.

Skiing

Zell am Sees ski area is relatively small, and its range of slopes may leave advanced skiers wanting more. The skiing is excellent in the mornings, especially when the slopes are freshly groomed. However, by afternoon, the sun directly hits the main slopes, softening the snow and creating slushy conditions. This, coupled with the increased traffic later in the day, makes for a less enjoyable experience.

A notable downside is the closure of one of the main lifts, reportedly due to a prolonged dispute between the resort and the lift owner. The lack of this lift limits access to certain areas, and the bar/eatery at its toponce a convenient and popular spothas also been shuttered as a result.

That said, the ski school consistently receives praise. Families in particular have found it reliable, with skilled instructors catering well to beginners and kids alike.

Apres-Ski and Nightlife

The apres-ski scene in Zell am See is decent, but it has declined over the years. Crazy Daisys stands out as both the best bar and restaurant in town, offering great atmosphere and reliable food and drinks. However, other options feel limited, and the resort would benefit from more variety and quality in its dining scene.

One of the biggest disappointments is the so-called Irish bar. Once a highlight of Zell am Sees nightlife, it changed ownership a few years ago and was renamed Murraysa name that hardly inspires confidence in its authenticity. Poor staff service and subpar pints have left many feeling let down.

Pricing and Value

Zell am See is expensive, and the experience doesnt always justify the cost. Between the limited skiing, ongoing lift issues, and declining nightlife, the resort feels like its coasting on its reputation rather than improving to match modern expectations.

While Zell am See boasts stunning views, a charming town, and a reliable ski school, it struggles to deliver a standout experience. The skiing conditions vary greatly depending on the time of day, apres-ski is hit or miss, and the resort is overpriced for what it offers. Unless some of these issuesespecially the lift dispute and declining nightlifeare resolved, Zell am See risks losing its appeal to more dynamic and better-value alternatives.

A wide variety of blue and red slopes perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers. All runs have a variety of different terrain and ease of access to lifts make this resort brilliant with easy access and variety of places to eat on the slopes. I had an excellent time and will visit again.

Shuttle buses were excellent. Went in middle of March tricky Spring conditions but still a great resort. Reasonable prices for food and drink too

We stayed in Zell but skied both Zell and Kaprun as it's a short free bus ride away.
Lifts are excellent, well maintained and speedy.
Glacier skiing at Kaprun is really good.
Skiing was always good for us intermediate come advanced skiers with lots of blues and red runs, we don't do black runs so can't comment.
All the restaurants on the slopes serve great food and are well kept and easy to ski in/out of.
Zell town is quite big with lots of good restaurants/cafes and the lake is lovely.
Zell is our go to destination when skiing.

I have been going to Zell am See for over 18 years with my family skiing. It was the place where I first learned to ski as a child and, I would argue, the best resort there is. From it's gentle blue cat walk runs, red slopes down the the village and a few blacks for a challenge, it's the perfect place for any family, no matter your ability. With a range of hotel and board options, you will be spoilt for choice on where you want to say. After skiing, there are many aprè bars and restaurants you can stop off in to relax before heading back to your hotel. On days where you may not be skiing, there are many walking and bike routes around the lake and mountains for all abilities. No matter the time of season, you are almost always guaranteed snow with the kaprun glacier a 30 minute bus journey away. And if it's a wet and snowy day, you could always relax in the Tauner Spa in Kaprun and relax. No matter your ability, Zell am See is the perfect place for a family ski trip, with many ski schools for adults and children.

Stayed in Zell am See for a week in March. The town is stunning and has loads going on. Access to ski areas are really easy. 2 minute walk to the Gondola for Zell am See ski area and busses every 15 minutes for Kaprun and Saalbach. We skied all of these areas with Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn being my favourite. Some fantastic runs including the Black Mamba and some amazing off piste. Great Apres bars on and off the mountain. There were four of us and we all loved this place so much that we've booked again for next year.