The Skiers' Guide to Zell am See - Schmittenhöhe

Zell am See - Schmittenhöhe is a picturesque Alpine resort in the Salzburgerland region of Austria, situated alongside a stunning lake. This charming destination combines a proper Austrian town with varied skiing terrain and excellent connections to nearby ski areas.

Located about three hours from Munich airport by road (and easily accessible by train via Salzburg), Zell am See offers skiers 41 runs spanning across elevations from 760m to 2000m. The resort is complemented by the nearby Kaprun glacier, providing extra skiing options when conditions require.

Our users consistently praise Zell am See, giving it an overall rating of 4.24/5. The resort particularly shines with ratings for family friendliness (4.68/5), accommodation options (4.67/5), and groomed runs (4.50/5).

Richard, an expert skier in our community, calls it "the hidden gem of the Salzburgerland in the Pinzgau, a full on Austrian town with a mountain of ski slopes and a glacier attached."

With 41 runs (20 beginner, 15 intermediate and 6 advanced), Zell am See provides varied terrain for all abilities. The lift system includes 9 gondolas/cable cars, 10 chairlifts and 9 drag lifts, earning strong reviews for lift efficiency (4.47/5).

The ski area scores well for intermediates (4.09/5) and particularly for advanced skiers (4.50/5). Melanie, a beginner skier, summarizes perfectly: "If I had to summarize Zell Am See in one word, I'd say variety. The expansive area has every type of skiing condition you can think of."

The resort's extensive snow cannon network ensures decent coverage on the main slopes, though some users note that conditions can vary during warmer periods. As Esther, an advanced skier, mentions: "Unfortunately not much snow when we went but there was a bus up to the glacier which had much better conditions and a good amount of runs."

For those seeking more terrain, the full ski area pass allows access to Saalbach and Kaprun - Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which provides reliable snow conditions throughout the season.

Snowboarders will be pleased with the resort's layout, as Dom notes: "Hardly any drag lifts/flat tracks so good for boarders." The area earns particularly high marks for snowboarders (4.67/5).

The dining options in Zell am See receive excellent feedback from users, with a strong eating out rating (4.45/5). The mountain restaurants vary from traditional Alpine huts to modern cafés.

Richard explains the range: "Food options on the mountain are plentiful, ranging from the full 4 course champagne lunch in the Berghotel to soup and chocolate stops dotted all over the hill, from modern café's to traditional Berghutte over 150 years old. All good, all reasonable value."

Several users mention the quality of both on-mountain and in-town dining, with Francesca noting: "A lot of restaurant choices up the mountain as well as down in the village." The local Austrian cuisine features prominently, though there's good variety for all tastes.

David was particularly impressed, commenting: "The food and drinks on top of the mountain, along with the views were unmatched. Best I've ever had at a ski resort."

Zell am See offers a good après-ski scene (4.10/5), though it's generally more relaxed than some of the wilder French or Austrian party resorts. The après begins on the mountain and continues in town.

Richard describes the variety: "Après is all over the mountain, from the rowdiness of SchnapsHans at the Berghotel to a few quieter places for a calming coffee and cake, and carries on after hours in the town at Crazy Daisy's, Kellerbars in the many hotels and notorious dive that is the Pinzga'Diele for the late, late people."

Sam adds atmosphere details: "There's a cracking bar/hotel at the top of the slopes that serve Schnapps with fruit soaked inside it. They always have a mental guy wearing a horned ski helmet doing some kind of karaoke. Great entertainment."

For those preferring a more relaxed evening, the town offers plenty of alternatives, with "some cracking spots down in the town with outdoor heating to get a glühwein and warm up afterwards," according to Sam.

Families are particularly well-catered for in Zell am See, with the resort scoring exceptionally high for family friendliness (4.68/5). The ski schools receive excellent reviews, with ski school quality (4.45/5) being a highlight.

Nathan, a beginner skier, shares: "I was a beginner skier and felt so comfortable. My ski instructor was so thorough." Keith adds: "The main ski school is excellent and cheap. I've done private lessons and they're good but the group lessons seem to have better instructors."

Beyond skiing, the town offers numerous activities for families. One user mentions that "there was plenty to do for non skiers including trip to Salzburg, Christmas markets, hiking, eating, foot trip up the mountains, boat trips etc."

The town's leisure centre is another bonus, as Richard points out: "The town leisure centre has a full swimming pool, spa, gym and ice rink that means you can catch an ice hockey match there on the weekend as well after a swim."

Accommodation in Zell am See receives one of its highest ratings, with accommodation options (4.67/5) being a real strength. The town offers everything from luxury lakeside hotels to budget-friendly apartments and B&Bs.

Richard describes the range: "The full on town has everything you would need from 5* hotels on the lake that dominates the views to cute BnB's." Many accommodation options are conveniently located, with some near the main City Express lift for easy slope access.

The town itself is quite spread out around the lake, so it's worth checking accommodation location in relation to the lifts or ski bus routes. However, the efficient public transport system makes getting around straightforward even from properties further from the slopes.

Zell am See - Schmittenhöhe has made some progress in environmental initiatives, particularly focusing on energy efficiency in their snowmaking systems and lift operations. The resort has invested in modern, energy-efficient cable cars and gondolas that reduce power consumption while increasing capacity.

The efficient public transport network, including the ski buses included with the lift pass, helps reduce individual car journeys between the linked resorts. The area has also implemented waste reduction programs and water conservation measures for snowmaking.

The resort's location on Lake Zell adds environmental responsibility, with efforts to protect the lake's ecosystem while allowing it to be part of the winter experience for visitors. However, detailed information about specific sustainability certifications or carbon reduction goals isn't widely publicized.