The cities of Zell am See and Kaprun in Austria are the ideal base for a winter or summer vacation. Discover all the fun things to do in the area.
Zell am See town
Zell am See is located next to a large lake that lends itself perfectly to all kinds of water sports activities. In winter, this town is a perfect base for skiing in the area, for example on the Kitzsteinhorn.
Zell am See is a bustling town in high season, but blissfully – ghostlike – quiet in low season. There are clothing stores, interesting restaurants and cafes, and stores with local delicacies in abundance. Most of the stores were closed during my October 2020 visit, with the exception of the establishments on Seegasse. But just from my visit in the off-season, I got the impression that this town is fun to hang out in after a day of skiing or hiking.
On Seegasse, I can recommend Feinkost Lumpi, a store selling local delicacies; it is the perfect place to hunt for souvenirs. On the same street, you will find many cafes and restaurants.
Kaprun town
I’ve included the town of Kaprun for the sake of completeness, but I wouldn’t recommend spending too much time in the town itself unless your hotel is there. When it comes to the availability of stores and restaurants, Zell am See is a more interesting town.
However, the Kitzsteinhorn ski area is easiest to reach from Kaprun. If the main purpose of your trip is skiing, a hotel or cabin near Kaprun will get you to the ski slopes the fastest.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the highest surfaced mountain pass in Austria: a zigzagging road with amazing views. Go on a road trip and see the beautiful alpine landscape from the car and the many viewpoints, such as the Edelweißspitze and the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.
Sigmund Thun Klamm
Follow the path of stairs that lead you through the Sigmund Thun Klamm; a naturally shaped gorge with water that flows beautifully.
Stausee
Drive past the Kitzsteinhorn valley station towards Bergrestaurant Mooserboden, a restaurant located next to the alpine lake Stausee Mooserboden. In this area you can go for a walk, hike the herb trail and have a meal in the restaurant.
The Stausee can only be visited during the summer season (until mid-October). Do pay attention to the interactive information board on the 168 road near Kaprun to see if the road to the Stausee is open. If there is an avalanche warning, you cannot visit the lake. If the road is open, you can park at Kaprun Stauseen Parkhaus and take the shuttle bus from there.
Kitzsteinhorn & Gipfelwelt 3000
For the ski enthusiasts among you: on the Kitzsteinhorn you can often ski as early as October. If you visit the Kitzsteinhorn in summer, you can take the glacier jets to the panorama platform Gipfelwelt 3000. From the ‘Top of Salzburg’ you have a great view of the alps.
Bad Gastein
Are you looking for a relaxing day? Then head to Bad Gastein, an area full of wellness resorts. Spend your day relaxing in the saunas and thermal baths surrounded by the alps.
Filzmoos
A trip to Austria wouldn’t be complete without a hike (or drive) to a mountain hut and a hearty meal. Look no further: the Oberhofalm near Filzmoos is a perfect example of a mountain hut. Either park your car in the valley and hike to the mountain hut, or pay a small fee for the toll road and park in front of the restaurant.
To be fair, Filzmoos is not close to Zell am See at all (more than an hour’s drive), but since I had lunch at the Oberhofalm on my way to Zell am See – coming from the Altaussee area – it could be that you are driving through this village as well.
Lienz
If the weather isn’t great around Zell am See and Kaprun, head to Lienz, a town south of the Grossglockner mountain. Lienz is a city with great weather and a colorful city center. From Kaprun, it is about an hour and a half drive to Lienz, either through the Felbertauern Tunnel or by crossing the Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße (closer to two hours).
How to get to Zell am See and Kaprun?
Zell am See and Kaprun are at an hour and a half drive south of Salzburg and two hours east of Innsbruck. So it’s quite a drive to get there, but it’s a great location for exploring the Hohe Tauern National Park (including the Grossglockner and Kitzsteinhorn).
