Where to Ski at Zell am See

Zell am See Ski Trail Map – Click to Enlarge

Zell am See is a charming alpine resort on beautiful Lake Zell. The skiing at Zell am See has some long well-pitched runs, as much as 4000’ vertical on groomers. The snow quality can be New England like but with Sun Valley-type pitch and long straightforward runs.

Zell am See is now on Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass, along with nearby Kaprun- Kitzsteinhorn, Ski Circus Saalbach, Solden, Hintertux, and Ski Arlberg’s St Anton, Lech, Zurs, Stuben – Austria’s largest ski interconnect. The Epic Pass for just over $1000 a season is also valid at Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans Montana, plus Verbier 4 Vallees in Switzerland, and Les 3 Vallées in France in addition to 3 dozen iconic North American mountain resorts, like Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Beaver Creek, Park City, Breckenridge.

The panoramas as you ski are beautiful as you view the surrounding Alps, Lake Zell at the base and across the valley at Kitzsteinhorn – a dramatic 3000-meter glacial peak just across the valley – which is also part of Zell am See Kaprun, so you can ski there too. Be sure to walk out the Panorama lookout for a photo!

Lunch at Franzl is a highlight at the mountaintop chic chalet, with a table service restaurant inside or out on the huge balcony! There are lots of other huts chalets and restaurants around the mountain of Zell am See.

Lots of modern lifts connect Zell am See’s terrain, and often each high-capacity lift serves just one or two prepared pistes – so the trails and slopes get busy, and often a bit icy by mid-day. With two big ski schools, plus many group lessons out on the slope, Zell am See’s skiing can be crowded on holidays.

Walking the historic town of Zell am See après ski is lovely. Austrian shops, restaurants and bars line the streets and pedestrian squares. Walk down to the Lake and the iconic Grand Hotel – its an elegant old-world hotel on the shore, go here for a drink in the beautiful lounge.

You can’t stay closer to the slopes than the Sport Alpin Hotel. This family-owned second-generation lodge has 30 rooms perfectly situated at the base of the CityXpress lift, literally where everyone takes off their skis at day’s end. The Sporthotel Alpin is full service, complete ski room, adult spa and indoor heated pool with various saunas, even a golf simulator. The Sport Alpin has a lovely living room with a bar, and a view of the slopes, plus their own umbrella bar for lively après ski! A big buffet breakfast is included in a beautiful dining room, and you can walk to town for dinner in the pretty village. See our review of this luxury Austrian ski hotel.

In town dining at Zell am See, you can get great pizza and pasta at Giuseppe’s – their waiters are fun and friendly in this casual pizzeria. I had a wonderful burger at Brasserie Traube, where the menu ranges from Asian stir-fry to more traditional fare. Deins & Meins (translation: yours and mine) is a cool bistro restaurant in the center of the village, specializing in steaks and Austrian far- sausages and such. Yur Ribs is just like it sounds – featuring ribs on the menu – very delicious ribs.

For a small alpine village, Zell am See has lots of happening Après Ski bars, including Castlebar – where the ski instructors go after skiing beers – wear your ski togs as outdoors. Other après ski hangouts are Gruener, Crazy Daisy with live music, The Green Room, and the umbrella bar at Sporthotel Alpin Zell am See.

The Alpin Card Ski region includes: Zell am See plus Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun, and the Saalbach Skicircus, and Rauris across the valley, which you could ski on a Salzburg Austria Ski Safari.

An Epic Pass European ski trip could include Kaprun, Saalbach, Ski Arlberg, Switzerland’s Andermatt-Sedrun, Crans Montana, Verbier 4 Valleys and Les 3 Vallées in France.