Hi everybody and welcome to Zell am See.
Today I’m taking you on a travel walking tour through this popular tourist destination in the Austrian state of Salzburg and the Kitzbühel Alps.
Zell am See is located approximately 100 km (62 mi) east of Innsbruck.
Zell am See sits at an elevation of 750m (2,460 ft) and has a population of about 9,900.
It is located on the western shore of Lake Zell, or Zeller See, a beautiful mountain lake which is 68-meters (223 ft) deep.
The mountains of the area form a horseshoe shape.
The slopes are mainly forested or covered with Alpine pastures.
At an elevation of 1,965 m (6,447 ft), the Schmittenhöhe is the mountain that defines the backdrop of Zell am See.
The Schmittenhöhe is a popular centre for skiing and winter sports but is also a much appreciated hiking destination in the summer months.
The town itself is typically Austrian in appearance with half timbered buildings many with painted wall frescos.
The small town center is cozy, clean, friendly and offers lots of cafes and restaurants.
All roads seem to lead to the lake and the lakeside promenade is a must-see.
What can you do in Zell am See in summer?
Well, Zell am See is clearly a great destination for hiking in summer.
You can take fantastic walks around the lake and the views with the backdrop of the mountains are really spectacular.
A multitude of walking paths and easy walking trails offer plenty of variety for scenic walks.
The Grand Hotel Zell am See is a real eye catcher and is situated directly at the shore of Lake Zell.
Can you swim in Zell am See? Most definitely.
Several places and pebble beaches around Lake Zell offer opportunities for a swim directly in the lake.
In addition, the three public swimming pools Zell am See, Thumersbach and Schüttdorf offer a variety of pools, swimming bays, floats, and water slides.
Taking a walking tour through the old town and pedestrian zone of Zell am See is another must-do.
A nice selection of small local shops sells everything from touristy goods to clothing and sports equipment.
The hotels and restaurants are a bit on the pricey side for Austrian standards.
This may be a result of the town’s popularity with tourists visiting from all over the world.
If you have some time, take a panorama boat cruise on Lake Zell and enjoy the beautiful views from the water side.
Boat trips are about Euros 15 per person and thus quite affordable.
If you feel more like getting a bit of exercise, rent one of the pedal boats on the lake.
You can also rent a bike and take a bike tour around Lake Zell.
The advantage there is that the bike paths are all flat with no steep hills to climb.
That makes for comfortable cycling for the whole 7 miles of the lake.
Taking the Schmittenbahn cable car up to Schmittenhoehe and hiking up on the mountain is another activity you can do during the summer.
Alternatively, the Austrian town of Kaprun is only a 10-minute drive away from Zell am See.
There you must visit the Siegfried-Thun Klamm, an impressive mountain gorge with plenty of waterfalls and dramatic views that you can walk through on a wooden pathway.
Check out my separate video on this amazing natural landmark linked in the description below.
How do you get around in Zell am See?
Transport around the area by bus is quite easy with excellent bus and train services within short walking distance of the town center.
Some hotels also offer a summer card free of charge.
This will save you a small fortune as many boat, bus and cable car journeys to tourist attractions are free.
How do you get to Zell am See?
The drive from Salzburg to Zell am See will take you about 1.5 hours by car.
If you are coming by public transport, you can take the train from Salzburg to Zell am See in 1 hour 45 minutes.
If you come as a group, you may also choose to take a large taxi from Salzburg airport.
For €120-€150 one-way, regardless of how many people there are, this can be a cheaper alternative for groups.
Another option is to come from Innsbruck.
The train journey from Innsbruck takes about 2.5 hours and will cost an average of Euros 30.
For the trip by car you will need to factor in about 2 hours.
If you come by car, note that parking is scarce and expensive in and around Zell am See.
Some hotels offer free parking on site but for all others, parking zones in the city center are for free only during the night.
During the day you have to pay or use the short-time zones which only allow for 1/2-hour parking at a time.
Where do you stay in Zell am See?
A large variety of accommodation options are available to travelers and tourist.
They range from high-end hotels to small boutique hotels and hostels.
Private apartments and rooms are also available for rent.
I wish I could say they are cheap but I found the prices on the more expensive side for Austrian standards.
Having said that, they are still cheaper than in Switzerland, for example.
What’s the weather like in Zell am See?
Well, its unfortunately quite unpredictable.
You can be lucky and have blue skies with lots of sun
but since Zell am See is situated in an Alpine mountainous region, it can also get quite cloudy and rainy.
Would I come here again? Absolutely.
If you are in Upper or Central Austria, Zell am See is a must-see destination.
The town is clean and friendly and the lake which is surrounded by mountains makes for a truly spectacular scenery.
I hope you enjoyed this Austria travel video on Zell am See
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Have a great rest of the day!