Austria has some of the cleanest bathing lakes in the Alps, and Lake Zell is one of them. It warms to as much as 23 degrees in summer, lies right in the middle of the town and is freely accessible from all sides. That makes it one of the few Alpine lakes where swimming and a mountain panorama coincide directly.
Water temperature and bathing season
The bathing season on Lake Zell usually runs from June to September. In the height of summer the water reaches temperatures of around 21 to 23 degrees. The lake has drinking-water quality and is monitored regularly.
The three lidos
Three public lidos sit around the lake: Zell am See, Thumersbach and Schuettdorf. All three offer lawns, diving towers and children’s areas. Thumersbach has a particularly gently shelving entry and is therefore well suited to families with small children.
Free bathing spots along the shore
If you prefer somewhere quieter, there are several freely accessible bathing places along the shore with no entrance fee. They are ideal for a spontaneous dip between two other plans.
Swimming and mountains on the same day
The combination is what makes it special: the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn in the morning, the water in the afternoon. Hardly any other Austrian region allows snow and a bathing lake on the same day.
Water sports on the lake
Besides swimming, stand-up paddling, sailing and surfing are all possible, with rental stations directly on the shore. Motorboats are not permitted on Lake Zell, which keeps the water calm. More on this in the article about the lidos on Lake Zell.
