Key facts at a glance
Cable cars reach 2,000 and 3,000 metres with no walking required, and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier has snow to play in all summer at the ICE ARENA. The lake offers boat trips and licence-free electric boats, the Maiskogel has an alpine coaster, and TAUERN SPA Kaprun works in any weather. Dress warmly for the glacier and go up in the morning.
In short: You do not need to hike to enjoy Zell am See-Kaprun. Cable cars carry you to 2,000 and 3,000 metres with no walking required, there is snow to play in at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn all summer, the lake has boat trips and rental boats, and the thermal spa in Kaprun works whatever the weather. This guide covers what is realistic with children, elderly relatives or anyone who simply does not want to walk uphill.
Snow in summer at the Kitzsteinhorn
This is the single most popular excursion among Gulf visitors, and with good reason. The Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun is a glacier, so there is snow at the top throughout the year, including in the middle of August.
The journey is by cable car in stages and involves no walking beyond moving between the lifts. At the top the Gipfelwelt 3000 gives you viewing platforms, a panorama restaurant, a tunnel through the mountain and views across the Hohe Tauern national park, including Austria’s highest peak. It is designed to be accessible rather than sporty, so it works for grandparents and for young children.
The part children remember is the ICE ARENA, a snow play area at altitude where you can have a snowball fight and slide in the snow in summer clothing weather. For families arriving from a Gulf summer, an hour in the snow is often the highlight of the entire holiday.
Two warnings, and they matter. First, dress properly: at 3,000 metres it can be near freezing and windy when it is in the low twenties by the lake, so warm jackets, long trousers and closed shoes for everyone including the children. Second, altitude affects people. Going from near sea level to 3,000 metres in a short time can cause headaches, breathlessness and tiredness, particularly in older visitors and anyone with heart or lung conditions. Take it slowly at the top, drink water, and come down if anyone feels unwell.
Check current opening times and conditions before you set out, since the lifts close in high wind and thunderstorms.
The Schmittenhöhe
The mountain directly above Zell am See is gentler than the glacier and easier to reach, rising to around 2,000 metres. Several cable cars run up from different points around the town, so you can go up one side and down another.
The Schmittenhöhe has been recognised among Austria’s best summer mountain cableways since 2005, an award based on a long list of quality criteria including family suitability. The appeal at the top is the panorama over the lake and the surrounding peaks, restaurants with terraces, and easy level paths rather than demanding trails. You can go up, have lunch with a view, and come back down without walking any distance at all.
It is noticeably cooler than the town, typically by around 12 degrees, but it is not the serious cold of the glacier. A jacket is enough.
The lake without effort
The Zeller See is the easiest attraction in the region, because it is right there in the middle of town and requires nothing of you.
Excursion boats operate from spring to autumn and call at landing stages around the lake. The fleet includes the MS Schmittenhöhe, built in 2005 and carrying up to 250 passengers, alongside other vessels including a historic nostalgia boat. Round trips are the standard option, and there are sunset and themed cruises through the season. A lake circuit takes a manageable amount of time, everyone stays seated, and the views are the best in the region at water level.
If you would rather be in charge of the boat, electric boats for up to four people and pedal boats are available for hire on the lake. Electric boats need no licence and no experience, and they are a genuinely good option with children.
The lakeside promenade itself is flat, paved and pushchair-friendly, and it is the most pleasant walk in the area precisely because there is no climbing involved.
TAUERN SPA Kaprun
The thermal spa in Kaprun is the reliable answer to a wet afternoon and one of the largest wellness complexes in the Alps, covering around 20,000 square metres.
It is built around twelve pools connecting indoor and outdoor areas, including a sports pool, a brine pool and a substantial outdoor section with mountain views. There are dedicated family areas as well as adult-only sauna zones, so it works for a mixed group.
One point that Muslim families should know in advance: Austrian and German-speaking spa culture treats sauna areas as textile-free, and this is normal and widespread rather than exceptional. The swimming pool areas are ordinary swimwear areas and are not affected. If this matters to your family, stay in the pool zones rather than the sauna world, and check the current arrangements when you arrive, as some facilities run separate or textile-required sessions at particular times.
Alpine coaster and the family mountain
The Maiskogel above Kaprun is the designated family mountain of the area and is more relaxed than either of the big peaks. Its main draw for children is the Maisi Flitzer, an alpine coaster that runs down the mountainside on rails with you controlling the speed. It is a ride rather than a sport and needs no skill or fitness.
The Maiskogel is also connected into the wider lift network towards the Kitzsteinhorn, which means you can combine a family morning here with the glacier without driving between them.
When it rains
Rain is a normal part of an Alpine summer, so it is worth having options that do not depend on the sky. The thermal spa is the obvious one and can absorb an entire day.
Beyond that, the region has a reasonable range of indoor options, and a wet afternoon is also the right time for the things people otherwise postpone: the cafés around the Stadtplatz, the shops in the centre, or simply a long lunch. We have a separate guide covering indoor activities in more detail.
Remember that Austrian shops close on Sundays, so a wet Sunday needs a different plan from a wet Tuesday. Restaurants, cable cars, boats and the spa all operate normally on Sundays.
Practical notes for families
- Mornings are better than afternoons for anything on a mountain, because cloud builds through the day and thunderstorms are common later on.
- Take warm layers for the mountain even on a hot day, and pack them for children rather than assuming they will cope.
- Ultraviolet radiation is much stronger at altitude and snow reflects it, so sunscreen matters on the glacier even when it feels cold.
- Pushchairs are fine on the lakeside promenade and in the town, and generally manageable at the cable car top stations, but check individual lifts if this is essential.
- Many attractions offer family tickets, and multi-day or regional cards can be worthwhile if you are staying a week and plan several excursions.
- Bring water. Altitude and dry mountain air dehydrate people faster than they expect.
Related guides
- Indoor activities in Zell am See-Kaprun
- TAUERN SPA Kaprun — the thermal spa in detail
- Boat trips on Lake Zell
- Summer weather in Zell am See — what to pack for the glacier
- Halal food in Zell am See-Kaprun
Written in August 2026. Opening times, lift operation and facility arrangements change seasonally and at short notice in mountain weather. Please check the operators’ current information before planning a day around any single attraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there snow in Zell am See in summer?
Yes, on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun, which has snow year-round including in August. The ICE ARENA is a snow play area at altitude where children can have a snowball fight and slide in the snow. The journey is by cable car and requires no walking beyond moving between the lifts.
Can you go up the mountains without hiking?
Yes. Cable cars run to the Schmittenhöhe at around 2,000 metres and to the Gipfelwelt 3000 on the Kitzsteinhorn at around 3,000 metres, both with viewing platforms and restaurants at the top and level paths rather than demanding trails. You can go up, eat with a view and come back down without walking any distance.
How cold is it on the glacier in August?
Near freezing and often windy, even when it is in the low twenties Celsius by the lake, because temperature falls about 6 degrees per 1,000 metres. Take warm jackets, long trousers and closed shoes for everyone including children. Altitude can also cause headaches and breathlessness, so take it slowly and drink water.
What can families do on the lake?
Excursion boats run from spring to autumn with round trips, sunset and themed cruises, calling at landing stages around the lake. Electric boats for up to four people need no licence or experience and work well with children, and pedal boats are also available. The lakeside promenade is flat and pushchair-friendly.
Is TAUERN SPA Kaprun suitable for Muslim families?
The pool areas are ordinary swimwear areas and cover twelve pools across indoor and outdoor sections with dedicated family zones. Note that Austrian and German-speaking spa culture treats sauna areas as textile-free, which is normal here rather than exceptional, so families who prefer to avoid that should stay in the pool zones and check current arrangements on arrival.
