Key facts at a glance
The finest sights in Zell am See include the Zeller See with its lakeside promenade, the historic old town with the St. Hippolyt church, the Schmittenhöhe and the nearby Kitzsteinhorn. Most highlights sit close together and are easy to reach on foot or by mountain cableway.
| Destination | Altitude / location | Summer Card |
|---|---|---|
| Zeller See | Town centre | No ticket needed |
| Schmittenhöhe | 1 965 m | Included |
| Old town of Zell am See | Town centre | No ticket needed |
| Pinzgauer Lokalbahn | Zell am See – Krimml | Not listed |
| Hochgebirgsstauseen Kaprun | ~2 000 m | Included |
| Kitzsteinhorn | 3 029 m | Included |
| Maisi Flitzer | Maiskogel, Kaprun | Not listed |
| Lakeside promenade | Zeller See | No ticket needed |
| Museum Vogtturm | Town centre | Included |
| MS Schmittenhöhe | ~45 min | Included |
Part of our complete guide: Zell am See–Kaprun: The Complete Travel Guide
Zell am See packs a wide range of sights into a small area – from the Zeller See and the surrounding mountains to the historic old town. These ten destinations are the highlights of any visit to the region. Four of them lie in the town centre and are linked to one another on foot; the mountains you reach by cable car.
Zeller See – the lake in the middle of town
The Zeller See sits at 750 m above sea level, which puts it right in the centre of town. In summer it is the hub for swimming, boating and stand-up paddling: the water reaches up to 23 degrees, and alongside the three lidos there are free bathing spots along the shore. In cold winters the lake partly freezes over. You need no ticket for the lake itself – only the lidos charge admission.
More on this: Swimming in the Zeller See.
Schmittenhöhe – the local mountain with the panoramic view
The Schmittenhöhe is Zell am See’s local mountain and rises to 1.965 m. From the summit the panorama takes in more than 30 peaks. In winter the ski slopes lie directly above the town; in summer the mountain is a starting point for hikes and one of the best-known paragliding launch sites in the region. You get up there with the Schmittenhöhebahn and the other Schmitten cableways.
More on this: Schmittenhöhe Zell am See.
The old town of Zell am See
The historic centre, with the parish church of St. Hippolyt and the lanes around the main square, is the part of Zell am See you need to plan nothing at all for: it lies between the railway station, the lakeshore and the promenade, and you can take it in on a stroll. The old town costs no admission, and most of the town’s restaurants and shops are in the same quarter.
More on this: The old town of Zell am See and where to eat best in Zell am See.
Pinzgauer Lokalbahn
This historic narrow-gauge railway runs from Zell am See through the Salzach valley all the way to Krimml. That makes it less a viewpoint than a sight that moves you: the ride itself is the point, and at the end of the line you pick up the connection towards the Krimml Waterfalls. The Lokalbahn is not on the Summer Card’s list of inclusions – here you pay the regular fare.
Kaprun high mountain reservoirs
The Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden reservoirs lie at around 2.000 metres above Kaprun and are a destination in two senses, technical and scenic: dam walls high in the mountains, turquoise water behind them and the glaciers of the Hohe Tauern beyond. You get there via the Kaprun high mountain road. The visit is included with the Summer Card.
More on this: Kaprun high mountain reservoirs.
Kitzsteinhorn – glacier and Top of Salzburg
The Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun is the only year-round glacier ski area in the province of Salzburg. The “Top of Salzburg” viewing platform at 3.029 metres gives a wide view across the Hohe Tauern; added to that are the Gipfelwelt 3000 with its tunnel through the mountain and the National Park Gallery. Because the glacier holds snow even at the height of summer, this is the destination for a cool day – take warm clothing.
More on this: Kitzsteinhorn and Gipfelwelt 3000.
Maisi Flitzer in Kaprun
The Maisi Flitzer at the Maiskogel valley station in Kaprun is an alpine coaster open all year round: 1.300 metres of track, up to 40 km/h, with curves, bridges and spirals. It is one of the few destinations on this list that also works in mixed weather, and it is not on the Summer Card’s list of inclusions.
More on this: Maisi Flitzer and Zell am See-Kaprun with children.
The lakeside promenade on the Zeller See
The shore path along the Zeller See, past the Grandhotel, is the easiest walk on this list: level, right at the water’s edge and with the mountain panorama on the far side of the lake. It connects the old town with the lakeshore and the bathing spots and is walkable in every season – in winter with a view over the partly frozen surface.
Vogtturm town museum
Inside the medieval Vogtturm in the middle of the town centre, the museum traces the history of Zell am See – from the origins of the settlement to its development into a tourist town. The tower itself is one of the oldest buildings in town and stands a few steps from the parish church. Admission is included with the Summer Card, and it is an obvious destination for a rainy day.
More on this: The old town of Zell am See.
Boat trips on the Zeller See
Round trips with the boats of the Zeller Seeschifffahrt show the town and the mountains from the water – the perspective you cannot get from the shore. The panoramic trip takes around 45 minutes. With the Summer Card, one trip per day on the MS Schmittenhöhe is included.
More on this: Boat trips on the Zeller See.
All the sights on the map
If you want to place the destinations geographically, you will find them on the virtual summer tour: a 3D map of the region with ten stops, from the Zeller See via the old town and the Schmittenhöhe to the Kitzsteinhorn and the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It shows clearly what lies in the town centre, what belongs to Kaprun and what you should set aside a whole day for.
Sights in summer, autumn and winter
Four destinations are open all year and weather-independent enough for any travel date: the old town, the lakeside promenade, the Vogtturm museum and the Maisi Flitzer. The cableways on the Schmittenhöhe and the Kitzsteinhorn have their own summer and winter seasons, running from spring into November – the current dates are in the fact boxes above. The boat trips and the high mountain reservoirs are summer destinations.
In summer swimming, boat trips and the reservoirs are added; in autumn the long-range visibility and the end of the season are the argument; in winter the old town, the promenade and the two mountains remain, with the Kitzsteinhorn the only destination that carries snow all year.
More on this: Summer in Zell am See & Kaprun, Zell am See in October, Zell am See in winter and Zell am See in the rain.
Sights around Zell am See
Some of the region’s best-known destinations lie not in Zell am See itself but in neighbouring Kaprun: the Kitzsteinhorn, the high mountain reservoirs, the Maisi Flitzer and the Sigmund-Thun-Klamm, a 320-metre water gorge with wooden walkways. Further south the Grossglockner High Alpine Road begins, which can be driven as a day trip from Zell am See. To the west the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn runs into the Oberpinzgau as far as Krimml.
Many of the destinations in town lie close together and combine well on foot or with the region’s public transport. For the destinations in Kaprun and beyond, it is best to set aside half a day to a full day each.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main attractions in Zell am See?
The ten best known are the Zeller See lake, the Schmittenhöhe, the old town with the parish church of St. Hippolyt, the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn railway, the Kaprun high mountain reservoirs, the Kitzsteinhorn with the Top of Salzburg platform, the Maisi Flitzer alpine coaster at the Maiskogel, the lakeside promenade, the Vogtturm museum and the boat trips on the Zeller See.
Which attractions are included with the Summer Card?
Per the operator's list of inclusions: the Schmittenhöhe (Schmittenhöhebahn and trassXpress), the Kitzsteinhorn (Gipfelbahn and Gletscherjet 3+4), the Kaprun high mountain reservoirs, the Vogtturm museum and one boat trip per day on the MS Schmittenhöhe. The old town and the lakeside promenade need no ticket anyway. The Pinzgauer Lokalbahn and the Maisi Flitzer are not on the list.
How high are the Schmittenhöhe and the Kitzsteinhorn?
The Schmittenhöhe stands at 1 965 m. The Kitzsteinhorn is considerably higher: the Top of Salzburg viewing platform is at 3 029 m. The Kaprun high mountain reservoirs sit between them at around 2 000 m.
Which attractions can you reach on foot?
The Zeller See, the old town, the lakeside promenade and the Vogtturm museum are all in the town centre and connect on foot. The Schmittenhöhe, the Kitzsteinhorn and the high mountain reservoirs are reached by cable car or via the Kaprun high alpine road.
