Part of our complete guide: Zell am See–Kaprun in Winter: Ski Holidays & Winter Magic
If you are planning a winter holiday in the Austrian Alps with little ones, Zell am See-Kaprun is one of the best decisions you can make. That is a bold claim, but having taken our own children here three winters running, we mean every word. The region is genuinely built for families, and when the snow falls and the mountains turn white, something magical happens. Here are the ten activities that have a fixed place in our family winter programme.
1. Beginner ski lessons for children
Best age: 3 to 4 for the very first experiences of snow, 4 to 6 for proper lessons. Most ski schools take children from 3 in the nursery slope area.
The Zell am See-Kaprun region has several excellent ski schools with dedicated children programmes. Lessons usually take place in two-hour morning and afternoon sessions, and most schools offer a full-week ski kindergarten looking after children from 3 to 6 roughly from 9am to 4pm, which, let us be honest, gives parents the rare chance to ski in peace themselves.
Practical tip: book ski lesson places before you travel, especially over Christmas and in the Austrian school holidays. Children places fill quickly. Bring warm spare socks and spare trousers, as small children fall often and get wet fast.
Best starting age: most instructors agree that 4 to 5 is ideal for proper ski lessons. At that age children learn quickly, have no fear yet, and usually overtake their parents on the piste by the third day. More in ski school in Zell am See-Kaprun.
2. Tobogganing and sledging
Best age: all ages. Toddlers love it on a parent lap, children from about 5 can go down gentle runs alone.
If there is one activity that delivers pure happiness regardless of age and ski ability, it is tobogganing. The region has several excellent runs. The toboggan run on the Schmittenhöhe is a favourite: you ride the gondola up and race back down on a hired sledge. The run in Kaprun by the Maiskogel is another great option, laid out specially for families and less steep than you might fear. Hire sledges are available at the start of most runs for a few euros.
Practical tip: put children in waterproof trousers and thick gloves, as the spray of snow is not to be underestimated. Helmets can be hired and are strongly recommended for children going down alone.
3. Ice skating on the town rink
Best age: from 3. Many rinks keep penguin skating aids for small beginners.
The ice rink in Zell am See is central, inexpensive and reliably lovely. When Lake Zell freezes, which happens in colder winters, the whole lake turns into a surreal open-air ice surface and becomes one of those travel memories that lasts a lifetime. Even if the lake does not freeze, the town rink is well maintained and busy with a cheerful, mixed crowd of locals and visitors. Skates can be hired on site.
Practical tip: come late morning midweek if you want more space. Weekends and afternoons can get busy with school groups. Dress warmly, because skating sounds warm while you are moving, but waiting parents get cold very quickly.
4. Snowshoeing for families
Best age: from 5 for proper snowshoe walks; younger children can come in a back carrier.
Snowshoeing is one of those activities that sounds specialist at first but turns out to be entirely accessible and enormously enjoyable. You strap wide frames to your normal winter boots and can suddenly walk across deep snow without sinking in. Guided family snowshoe tours are offered in season, and hire equipment is available across the region. The pace is gentle, the scenery spectacular, and children love the feeling of walking over the snow rather than trudging through it.
Practical tip: take a small rucksack with hot chocolate in a flask, a snack and spare gloves. Even the best waterproof gloves get wet after an hour in deep snow. Guided tours are worth the extra money if you do not know the terrain.
5. Visiting the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, no skiing needed
Best age: from 5. Younger children should be used to gondola rides, as they are enclosed and quiet but it is a long ascent.
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier sits above 3,000 metres and is reachable by gondola from Kaprun without putting on skis. The Ice Arena at the summit is an attraction in itself: an ice cave carved into the glacier with artworks and exhibits inside. Standing on a glacier with your own children and looking out across the Alps in every direction is genuinely one of those moments. Even teenagers who are hard to impress go quiet here.
The glacier also has a snow park where children can play on natural snow in early or late winter when the lower slopes are already bare. The summit restaurant serves excellent food with a view that justifies the gondola ticket on its own.
Practical tip: at 3,000 metres it is considerably colder than in the valley, so take an extra layer even if it seems mild below. Allow at least half a day for the whole experience.
6. Horse-drawn sleigh rides
Best age: all ages. This even works with babies.
There is something about a horse-drawn sleigh that breaks through children scepticism and turns everyone, whatever their age, into a wide-eyed romantic. Traditional sleigh rides can be booked in the Kaprun area through local operators. You snuggle under thick blankets, the horses breathe clouds of steam into the cold air, and the only sounds are the bells on the harness and the crunch of hooves in the snow.
Practical tip: book in advance, especially around Christmas and New Year. Rides usually last 30 to 60 minutes. Dress as though you will be standing still outdoors, because that is exactly what you are doing.
7. TAUERN SPA, for when the cold gets too cold
Best age: all ages. The TAUERN SPA has its own children pools and slides.
The TAUERN SPA in Kaprun is the region great water world and a genuine lifesaver on grey, stormy days when outdoor activities are less tempting. There are indoor and outdoor thermal pools (the outdoor pool with snow-covered mountains all around is as lovely as it sounds), water slides, a children pool with shallow areas and a full spa area for adults who can take a shift in the quiet zone. Children love the slides, parents love the warm water and the fact that somebody else is entertaining the children.
Practical tip: bring your own swimwear, as there is no nude bathing rule here and the area is fully family-friendly. Check opening hours and whether children must be accompanied in certain areas. Weekday mornings are quietest.
8. Christmas markets
Best age: all ages. The younger the child, the more magical the lights and lanterns seem.
If you arrive in late November or December, the Christmas markets in the town of Zell am See are genuinely enchanting rather than merely commercial. The market in the town centre spreads around the old church and offers regional craft stalls, traditional food and that warm, amber-lit atmosphere that makes winter feel like a gift rather than a problem. Children are drawn to the lanterns, the decorated wooden stalls and the smell of roasted chestnuts and cinnamon. The adults are drawn to the mulled wine. Everyone is happy.
Practical tip: an early evening visit, when the lights come on, offers the best atmosphere. Dress warmly and bring cash, as many small market stalls take cash only.
9. Building snowmen and snow playgrounds
Best age: from 2. Honestly, when it snows, a two-year-old needs no more than this.
Not every moment of a family winter holiday has to be organised and ticketed. Some of the finest memories from our trips to Zell am See-Kaprun consisted of nothing more than a safe, flat, snowy area and children let loose with sledges, snowballs and the simple project of building a snowman. Many family areas in the region have their own snow play zones near the ski schools, and even hotel gardens usually offer good access to snow. The Maiskogel in Kaprun is particularly good for this: gentle slopes, plenty of snow and not far to warm food.
Practical tip: pack an extra pair of gloves per child per day. No gloves stay dry or warm after serious snowman building. Wet, cold hands are the most common cause of premature tantrums and end-of-day meltdowns.
10. Cosy lunches in a mountain hut
Best age: all ages. Mountain huts are genuinely family-friendly places.
Austrian hut culture is something you discover with great pleasure alongside children. The huts scattered across the Schmittenhöhe and the Maiskogel serve real, hearty food: Kaiserschmarrn (a torn, caramelised sweet pancake with plum compote that children love without exception), goulash, Pinzgau Kasnocken and hot chocolate that arrives in enormous cups. You sit in a wood-panelled parlour surrounded by other families in ski boots, the children eat more than they do at home, and for an hour the world is simply complete.
Practical tip: huts are busy at lunchtime between noon and 2pm. Come at 11:30 or wait until 2pm to avoid queuing for a table. Many huts are reachable without skis, by gondola or on foot, so non-skiing parents are not excluded.
What to pack for children in winter: a practical checklist
- Two pairs of ski gloves per child, because one is always wet
- Thermal base layers (merino is worth the cost for children who get cold quickly)
- Waterproof snow trousers and jacket, hired or rented if buying for a single trip seems excessive
- A neck tube or balaclava, since hats fall off constantly
- Sun cream with SPF 50, as snow reflection causes serious sunburn even on overcast days
- Lip balm, because the mountain air is very dry
- A small rucksack per child from age 5, since giving children their own bag builds pride and reduces whingeing
- Waterproof bags for wet kit, because getting wet gloves home without soaking everything else needs planning
Keeping small children warm: a few hard-won tips
Small children lose heat far faster than adults and often only notice once they are already thoroughly chilled and miserable. The key is layering: a thermal base layer, a fleece mid layer and a genuinely waterproof outer layer. Hands and feet are where the cold begins, so invest in good socks (ski socks, not football socks) and proper waterproof boots rather than fashionable snow boots. Ski hire shops in the region also rent children ski boots for general snow use if you would rather not bring your own.
Watch for the warning signs: going quiet, stopping playing, or sudden tears for no apparent reason usually mean a child is cold. A warm drink and five minutes indoors usually resets everything.
Ready to plan your family winter holiday?
Zell am See-Kaprun rewards families who arrive well prepared and are willing to vary the activities. Not every day has to be spent on the mountain; the combination of outdoor adventure, warm indoor options and the sheer beauty of the surroundings makes this one of the best family winter destinations in the Alps. Browse our other guides on winter activities without skiing and rainy days with children to round out your planning.
