Zell am See Ski Resort

The town, like many settlements in Austria, was originally a way station built by monks on a trade route between north and south. The inhabitants of the area around the Zeller lake took part in the trade themselves – transporting salt and wine in alternate directions.

The construction of the Giselabahn railway in the 19th century provided an impulse for the development of the town as a tourist destination and the first lift was built to the Schmittenhöhe in the early 20th century. Since then, further expansion of the facilities in the mountains around Zell am See has boosted the number of visitors to the area to over 2 million overnight stays per year.

The town is larger than most ski resorts and best comparable to ski towns such as Kitzbühel and Chamonix. The road tunnel under the town has alleviated some traffic problems (as the town is an important transport junction) and the pedestrian centre provides some respite from vehicles.

The skiing can be accessed from the centre of the town, from the suburb of Schüttdorf (a generally cheaper option for those looking for a ski holiday on a budget) and from a cluster of lifts at the base of the Schmittenhöhe itself.

The access to Zell am See is relatively straightforward with vehicle access from Salzburg, Munich and Innsbruck mostly by motorway and then by a variety of local roads. The railway station lies on a direct link between Innsbruck and Salzburg.

The accommodation in Zell am See is located in the central part of the town by the lake, on the road up to the cable cars, or at the base of the lifts in the neighbouring settlement of Schüttdorf.