Where to stay in Zell am See
In the lakeside town everything is on foot and the Schmittenhöhe cable car is close; in Kaprun you're closer to the glacier but further from the lake.
- For the lake and town
- Zell am See
- For the glacier
- Kaprun
- Hostel
- €46.10 for a dorm bed
Zell am See splits into two bases; the lakeside town, where everything is on foot, and Kaprun, twenty minutes' drive closer to the glacier.
The lakeside town
The promenade along the Zeller See, the old church and the jetty sit within the same circle as most of the hostels and hotels, and the Schmittenhöhe cable car starts here without extra transport. For a stay of one or two nights, this is the base with the least riding around.
Kaprun
Twenty minutes' drive from Zell am See, closer to the Kitzsteinhorn and the Kaprun reservoirs. Fewer places to stay than in town, but a shorter morning run to the glacier; it makes sense when skiing or the glacier is the main reason for the trip.
Before booking a room here
- The price is the same in both places. €46.10 for a dorm bed and €60–110 per person for a three-star hotel apply to both Zell am See and Kaprun; the difference is only the distance to the glacier.
- Distance to the cable car matters more than distance to the centre of the village. In both places what matters is the walk to the nearest lift station, since that's where the morning actually starts.
- Ask for the Gästemobilitätskarte at check-in. Guests staying overnight in the Pinzgau region get free public transport between Zell am See and Kaprun with it.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Which base is better for one night?
The lakeside town — everything is on foot, including the Schmittenhöhe cable car.
Is a car needed for Kaprun?
Not necessarily — a bus also runs there, and guests staying overnight in the region get transport covered by the Gästemobilitätskarte.
How much is a bed?
€46.10 for a dorm bed, €60–110 for a three-star hotel per person — the same in both places.
Ready for Zell am See?
Where to next
What to eat in Zell am See
→Pinzgau cooking keeps beef in three forms, and char from alpine waters sits on the menu as the local fish.
Kitzbühel · 34 km
→A medieval town known for one ski run in January
How well does Zell am See suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Front row for the next trip
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