Day 1: First Taste of Zell am See – Lakes, Walks & Thunderstorms

Our first 24 hours in Zell am See were absolutely brilliant and completely jam-packed.

We started the day with a welcome walk in the village, led by Alex, our local Destination Expert from Inghams. It was the perfect introduction to the area: he explained how the buses and cable cars work, pointed out some lovely local walks and highlighted places of interest to explore later. Zell am See itself is a really pretty town right on the edge of the lake, and with kind weather that morning it looked like a real-life postcard.  Next, we hopped aboard a gentle 45‑minute cruise on the lake. It was a lovely way to see the town and surrounding mountains from the water and really appreciate how dramatic the scenery is.

Lunch was at Villa Crazy Daisy, a lively spot by the lakeside, and it was fab: just what we needed before our afternoon adventure. Fuelled up, we set off on a 7‑mile flat walk around the lake. It started perfectly, with sunshine, reflections on the water and that lovely fresh mountain air.  About three‑quarters of the way round, the heavens opened. Thunder, heavy rain, the lot. We were completely soaked, but it just added to the sense of adventure. We pushed on to the bus station and used our complimentary summer card to jump on the bus back up the hill to the village.  It was a long but fabulous first day of exploring, and by the time we got back to the hotel, I was already a little bit in love with this beautiful area.

Day 2: Gorges, Glaciers & Roller Coasters

Day two was one of those days that completely filled my happy cup. 

We started by taking the bus from Zell am See to the Sigmund Thun Klamm gorge. Walking along the wooden walkways with the water thundering through the rocks beneath us was incredible. The sound and power of it all literally took my breath away in places. It is one of those experiences that photos never quite do justice to.  At the top of the gorge, the atmosphere changes completely. We followed a peaceful loop around the beautiful Klammsee lake, which felt calm and still, a real contrast to the drama and noise of the gorge below.  A big bonus was that all of this was included on the local summer card, so between the buses and the gorge itself, it did not cost us a penny extra. It is such a great way to explore more without worrying about the cost of every little journey or entrance fee.

From there, we headed to the Kitzsteinhorn lifts and took three cable cars up to 3,029 metres. It was noticeably colder at the top and the views were mostly hiding in the cloud, but it still felt very special to be up there in the high mountains surrounded by snow. We even squeezed in a quick game of frisbee in the snow before heading back down.  Back at valley level, the fun was not over. We continued on to Kaprun for a ride on the Maisi Flitzer roller coaster, which whizzes you down the hillside on rails. It was great fun and the perfect way to round off such an active day.

Then it was back to the hotel for a well‑earned rest and a hearty dinner. There is something about being in the mountains that feels amazing: everywhere you look is beautiful and there is such a calming, grounding feeling to it all. I was absolutely loving my Austrian adventure.

Day 3: Schmittenhöhe Views, “Sound of Music” Moments & Zell am See by Night

Our final full day was another corker.

One of the joys of where we were staying was having a cable car right next to the hotel. We simply stepped outside and were on our way up to the top of the Schmittenhöhe. The views from the top were absolutely breathtaking: lake, mountains and green valleys stretching in every direction.  We walked along the panoramic ridge path towards the next cable car and I genuinely could not stop staring at the scenery. It felt like walking through a real‑life postcard. There may also have been a little bit of “Sound of Music” twirling and singing along the way, and I loved every second. It was such a highlight of the trip. We also tried our hand at frisbee golf, which is SO much harder than it looks. There was a lot of laughter and some very questionable throws, but that was all part of the fun.

After a quick lunch back at the hotel, we headed down into the village to visit a couple of hotels with future ski and summer clients in mind. It was really helpful to see them in person and get a feel for locations and facilities.

Our final evening was the perfect way to say goodbye to Zell am See. We started with a drink on the terrace at the Grand Hotel, overlooking the lake as the light softened, then had a fantastic dinner at a local restaurant in the village. We finished the night with the Zell am See light show on the lake, a lovely, atmospheric end to a brilliant few days.

Why Austria Should Be On Your List

In three days I walked almost 75,000 steps, covered over 50 km, took 15 buses, 2 chair lifts, 3 gondolas, 4 cable cars and a boat, plus a toboggan ride and plenty of frisbee time. We climbed over 3,000 metres and saw so much, yet it never felt stressful or rushed.

What I loved most:

• The variety: peaceful lakes, dramatic gorges, high‑alpine viewpoints, fun activities and pretty villages.
• The value: the summer card made getting around and trying new things so easy and cost‑effective.
• The atmosphere: friendly, relaxed and very straightforward without needing a car.
• The year‑round appeal: Zell am See and Kaprun work beautifully as lakes-and-mountains bases in summer and are fantastic for skiing in winter.

It was a wonderful weekend with great people and so many happy memories made. If Austria is not on your list yet, it absolutely should be.

Ready To Plan Your Own Austrian Adventure?

If Zell am See, or the Austrian lakes and mountains are calling your name, I would love to help you plan your own escape. Whether you are dreaming of gentle lakeside strolls, thrilling gorge walks, high‑alpine cable car rides or a mix of summer and winter experiences, I can tailor a trip to suit you.

Get in touch if you would like to chat through ideas and start planning your own lakes‑and‑mountains adventure.