Zeller See

The Zeller See is the lake at the center of Zell am See in the Salzburg Alps, and it is the reason the town works as a year-round destination. In summer the water reaches 24 degrees, the Esplanade promenade connects the medieval town center to the public Strandbad, and boat cruises run from the center pier with views of the surrounding peaks in every direction. In winter the frozen lake views and the Schmittenhöhe ski mountain above the town provide a different kind of appeal entirely. Zell am See is 1.5 hours by direct train from Salzburg on the Salzburg-Lienz line. The nearby Kaprun glacier adds year-round skiing to the area’s offer, and the Krimml Waterfalls are 40 minutes further up the valley. The combination of lake, ski mountain, and glacier within a 40-kilometer radius is what makes this one of the better dual-season bases in the Salzburg Alps.