The Zell am See-Kaprun region in Austria is a great winter destination. It offers endless skiing and snowboarding opportunities. However, there are plenty of non-skiing experiences to choose from if you’re not into skiing/snowboarding or just looking for a change of pace.
These alternative winter activities will make you experience the Zell am See-Kaprun area from a different view point. Whether you want to be adventurous or want to slow down and relax. This guide gives you a mix of both.
This site contains product affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links (at no additional cost to you).1. Mountain adventure on the top of Salzburg
The Kitzsteinhorn is a glacier in the High Tauern with an elevation of 3,203 m. It is the trademark of the region. The view from the north side of the lake is especially beautiful with the lake and mountains in the background.
You can take the cable car from Kaprun up to the Kitzsteinhorn. Although many skiers are going up for the slopes it also offers activities for visitors that aren’t keen for the slopes.
Below the summit of the Kitzsteinhorn you will find three ice igloos from mid-January to mid-April. It’s a short hike from the Alpine Center, you can walk or do a short snowshoe hike. One of the igloos has a bar inside, another has a car (the sponsor) and some ice sculptures. It is pretty impressive and definitely worth a visit.
To get further up the mountain you have to take the cable car “Gipfelbahn”. There you find several viewpoints called “Top of Salzburg”. There is even a tunnel inside the mountain that leads to a viewpoint. Very impressive as it takes you to the other side of the mountain with views of the high peaks of the Alps.
Inside the tunnel is information about the natural area and the construction of the cable car and the tunnel. The cost of the cable car, up and down, as well as the viewpoints is € 57,50.
2. Fun non-skiing activity – a toboggan adventure
Tobogganing is a pretty fun winter experience in the Zell am See-Kaprun area. There are plenty of tobogganing opportunities all around.
The longest toboggan run: The Wildkogel Arena Neukirchen & Bramberg is the longest floodlit toboggan run in the world at 14 kilometers. Depending on your speed, it takes between 30 and 50 minutes to get from the start to the finish, with 1,300 vertical meters to conquer. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
You can take the cable car up the mountain at Neukrichen, that’s a 40 min car ride from Kaprun and 1 hour 30 min by bus. To use the toboggan run you need to pay 18 Euros and you are required to wear a ski helmet. If you are traveling by car, the end of the toboggan run is in Bramberg, so you can just take the bus back to your car. Or you can park your car in Bramberg and take the bus to the cable car in Neukirchen.
The Kohlschnait toboggan run is located in Bruck, just 10 minutes from Kaprun. It is a much shorter run with 3 kilometers of lighted track. You can either walk up or call a taxi, which is a tractor, to take you up. For this service you have to pay € 12 and the sled rental is included. The taxi tractor stops at a mountain hut, which is not the start of the track. But you can start from there or walk a little further up. At the chalet you can stop for a bite to eat or a drink.
Just outside the lodge is a free snow tubing slope. This is a lot of fun and the highlight of the sled run.
The Jufen toboggan run in Maria Alm, 20 kilometers from Zell am See. Usually the ride down is the most memorable experience, but in this case the ride up is special. A tractor takes you up to the start of the toboggan run. You can choose your seat on the tractor: You can either sit on a bench in the shovel or you can sit in the back on a sled that is pulled by the tractor. It is more comfortable in the shovel and more adventurous on the toboggan. The tractor takes you through a breathtaking winter landscape. At the starting point there is a mountain lodge where you can have a hot drink before you start your descent.
3. Hohe Tauern National Park information centre
The mountain range where the Kitzsteinhorn is located is called Hohe Tauern. It is also the biggest national park of Austria. Also, the biggest protected area in the alps with a size of 1.856 square kilometers and 15.000 animal species. The highest peaks, including Austria’s highest mountain, the Großglockner, are around 3,000 meters. To learn more about the National Park, visit the National Park Museum in Mittersill. It is definitely a great winter activity for rainy or cloudy days.
There you can learn more about the National Park, its flora and fauna. It is also a great activity with children as the museum has many interactive activities.
4. A slow winter activity – cross country skiing
Zell am See-Kaprun is not only great for mountaineers, there is also plenty of winter fun to be had in the valley. Like cross-country skiing. Slower than downhill skiing and mostly on flat terrain. At Kaprun you can take various tours, such as the Tauern Spa trail that is mostly flat with 2,8 kilometers and light up until 9 pm. The Schlossloipe has a low incline and is 5,2 kilometers long. This trail is with the track that leads to Bruck. So, you can extend your cross country skiing adventure.
If you are a beginner start in Kaprun with the Brunnwiesenloipe, the 2 km long trail is mostly flat and great introduction into this winter activity.
Maishofen has extensive cross country skiing trails. You can enter the trail behind the Zell am See hospital in Prielau. A 5.7 kilometer mostly flat trail takes you to the village of Maishofen. There, at Schloss Kammer, you will find a 1.5-kilometer loop trail that is lit at night. Or you can continue along the Salzach River for another 5.7 kilometers to Gerling, where you can join the trail to Saalfelden, the next larger town.
5. Winter hiking in Zell am See-Kaprun
Going on a winter hike lets you take in the beauty of the landscape at a slower pace. You can take your time and stop whenever you feel like. Pack your backpack with a warm beverage and a little snack. Get ready for a wonderful experience in the winter wonderland.
If there is a lot of snow you can also rent snowshoes or join guided snowshoe hikes.
Torchlight hikes take place regularly in the evening. Every Thursday night in Zell am See and every Monday night in Kaprun.
An easy hike is on the south shore of the lake, the nature reserve has trails in the flat terrain surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks. In Zell am See, you can take the cityXpress gondola to the top and make a loop to the Plettsaukopf, a water reservoir. Alternatively, you can start the hike from the valley, 3.4 km uphill.
The Bruckberg trail takes you up the mountain to a hut, it has some elevation and is 2.8 kilometers long.
If there is not enough snow, you can take the cable car up the mountain and do your winter hiking there. Just be sure to check if there are winter hiking trails, as you do not want to be overrun by skiers. Walk only on marked paths and be aware of the dangers associated with winter mountaineering. If there is a risk of avalanches, you can check various websites, but you can also get a warning from the cable car operator.
6. A romantic pre-Christmas boat trip on the Lake Zell
Want to see the mountains from a different angle? Looking for a non-skiing activity where you can just sit back and relax? Then this is for you: Winter Cruise on Zeller Lake. Enjoy a pre-Christmas cruise with mulled wine, punch, cookies and music. During the pre-Christmas period, the cruise takes place on Sundays and holidays.
7. Fun indoor winter activity – ice skating in Zell am See
The years when the Zeller See was frozen in winter are over. Unfortunately, ice skating in Austria in nature is becoming very rare. But in Zell am See you can find an ice skating rink. You can even rent skates for € 5,5. The entrance fee for the ice rink is € 9,60. The ice rink is open every day from December 16, and on Tuesdays you can skate until late at night.
Kaprun also has an outdoor ice rink. It is a small family friendly place at the entrance of the town and you can also rent skates there.
8. Winter events in Zell am See-Kaprun
During the pre-Christmas time you can find various Christmas markets and traditional events, such as the Krampus parades.
The Fat Ice Race is held in February. At this event, cars race on ice and snow, including the skijoring activity. It takes place in Zell am See at the airfield.
Off-the-slope and up in the air. During the first week of February you may see many hot air balloons in the area. On the night of the balloons, there is an event with an entertainment program, such as ski shows, nostalgic skiers and much more. This event takes place on the ski slopes at the CityXpress valley station.
Another winter entertainment activity is watching ice hockey games.
In February 2025, Saalbach Hinterglemm, about 20 kilometers from Zell am See, will host the big FIS Alpine Skiing competition.
9. The winter challenge – ice bathing
Ice bathing has become a new trend in Austria. Getting into ice cold water in winter is indeed not easy but doable. The temperature of Lake Zell is in winter around the freezing point. Might not be ideal for ice bathing beginners however there are also guided ice bathing experiences. For instance the Sportresort Alpenblick offers ice bathing experiences. Or you can take a yoga class with ice bathing session at the Seecamp.
Get out of your comfort zone and try it out. It is indeed a great energy boost and has numerous health benefits. Please note that you should not try ice bathing on your own for the first time. If you have any health problems, consult your medical professional first.
10. A off-the-slope wildlife experience
Near the longest toboggan run you can take part in a special winter activity. You will go up the Habach valley, into the Hohe Tauern national park. A tractor takes you 25 minutes upon a forest path into nature. After that you need to walk for one kilometer to arrive at the nationalpark hut. The hidden hut has a huge window, from where you can spot deers. This is a unique winter experience in the Zell am See area away from the slopes. The feeding tours take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This nature tour cost € 22,-. Be aware that you should wear good boots, preferable hiking boots. A basic level of fitness is also required to walk up to the hut. You can book a slot for the wildlife feeding directly at the national parks website.
11. A day trip to Bad Gastein – husky sleigh ride
Ready for another animal adventure in the snow? In Sportgastein, 57 km from Zell am See, you can experience a husky sled ride, snowshoeing with huskies, a husky workshop or a husky full moon trek. Wonderful non-skiing activities to create memories that last a lifetime. Husky tours take place on selected days and start at €89.
Since Sportgastein is a bit of a drive from Zell am See, there are additional activities you can enjoy in Gastein. The area is famous for its natural springs. There is even a natural steam bath inside the mountain, the Gastein Healing Gallery, which is unique in the world. Of the various thermal baths, I recommend the Alpentherme Gastein. And if you have time, visit the town of Bad Gastein. It has a remarkable history that can’t be overlooked while walking through the town.
As you can see at Zell am See-Kaprun you can not only go skiing but also enjoy various winter activities. If you are planning your trip to this Austrian Alpine town and you aren’t sure about the place to stay I recommend booking.com, as it lists all the places and you can filter your preferences accordingly. So nothing can stand in the way of your vacation to winter paradise.
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
