Kaprun Ski Resort Guide & Reviews Apres-Ski, Ski Area, Spa & Wellness, Things to See & Do
Resort Review
Kaprun sits in the stunning Hohe Tauern National Park next to its larger neighbour Zell am See and just 82km from Salzburg. With 266 mountain peaks over 3000m and 130km2 of glaciers, 550 lakes and 279 rivers there is an abundance of natural wonders to explore!
The resort itself is very pretty with quaint streets, choclate-box chalets and the Apruner Ache creek flowing through the centre.
Après-ski
Kaprun's apres-ski is fairly relaxed with only a handful of cafes, bars and restaurants with many of these found around Salzburger Platz. Winklers and the Pavillon disco-bar are very popular as a first place to meet when you come off the slopes. For variety and lively apres-ski bars and clubs, head to Zell am See - its a few minutes away on the local bus.
Wellness & Spa
Kaprun has a stae-of-the-art Tauern spa & wellness centre which is one of the big attractions of staying here. The facilities include...
- indoor and outdoor pools
- gym
- childrens spa area
- sauna and steamroom
- Massage and other treatments
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 786m |
| Top lift | 3029m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 138 |
| Longest run | 8 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 300 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 3 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✔ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ? |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Lively & Fun |
Kaprun Ski Area Guide
Zell am See - Kaprun has 138km of pistes spread over 3 mountains but when you add in the off-piste areas and trails, the area is vast.
The skiing season in Zell am See - Kaprun starts early autumn and extends into early summer on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier where there are some superb runs and the snow cover is usually excellent.
Beginners
The Maiskogel (Kaprun) and Schmittenhöhe (Zell) mountains are where the beginners start to learn their trade. For mixed ability groups and families, Maiskogel is the best option. Afetr a few days and if you are feeling confident, there are some gentle blues on the glacier to be tried and this gives you the feeling of high altitude skiing.
Intermediate
The Schmittenhöhe mountain directly above Zell and Kitzsteinhorn mountain directly above Kaprun are where most of the intermediate runs can be found.
Advanced
There are some black runs around Sonnenalm on Schmittenhöhe and around the glacier such as the very steep Black Mamba trail.! However, for the best fun and serious terrain, head head off-piste in to the Niedersill valley and do some touring.
Snowboard
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier has a snow park and is open during the summer too! As an alternative, snowboarders can test their skills in the Fun Park on the Schmitten.
Cross country
There are 300km of cross-country skiing trails to be explored.
Other ski holiday activities
If you don't fancy skiing or the weather is not that great, then there are plenty of other activities to keep you occupied. The town of Zell is packed with beautiful cafes, shops and restaurants and is an interesting place just to wander around. For something a little more energetic, you can try...
- Sleigh rides
- Winter walking and snow shoeing trails
- Ice skating
- Tobogganing
- Parapenting
Featured ski chalets & apartments
Our view on Zell am See
Kaprun certainly has a lot to offer throughout the year for skiers and non-skiers alike. Whether its on the lake, on the mountain or in the medieval old town of Zell, there is something for everyone. A few suggestions....
- For lunch on the mountain, the Panorama-Piff on the Schmittenhöhe is a good choice as there is a hot tub to dive in to and they provide the towels too! Dont forget your trunks though!!
- Don't go off-piste on the glacier unless you are with a guide
- Take the guided tour in to the centre of the Kitzsteinhorn down a 360m mine shaft. The viewing gallery gives you a birds eye view of the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Grossglockner - Austria's highest mountain
Ski resorts similar to Kaprun are Mayrhofen with easy access to the impressive Hintertux glacier and Oetz whose ski area includes the snowsure trails on the Kühtai glacier.
