Zell am Ziller - Ski Resort Guide & Reviews Ski Area, Apres-Ski, Things to See & Do in Zell
Resort Review
Zell lies within the spectacular Ziller valley and is at the heart of the area known as the Zillertal Arena which includes the resorts of:
- Gerlos (11km)
- Koenigsleiten (6km)
- Krimml (11km)
In fact, there are 4 main areas along the Ziller Valley and you can ski and hike in all of them:
- Fügen-Kaltenbach
- Mayrhofen (13km)-Hippach
- Tux-Finkenberg
- Zillertal Arena
Together, these 4 areas offer some fantastic holiday options including skiing 365 days a year on the Hintertux glacier at the Southern end of the valley.
Zell is the first resort you come to when heading to the Zillertal Arena area and is the ideal starting point for high mountain tours and relaxing hikes for young and old. Its is a small resort in a large ski area with around 800 inhabitants but it certainly punches more than it's weight when it comes to facilities both on and off the slopes.
Après-ski
Zell is well known for its après ski and for those staying within earshot of the après ski bars might find it a bit nosiy. There are 20 cafes & restaurants, 6 bars / pubs and one nightclub to choose from.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 580m |
| Top lift | 2499m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 169 |
| Longest run | km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 200 km |
| Season | Winter & Summer |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✔ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ✔ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Lively & Fun |
Spa & Wellbeing
The "Erlebnistherme Zillertal" is a thermal spa in nearby Fügen with treatment rooms, sauna and pool to relax in - perfect on one of those bad weather days where skiing or anything outdoors is just not going to be fun.
Children
In Zell and Gerlo, there are exciting and varied programs for children. The “Freizeitpark Zell” leisure park, the Arena Coaster - the first Alpine rollercoaster in the Zillertal - and the Arena Skyliner provide lots of fun for the kids.
Beginners
Beginners and children are very well catered in Zell. The kid's beginner area is just on the edge of Zell at the resort level and there is a further learners’ area at the top of the Gerlos gondola.
Intermediate
A paradise for intermediates with 113km of red pistes to tour around and if you want a change of scenery, there are the other close by ski areas such as in Fügen-Kaltenbach.
Advanced
There are 10 black pistes in the Zillertal Arena to text the expert skier although if you are looking for more challenging terrian, it is better to head to Mayrhofen and the Hintertux glacier on the free shuttle up.
Don't miss a run down "Harakiri" in Mayrhofen - the steepest black run in Austria.However, there are some really impressive off-piste areas both in Gerlos and the neighbouring area of Konigsleiten.
Cross-country
There are 200km of cross-country trails across the Zillertal Arena area that range in level from medium to challenging.
Things to See & Do
Gerlos and nearby Krimml both have floodlit toboggan runs and there is the Alpine Coaster toboggan run near the bottom lift station in Zell. Great fun for the kids and adults.
Other ski holiday activities
- Snowshoeing
- 85km of winter hiking trails
- Ice climbing
- Ice skating
Zell am Ziller accommodation
The accommodation in Zell and in general throughout the Zillertal valley, is great value for money whether you are staying in a ski chalet or rented apartment. In Zell, most of the holiday rentals are either on the slopes or just a few minutes walk to the ski lifts.
Our view on Zell am Ziller ski resort
Ski holidays in Zell am Ziller - a fantastic little resort in a huge ski area with stunning scenery and some ski-in, ski-out chalets. A few suggestions...
- Even if you do not want to ski, a trip up to the top of the Hintertux glacier in the middle of summer is worth a visit. Spectacular views and there is nothing like eating a veal snitzel with a cold beer on the sun terrace of the mountain restaurant!!
- Take in the sights of the highest waterfalls in Europe in Krimml which is just 11km from Gerlos. A toll fee is charged for the road from Gerlos/Koenigsleiten to Krimml
If you like Zell am Ziller, you may also want to look at Les Carroz in the Grand Massif area of the French Alps and Alleghe in the Italian Dolomites.
