Austria holidays, Salzburg, Kaprun, Zell am See and so much more: 2015

38 things to do on an Austrian winter holiday - and 79 Austrian things to be thankful for!

Skiing above the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier near Kaprun

Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun where it possible to ski in the Summer months.

Thinking about winter holidays? or skiing holidays in Austria? I started a list off to count up the options, of things to do, places to go, got to twenty suggestions and the ideas still came flooding out. But it is reasonable to say that there is plenty to do and see on a winter / ski holiday in Austria.

If you are looking for a list of events and happenings in the Kaprun and Zell am See ( On the internet sometimes spelt ZellamSee ) ski area click on the link here.

Salzburg a superb city to visit whatever the time of the year.

Salzburg in winter, a fantastic city to visit, explore and to shop in.

36 things to do on a winter holiday in Austria

Go in search of Apre Ski. (what you do after a day on the slopes, eat, drink & party).
Visit an Art gallery in Salzburg, Vienna, Linz, or Innsbruck, cities of culture.
Visit a local museum Bad Gastien, Kaprun, Zell am See or Saalfalden are pretty interesting ones.
Visit a Wellness, Spa or Beauty centers, relax, unwind, ease away aches and pains. Tauern Spa Kaprun and the spas in the Gastein valley are fantastic places to chill.
Skittles or indoor Bowling great with a beer!
Children's playgrounds, children still like them in the snow!
Visit the cinema, improve your German! some have international day showings.
Cleared footpath walks to follow, stopping at a mountain restaurant for a hot chocolate or something stronger!.
Cross Country Skiing across the valley bottom.
Curling on ice or even on a frozen lake?
Horse riding in the snow, or maybe a sleigh ride.
Ice-skating inside or outside
Ice-sailing something different
Ice-surfing?
Indoor tennis at Zell am see.
Outdoor fitness course, take a run
Nordic Walking - walking with poles, give that body a workout.
Top up the sun tan, bright and sunny in the snow.
Spa, sauna, steam room, Spa-World-Kaprun well worth a visit, or try the Gastein valley with 2 fantastic thermal spas, at Bad Hofgastein the alpentherme.com or at Badgastein Felsentherme.
? Make this one up for your self? or go and see an ice hockey match in Zell am See
Snow shoeing, walking across snowy slopes through trees and across snow covered meadows.
Have a ride on a horse drawn sleigh
Skiing an independent view point
Sit have a coffee or a Glühwein and soak soak up the atmosphere and history of the place.
Snow-boarding.
Snow-tubing.
Snow Kiting
Parascending
Visit a Sports centre with a gym.
Squash or tennis.
Swimming pool inside or out?
Sledging or tobogganing there is a great one in Kaprun
Winter markets, shopping at Zell am See or Salzburg market in the snow.
Sit down have a hot chocolate, take in the views and relax, you are on holiday.
Have a meal to remember having burnt off the calories.
Hot air ballooning over snowy mountains! Balloon festival at the end of January (now moved into January) in Kaprun and Zell am See
Take a cable car to the top of a mountain and take in the view. Schmitten views, history and activities
You are on holiday you decide?

Winter Ski map of the Kaprun and Zell am See area.

Looking for somewhere to stay in the Kaprun area then please consider looking at

austria-holiday-apartments.https://booking.zellamsee-kaprun.co.at/rentals/apartment-kaprun-apartment-tauernblick-ii-with-garden-in-kaprun-197681.html?FRMAdultos=8

Convenient and Spacious accommodation for your holiday stay in Kaprun

Attached was added at a later date and is copied with permission from an interesting blog found / written by an American teaching assistant by the name of Rebecca, who was based in the Austrian City of Graz, on her work experience trip in Austria.

"Under the heading I'm thankful" it adds to quite a list of 79 things about Austria.

for a city that's safe at night
for a city that's safe during the day
for a fantastic church home
for a rich national history
for accessible and affordable operas
for affordable housing
for an abundance of castles
for an orderly and cheap laundry system in my apartment building
for Austrian school and office supplies -- so much cooler!
for balls (i.e. dancing balls, like Cinderella went to a ball)
for bike paths
for cheap but good wine and beer
for cheap sparkling mineral water
for cheap, convenient and reliable train travel within Austria
for cheap/easy/convenient opportunities to travel within Europe
for church bells that ring at 7 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 7 pm
for consistently good coffee
for cute, quaint villages
for dialect and its accompanying amusements, puzzles and challenges
for everyone who helped me and/or made phone calls to figure out all the bureaucratic visa stuff
for everything pumpkin out of Styria: pumpkin seed oil, pumpkin cream soup, pumpkin bread, etc.
for exclusively Austrian Sturm, Glühwein, Christmas markets, and Buschenschanks
for ex-pats
for friends
for good bread and cheese
for good health insurance and no referrals
for good places to run and bike
for having 38 public holidays
for having the Mur river running though town
for hospitality
for how Austrians will really pull through for you
for incredible scenery
for kebabs
for Labello
for lackadaisical passport control officials
for living in a bike-friendly city
for meeting so many cool people from all over the world
for my connections
for my fellow foreigners
for old European streets, houses, and architecture in general; especially how this everyday cityscape stayed fresh and new for me
for reliable public transportation
for skiing and Austrian-style sledding
for so much free/leisure time
for sturdy toilet paper and tissues
for the abundance and coexistence of kitsch, history, and design
for the Austrians who adopted me and introduced me to Austrian life and culture
for the comfortable pace and quality of life
for the coziness of Graz
for the insanely cheap price of a chunk of fresh mozzarella
for the lack of cockroaches, poison ivy, and poisonous spiders and snakes
for the ubiquitous ice cream stands in the summer
for traditional clothing and accordion music
for tram and bus drivers who will stop the vehicle and wait for you if they see you running to catch a ride
for wearing slippers at home or as a guest in someone's home
for wonderful room mates and a flexible landlady
that Austria takes care of its people
that dogs are so well-behaved here and are allowed to go everywhere
that even in Austria I can be BFF with my bank teller(s)
that Graz was the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2003 and therefore has lots of spiffy new buildings and such
that having a car is so unnecessary
that having a real Christmas tree with real candles is the only tree most of them have ever known
that I can leave my bike simply standing and loosely locked anywhere in the city and it will still be there when I come back
that I can understand German on the phone
that I can walk in to the doctor's office without an appointment and actually be seen
that I could live in the same apartment for over 2 years - longer than any other apartment I've ever had
that I had so many visitors in the past couple years!
that I lived for 2 years without a deadbolt and it never bothered me
that I'm no longer pre-judged on the basis of my president
that it is so easy to split the bill in a restaurant
that my room doesn't face a street
that nearly everything you ever use is recycled
that people have stopped introducing me as, "This is Rebecca. She's American."
that receiving phone calls is free on your mobile phone
that Styria has it all -- mountains, hills, vineyards, thermal baths…
that tax is included in all your purchases and tipping is practically nonexistent
that the country is very stable and doesn't have any severe political or international problems
that there are so many old people who are out and about
that there are very few Americans in comparison with other Austrian cities
that there are very few tourists in comparison with the other Austrian cities"

Quite a list, we would welcome other suggestions about what is good about Austria.

Things to do in and around Zell am See and Kaprun

Attractions in and around Kaprun / Zell am See to enhance any Austrian holiday. Or things to do and what to see in the Salzburgerland area of Austria.

1) Visit the Kitzsteinhorn glacier mountain above Kaprun, fantastic views, complete with 3 cable cars to take you to the top. With a further funicular railway to take you down onto the glacier. A new summit restaurant, cinema and viewing platforms opened recently. It is possible to take guided walks to the very top of the Kitzsteinhorn at 3203 Metres what a view!

2) Go up on the Maisikoge l lift, from Kaprun, take your bike and cycle back down the hill, or just go for a hike, routes galore, open winter and summer.

So much to see and do in the Kaprun - Zell am See areas, all year round

3) Sigmund-Thun-Klamm, is a steep gorge, very pleasant and interesting walk on boarded platforms above the waters. In summer come back for the lighted torch walk! worth at least two visits!! Call in during the day also at the free hydro electric museum, next to the gorge ticket office, for the history of the hydro electric scheme / Kaprun dams going back to the 1930's.

4) Visit the superb Tauern Spa Kaprun it opens its doors all years round, at 80 million + euro investment it will have been worth the wait. Whether after a hard days skiing, a mountain walk, or just for a relaxation and pamper its well worth a visit. Sauna and Spa area, textile and non textile areas ( clothed and separate nude area).

Tauern Spa Kaprun a visit will enhance any holiday

5) Visit the high Alpine reservoirs, travel over alpine passes, and take a ride in a high level cable, plenty of choice with stunning views, take a further look and click on the attached link. Hochgebirgsstauseen - Tauernkraftwerke

Kaprun reservoirs note the glaciers in the distance well worth a visit

6) Burg Kaprun, visit Kapruns castle, with a history going back nearly a thousand years, worth a visit, events, pageants and parties are held in this location throughout the year.
Kaprun castle, note picture and Zell am See in a lakeside setting in the far distance.

Burg - Kaprun - Castle

7) A blast into the past with Vötters Oldtimer- Car Museum, it is located just down from Kaprun castle on route down to the village centre. There is a train outside the hotel entrance and the museum is located in the basement area.

8) Grossglockner Pass is a toll road, and is the highest pass in western Europe, ride over it by bus, car, coach, taxi, motorbike or even cycle over for the ultimate challenge! the Grossglockner pass (Großglockner Hochalpenstrasse), whatever your mode of transport expect to be impressed, but choose a sunny day, open from May to October, weather dependent.

In the 2011 Season the Grossglockner High Alpine Road opened on Thursday 21 April 2011. which was much earlier than normal May opening, after closing for the winter snows. It normally stays open until early November weather dependent.

The pass makes a spectacular passage from Salzburgland - Carinthia- Southern Austria, with glaciers to be seen. There a shops and exhibitions in the alpine nature show and at the restaurants and will normally be open for daytime passages.

Grossglockner Pass fantastic whether to drive or cycle!!

If you are looking for somewhere to stay then please consider austria holiday apartment

Kaprun - austria-holiday-apartment.com

Winter Skiing Kaprun- Zell am See the Europa Ski area.

Chapel next to Kaprun Castle

The lake side market town of Zell am See and the alpine village of Kaprun have teamed up together for the past 40 years and were aptly collectively known as the "Europa Sport Region". They have now recently changed the focus on the joint marketing of the names of Zell am See and Kaprun.

Between the the lively medieval lakeside resort town of Zell am See and the spectacular Kitzsteinhorn glacier, lies Kaprun. Which is a traditional Austrian village with a pretty church and interesting castle. It is convenient for nursery slopes, pistes for all levels and fast links to near all year round snow sure slopes on the glacier so good for November to June ski holidays and beyond. For some night life check out the Austrian scene oompah bars always turn out to be very special nights!

The skiing area of Zell am See and Kaprun is varied with three distinct Ski areas of:-

i) Maiskogel, where it is possible to ski down into the center of Kaprun and it is only a 10-12 minute walk away from Austria holiday apartment where up to 9 persons can sleep in comfort.

ii) The second area is above Zell am See down from the 2000 meter high Schmittenhoe, topped by a chapel and restaurant. This area has fantastic views down onto the frozen lake of Zell am See, where in the right conditions people will be found walking and skating. There is consideration to the possibility to linking up this ski area to meet up with the adjacent ski resorts of Sallbach and Hinterglemm. It is also possible to upgrade your Zell am See / Ski pass for a few Euros include this additional area on top of the 3 ski areas in Zell am See and Kaprun. There is speculation of new ski lifts and slopes down into Piesendorf extending the ski area even further.

Austrian Traditional Holiday Poster.

iii) The third area is above Kaprun on the Kitzsteinhorn which rises to 3203 metres in height. Below the summit there is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which is open all year round and normally subject to weather it sometimes only closes for 2-3 weeks in the summer for maintenance to the ski lifts. So it is possible to ski throughout most of the year, creating the possibility of a longer ski season for visitors and locals alike. This mountain area also has the benefit of a snow park for the ski boarders. For the recent season a new lift had been installed the "Kristallbahn" which had the benefit of heated seats! which made the ride up, nearly as much fun as the ski down! With upgrades and improvements being made year on year to the facilities provided.

Joint Ski resort area Map of Zell am See and Kaprun

The valley bottom between Kaprun and Zell am See is the location of a cross country ski course for an alternative form of skiing the Nordic type.

Tauern Spa Kaprun

New from November 2010 is the fantastic Tauern Spa Kaprun, it is located just to the north of Kaprun, on the road out of the village to Zell am See. Our sister blog at Austria-Spa-World provides further information on this 85 million Euro project, which will enhance any holiday by a visit and the use of its extensive facilities. There is a fantastic spa area, split into a "textile" and none textile (nudist) areas to suit.

Tauern Spa Kaprun close to Zell am See

As mentioned there are further additional ski areas in the immediate area the joint resort of Saalbach Hinterglemm and Kitzbuhel. Around 30 minutes away is the Gastein valley, where there is further additional extensive skiing, and it also the benefit of 2 (yes two) world class spa complexes at Bad Gastein and at Bad Hofgastein. Both are thermally thermally heated ( natural) and are definitely worth a visit what ever the time of the year.

Pisendorf and Niedernsill are just a few miles away from Zell am See and Kaprun, and are compact resorts, they tend to be a little quieter and cheaper, than their busier neighbours. A ski map of the area can be found via this link, can be used as a great base to commute to the larger ski areas. It is a good base, along with Kaprun for cross Country skiing with extensive routes along the valley bottom in all directions.

The holiday region Zell am See-Kaprun attracts 2 million overnight stays every year is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Austria. During the summer months you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities like rafting, golf and hiking. And also in the cold season there is never a dull moment thanks to the possibilities of sleigh rides and hiking tours in snowshoes. Skiers can comfortably reach the 132 kilometres of slopes with powder snow on one of the 56 lifts. Snowboarders also enjoy the perfect high altitude conditions of the Snow-parks on the 2,600 metre high glacier plateau. Even in the summer you can swish down the slopes there.

Ski passes can be brought at a variety of locations in Kaprun and Zell am See, with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier comes a snow guarantee as well!! with an extended ski season into June and October starts for a new ski season possibilities.

Ski slope Cameras

Many holiday resort destinations have internet cameras, for example via the attached Zell am See / Kaprun link the site lead to cameras covering the areas of Maisikogel, the Kitzsteinhorn ( more than one camera to cover different areas of the glacier), the Schmitten, with further cameras looking over the lake at Zell am See. It is a useful resource to see perhaps the weather conditions, visibility, numbers skiing, or if there are and swimmers or skaters in or on the lake.

The renowned German publishing house of 'Falk Verlag' awarded Zell am See and Kaprun the high accolade of the voting the area the most family-friendly holiday region in Europe!

Looking for somewhere to stay? for 3 - 9 persons then consider Austria Holiday Apartment

Austria holiday apartment - Kaprun comfort and convenience

Summer Holiday in Austria

Summer holiday in Austria 2015

Since the age of 8 (and I’m now 43) I have been a big fan of the Austrian alps, it’s such a beautiful part of the world! I love winter sports, from watching the downhill ski-ing and snowboard slopestyle on TV to freeriding the slopes on what is now an almost antique Ride snowboard. It never really occurred to me that it was a summer holiday destination until 2003 when we made our first wonderful trip to a village near Innsbruck after we had seen a feature on the BBC’s Holiday programme. A few years later and we decided to return to Austria with two small children and little did we know that we would unearth a real gem of a place that would capture all of our hearts and minds.

And so it is that we have made our 5^th (yes 5^th!) summer excursion in seven years to Sue & Derek’s fantastic austria holiday apartment in Kaprun. Why change a winning formula! It is still an exciting place to visit where we can enjoy what we have experienced previously coupled with the fascination of discovering new and interesting places and events. This is of course made a little easier as our children get older – they were just 4 & 6 on our first visit and are now 10 & 12 but they love going back just as much as we do.

The start of this years trip wasn’t the best when we couldn’t even get off the ground in England, our flight was cancelled as we were sat on the plane (curtailed by a lightning strike!). But we knew what we were going to miss so hastily re-arranged a new flight to get us on our way. On arrival at the apartment the stress of that major problem quickly evaporated and was very soon forgotten. The apartment was clean, comfortable and in great condition just as it has been in past years and so didn’t disappoint. We had a nice relaxing evening watching a film, having a bite to eat and deciding what we should do the next day.

Well the heat wave seemed to have settled in and at 30c it was a simple choice of which lake or pool (or both) to go for a swim in. As we like the ambiance of Zell am See we chose the lido or Strandbad. A family day pass was around €23 and as we arrived early when it was quiet we did get our money’s worth. Great fun to begin the holiday and fantastic views around the lake. Without much persuasion my youngest daughter & I took an exhilarating tow behind a speedboat from Edi’s Wasserskischule, “Daddy I’m hanging on for dear life” she said quite calmly really, which is pretty much what I was doing too! Very proud I was though. There are other activities on offer such as water-ski-ing, wake-boarding, the donuts and banana boat so something to keep those with an adrenalin rush entertained.

It was also Wednesday which meant that the weekly summer festival – the Zellersommernachtsfest – was on too. We ate outside in one of the many restaurants and then enjoyed street festivities particularly the music – a mixture of traditional Austrian oompah and the more contemporary – and the food & drink on offer at the many stalls. The atmosphere made it so that we visited it again the following week.

We had such great weather, it was wonderfully sunny and incredibly hot with the forecast for it to continue so our two favourite ways of cooling down are to go up into the mountains in the morning and then go swimming in the afternoon. The most economical way of doing both is the “Hike and; Swim” ticket which lasts for 6 days and provides access to the pools in Zell am See, all the cable cars that are operating in both Zell am See and Kaprun as well as the local post buses. For our family of 4 this cost €260 (or £193), which is quite reasonable given that two trips to the Kitzsteinhorn would cost the same amount.

One of our favourite ‘cool’ activities is summer sledging on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at the Ice Arena. So cool in fact that we had to do it twice. The best time to go is as early as possible to avoid the lift queues that build up as the day progresses. On our 2^nd visit we went very early and even spotted a wild alpine marmot grazing on the lower slopes during the first cable car ride, anyway we were first to arrive and the piste bashers were still preparing the piste with fresh snow but once they’d finished we made ‘fresh tracks’! There’s something for everyone up there, even if it’s just relaxing in the café/restaurant with a coffee and apfelstrudel.

We used the cable cars on all six days with our pass and we all enjoyed the walks on the Schmitten all of which gave stunning views of the region. These included:

1. Schmidolin’s Baptism of Fire – a great walk for all with activity stations for children at 12 different points en route. It seems that on each of our visits there has been one or more new stations to try out which maintains their interest. Our preference is to start at from the Areitbahn lift, although it’s possible to do it from the City Express (Mittelstation) too.

2. Route 68 - the High Promenade is a lovely walk down from the Schmitten summit to the Sonnkogel chairlift where there is lots to see and do on the way, finished off with a drink and a bite to eat at the restaurant before taking the chairlift to the Sonnenalm cable car.

Walking at its best in the Austrian Alps above Zell am See - Kaprun

3. Route 55 – the Plettsaukopf is a great short walk from the City Express (Mittelstation) through the trees to the reservoir where there is a play park and a water feature. The apfelstrudel at the Mittelstation restaurant was wonderful too and the children enjoyed the trampoline!

4. Route 50 – this is much longer and downhill all the way (but not as easy as you might think) from the Schmitten summit past the Breiteckalm and on to Mittelstation. We imagined we were skiing in the winter whilst walking down the grassy pistes. After arriving back in Zell on the City Express we took the free bus back to the Schmitten car park to fetch our car.

After all this good exercise in the fresh mountain air we were ready to relax and have fun by the lake/pool. On the days when we didn’t go to Zell we explored a little further afield:

1. Derek & Sue had always said how nice the bathing lake was at Niedernsill and so this time we made a point of visiting it, in fact twice, and the entry cost for us all was approx. €18. They are absolutely right, and it’s crazy how it has taken us until now! It’s a beautiful small lake in a picturesque location with climbing frames and hammocks above the water, a water slide and pontoon plus a giant water fountain. The water temperature was just perfect and even when busy it’s not overcrowded. There’s a café and ice cream stall, just everything you could need for a full afternoon lazing about on or in the water or its grassy banks. If you don’t want to take it easy, there are tennis courts next door and a sandy volleyball court too.

Fantastic Swimming Lake and Sporting Facilities at Niedernsill

2. We also returned to the pool at Piesendorf which is a little cheaper at €11 for us all. This too has stunning views and is separated by multiple pools, longer water slide, Jacuzzi and sports pool. It too has a café The water was a little cooler but given the heat that was fine too. It too has a café and changing rooms and can be accessed by the lokalbahn train that runs between Zell am See and Krimml.

Most evenings we were too tired to do much exploring and so relaxed in the apartment but on the Monday night we did also enjoy the ‘Mystical night of water’ in the Sigmund Thun Klamm gorge walk which is just a minute up the road. We’ve walked through the gorge a number of times before because it is so nice but had never done so at night. The guides spoke in German and English and after walking through the gorge in twilight and by the lake we arrived at a welcoming campfire where we listened to stories and ate a baked potato. On our return we were each handed a firelit torch to make our way back. It was very popular and well worth the money (<€20 for the family).

On our last full day we decided to treat ourselves to a full day pass at the Tauern Spa in Kaprun, which cost €65. It’s a five star complex with many different pools indoor and out as well as a long water slide, outdoor café with waters edge ordering and an excellent restaurant. This place never disappoints! With a non-alcoholic cocktail in hand, on a sun lounger by the salt pool, with a great view of the Kitzsteinhorn and music playing in my ears whilst the children are having fun, what could be better!

The day we left for home we said goodbye to Kaprun with another go on the Maisiflitzer alpine coaster, an exhilarating experience whizzing down the mountain side in a cart on a rollercoaster track. Our family ticket for one ride was €26. We were also unlucky to just miss the annual village festival which was setting up for the evening, and by all accounts they even managed to set a new world record for the longest ever apple strudel at a staggering 752m!

So that was our trip this year, there were so many other things we could also have done including biking along the many flat trails , visiting Salzburg, exploring Saalbach, the Grossglockner pass, the list is literally endless. If you don’t believe me just visit any of the tourist information offices

Once again thanks to Derek & Sue for the use of their apartment in Kaprun. It’s the perfect base for everyone young and old to explore this wonderful area.

Richards Family 2015 J

View from the apartment terrace of the Kitzsteinhorn

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. For further information please see www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

Kaprun information and Trips from Kaprun - Zell am See 12+ things to do

Kaprun Information

In 931 it is reported that the village of Kaprun was founded
Kaprun has around 3000 residents
Kaprun is at a altitude of around 800m above sea level
Around 1200 Kaprun castle is built
1828 The date of the first reported climb to the top of the 3029m high Kitzsteinhorn is reported
1938 Start date of the construction of dams and hydro power plant Glockner – Kaprun
1965 The Kitzsteinhorn glacier area opens for public Skiing
2010 Kaprun has 3000 inhabitants it also has accommodation for 8000 visitors.

Extract of a map showing Kaprun and the Kitzsteinhorn mountain area, alpine walks

Part map of the Kaprun valley showing village, walks, dams, cable cars and reservoir locations

Thing to do a see in and around Kaprun & Zell am See.

There is lots to see and do in the immediate area of Kaprun and Zell am See. But for those who would like to spread their wings a little further how about these for a few idea:-

(Journey times are from the Kaprun / Zell am See area.)

1) Visit to Salzburg about 1 hours and 20 minutes by car also accessible by train with a similar journey time.

2) A visit to the Krimml waterfalls about 50 minutes by car / bus, it is also possible to get there by the quaint local train from Zell, and a further possibility is to hire some bikes, put them on the train and cycle back down the valley, there is a superb cycling network, but I would advise book your place on the train in advance of hire of the bikes.

3) Visit the Ice caves above Werfen Castle, they are the largest in Austria, very worthy of the climb / cable car ride to the top. Located just off the motorway to the South of Salzburg

Werfen castle "Where Eagles Dare" was filmed worth a visit with falconry display.

4) Werfen castle around 40 Km to the south of Salzburg, is a truly awesome setting, if you don't fancy the the walk from the town, there is a funicular railway from the back of the castle. Both the ice cave and Werfen castle can be visited quite easily in one outing.

5) The Olympic city of Innsbruck, again by car, bus or train at just under two hours away. Plenty to see and do, at any time of the year.

6) Close to Innsbruck is Crystal World home of the Swarovski Crystal business.

7) Visit the Gastein valley, famous for it naturally heated thermal springs / spas. There is Ski, mountain Gastein spa complex at the head of the valley in the interesting Victorian spa town of Bad Gastein, accessible by train from Zell am See.

8) If you don't want to travel as far up the valley at Hofgastein there is the Alpentherme spa complex. In terms of both spas set aside 3/4 hours to get the full enjoyment of the "wellness experience. To find out a bit more about the Tauern Spa world Kaprun click on the link to get to the blog, it opened in November 2010, and a great place visit all year round.

9) Grossglockner Valley pass (the peak of the mountain), starts just a few minutes drive away from Kaprun and Zell am See, from the traditional village of Bruck. To get the most from the trip, aim to do the trip on a day when there is good visibility, there is certainly plenty to see, and different places to stop. The trip up the side road up to the glacier, complete with museum and multi-storey car-park is well worth the effort.

10) A day trip to Venice is not out of the question but an early start is recommended because the car journey comes in at 4 hours! But if you set off at 6.00 am you will be there for 10.00 Am. The quickest route is via Mittersill.

11) Kaprun dams not too far for an outing, open from late May until the Autumn, in a stunning setting and awe inspiring engineering work, to get a better picture of the attraction click on the dam video link

12) Liechtenstein Gorge is not only one of the beautiful gorges, it is also one of the deepest and wildest chasms in the Alps. It is a magnificent natural phenomenon and very much worth a visit. It is close to the alpine town of St Johann im Pongau and the alpine resort of Alpendorf.

13) Another possibility is to take a flight from the Aerodrome which is located on the local road between Zell am See and Kaprun. Parachuting is even a further possibility!

14) In Kaprun there is the castle, village church, village museum and a motor museum all worth a visit in their own right.

Fantastic mountain walk in and around Zell am See - Kaprun

There is lots more to see and do in and around the area, there are mountain walks galore, plenty of cable cars to take in the views, glacier skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn, where it is possible to ski all year round. A trip to Munich, perhaps for the beer festival, or to Hitler's Eagle nest are all extra possibilities.

For sporting possibilities, to give you a clue the area was formerly know as the Europa-Sports region, which does give you a direct idea to the further possibilities. There are too many to list, a separate article would be required.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for between 3 - 9 persons, then please consider staying at Austrian holiday apartments in Kaprun

What a view of the lake at Zell am See

Parachuting above the lake at Zell am See, Austria

Holiday Apartment Kaprun further links