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

1. Go in search of Apre Ski. (what you do after a day on the slopes, eat, drink & party).
   
2. Visit an Art gallery in Salzburg, Vienna, Linz, or Innsbruck, cities of culture.
3. Visit a local museum Bad Gastien, Kaprun, Zell am See or Saalfalden  are pretty interesting ones.
   
4. 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.
5. Skittles or indoor Bowling  great with a beer!
   
6. Children's playgrounds, children still like them in the snow!
   
7. Visit the cinema, improve your German! some have international day showings.
8. Cleared footpath walks to follow, stopping at a mountain restaurant for a hot chocolate or something stronger!.
   
9. Cross Country Skiing across the valley bottom.
   
10. Curling on ice or even on a frozen lake?
11. Horse riding in the snow, or maybe a sleigh ride.
    
12. Ice-skating inside or outside
    
13. Ice-sailing something different
    
14. Ice-surfing?
15. Indoor tennis at Zell am see.
16. Outdoor fitness course, take a run
17. Nordic Walking - walking with poles, give that body a workout.
    
18. Top up the sun tan, bright and sunny in the snow.
19. 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.
20. ? Make  this one up for your self? or go and see an ice hockey match in Zell am See
21. Snow shoeing,  walking  across  snowy  slopes  through  trees  and  across  snow  covered  meadows.
22.  Have a ride on a horse drawn sleigh
23. Skiing an independent view point 
24. Sit  have  a coffee  or  a   Glühwein  and  soak  soak  up the  atmosphere and  history  of  the  place. 
25. Snow-boarding.
    
26. Snow-tubing.
27. Snow Kiting
28. Parascending
    
29. Visit a Sports centre with a gym.
30. Squash or tennis.
31. Swimming pool inside or out?
    
32. Sledging or tobogganing there is a great one in Kaprun
33. Winter markets, shopping at Zell am See or Salzburg market in the snow.
34. Sit down have a hot chocolate, take in the views and relax, you are on holiday.
35. Have a meal to remember having burnt off the calories.
    
36. Hot air ballooning over snowy mountains! Balloon festival at the end of January (now  moved  into  January) in Kaprun and Zell am See
37. Take a cable car to the top of a mountain and take in the view. Schmitten views, history and activities
    
38. 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.

1.     for a city that's safe at night
2.     for a city that's safe during the day
3.     for a fantastic church home
4.     for a rich national history
5.     for accessible and affordable operas
6.     for affordable housing
7.     for an abundance of castles
8.     for an orderly and cheap laundry system in my apartment building
9.     for Austrian school and office supplies -- so much cooler!
10.     for balls (i.e. dancing balls, like Cinderella went to a ball)
11.     for bike paths
12.     for cheap but good wine and beer
13.     for cheap sparkling mineral water
14.     for cheap, convenient and reliable train travel within Austria
15.     for cheap/easy/convenient opportunities to travel within Europe
16.     for church bells that ring at 7 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 7 pm
17.     for consistently good coffee
18.     for cute, quaint villages
19.     for dialect and its accompanying amusements, puzzles and challenges
20.     for everyone who helped me and/or made phone calls to figure out all the bureaucratic visa stuff
21.     for everything pumpkin out of Styria: pumpkin seed oil, pumpkin cream soup, pumpkin bread, etc.
22.     for exclusively Austrian Sturm, Glühwein, Christmas markets, and Buschenschanks
23.     for ex-pats
24.     for friends
25.     for good bread and cheese
26.     for good health insurance and no referrals
27.     for good places to run and bike
28.     for having 38 public holidays
29.     for having the Mur river running though town
30.     for hospitality
31.     for how Austrians will really pull through for you
32.     for incredible scenery
33.     for kebabs
34.     for Labello
35.     for lackadaisical passport control officials
36.     for living in a bike-friendly city
37.     for meeting so many cool people from all over the world
38.     for my connections
39.     for my fellow foreigners
40.     for old European streets, houses, and architecture in general; especially how this everyday cityscape stayed fresh and new for me
41.     for reliable public transportation
42.     for skiing and Austrian-style sledding
43.     for so much free/leisure time
44.     for sturdy toilet paper and tissues
45.     for the abundance and coexistence of kitsch, history, and design
46.     for the Austrians who adopted me and introduced me to Austrian life and culture
47.     for the comfortable pace and quality of life
48.     for the coziness of Graz
49.     for the insanely cheap price of a chunk of fresh mozzarella
50.     for the lack of cockroaches, poison ivy, and poisonous spiders and snakes
51.     for the ubiquitous ice cream stands in the summer
52.     for traditional clothing and accordion music
53.     for tram and bus drivers who will stop the vehicle and wait for you if they see you running to catch a ride
54.     for wearing slippers at home or as a guest in someone's home
55.     for wonderful room mates and a flexible landlady
56.     that Austria takes care of its people
57.     that dogs are so well-behaved here and are allowed to go everywhere
58.     that even in Austria I can be BFF with my bank teller(s)
59.     that Graz was the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2003 and therefore has lots of spiffy new buildings and such
60.     that having a car is so unnecessary
61.     that having a real Christmas tree with real candles is the only tree most of them have ever known
62.     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
63.     that I can understand German on the phone
64.     that I can walk in to the doctor's office without an appointment and actually be seen
65.     that I could live in the same apartment for over 2 years - longer than any other apartment I've ever had
66.     that I had so many visitors in the past couple years!
67.     that I lived for 2 years without a deadbolt and it never bothered me
68.     that I'm no longer pre-judged on the basis of my president
69.     that it is so easy to split the bill in a restaurant
70.     that my room doesn't face a street
71.     that nearly everything you ever use is recycled
72.     that people have stopped introducing me as, "This is Rebecca. She's American."
73.     that receiving phone calls is free on your mobile phone
74.     that Styria has it all -- mountains, hills, vineyards, thermal baths…
75.     that tax is included in all your purchases and tipping is practically nonexistent
76.     that the country is very stable and doesn't have any severe political or international problems
77.     that there are so many old people who are out and about
78.     that there are very few Americans in comparison with other Austrian cities
79.     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.

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

Zell am See & Kaprun a visitors view.

 The contents of this article on Zell am See and Kaprun was written by Brian R Stevens came from "content Caboodle", where another one of Brian's articles can be found here, they  give an interesting overview of  first impressions of the Zell am See ski area. The links in the article I have put in to provide further information to the reader. Enjoy!

"The first time I visited Zell am See I was actually staying at a small town further north going back towards Saltzburg called Lofer bie Martin. I was actually staying in the Schloss Grubhoff castle 

www.panoramio.com/photo/1224116

Schloss Grubhoff castle, Austria

which was once owned by the king of Bavaria but has now been converted into luxurious apartments which can be rented out as holiday lets. I was enjoying my stay at Lofer and in particular the quaint ski facilities there, which incidentally would be no challenge for anyone who considers themselves good intermediate or advanced level but is well worth a visit for curiosity's sake, it really is oldy worldy Austrian skiing facilities and you will not find much of a presence there beyond the Austrians themselves.

The marked difference I noticed in visiting Zell am See was the level of activity there, lots more people, a thriving little town in a gorgeous setting and much more to offer the higher level skiers, still not a majorly serious challenge for the advanced skiers but certainly enough to keep them happy for quite a few days with some decent blacks and reds to go at.

The resort in my opinion is much more suited to the intermediate level skier with plenty of reds and blues plus those blacks for when you want to give yourself a bit of a challenge, you should be able to ski from the top of the mountain to the bottom without too much trouble as well. The top of the mountain (called Schmittenhohe) gives you access to a number of runs which you can circuit and if you do prefer a longer run you can ski down to Schuttdorf and get lifts all the way back, or of course you can ski back to Zell am See or to the gondola. I class myself as intermediate and there was enough there for me to visit this resort on 3 separate occasions.

It's not a bad resort for beginners either, other than if you want to ski all the way back to town then you might find it a bit tricky with some fairly steep slopes near the bottom that have to be negotiated, the alternative being some very shallow cross country tracks which can be really hard work and may put a lot of people off so they might decide to just come back to the bottom on the lift.
That aside, the slopes at the top of the mountain do cater for beginners and if I was a beginner again I certainly wouldn't rule out Zell am See particularly if you are moving towards intermediate level, it may just present you with the challenges you need to get you to that next level.

The addition of the ski lifts from the centre of town (in place for a few years now) has provided a much needed boost to the convenience level the resort has to offer, previously there was a long trek to the top of the hill going out of the town where you could get the gondola. This is still running and is serviced by a regular bus service or is accessible by people with a car available, personally I would not consider it walking distance from the town centre particularly if you are having to wear ski boots and carry skis, (although I am sure there are probably a number of people who could prove me wrong).
If you do park at the gondola there is a sort of cross country track that goes out to it from the main piste (number 4) but there are sections of it that are actually flat to uphill and no decent run that lets your speed carry you through those sections, so a lot of puffing and panting goes on. The alternative is to come down some of the steeper slopes or to ski to the bottom and then get the bus back up. If you caught the bus or walked (mad fools) then there is no problem.

View of the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier above Kaprun

Another bonus of staying at Zell am See is that you are pretty close to Kaprun, where if the worst occurs and there is no snow you have a glacier, although whenever I have been there snow has not been a problem. You are also quite close to Salbaach-Hinterglemm which is another great resort that has pistes either side of the valley where it is located, it also offers a few more challenges to the experienced and advanced level skiers as does Kaprun. Both of these resorts can be reached on the ski bus which can be used off the back of your ski lift pass at no extra charge, the ski pass also gives you free parking in the ski areas. If you have your own transport you can go visit Lofer which I mentioned earlier or you are also not too far away from, Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Wagrain, Schladming and Obertauern.

I have to say I really enjoyed my skiing at Zell am See but I also really enjoyed the apres ski and evenings out as well, there are loads of bars and restaurants to choose from and the place has a real buzz to it. If you are there at the right time of year you might be lucky enough to see some of the traditional Austrian celebrations, for example the seeing out of the winter and welcoming in of the spring, I have memories of the band coming into the bar dressed as chickens and playing music aimed at getting everyone to have a good time and into the street to join in with the locals dancing.

I hope you have found this review useful and that it has given you a flavour of one of my favourite ski resorts in Austria, I have skied in a few different places and countries, including Italy, Bulgaria, Germany and Canada but cannot think of anywhere that delivers the full package quite as well as Zell am See, although to be honest I would not knock any of the other places I have been to either all of them have their special characteristics and are also worth visiting in their own right"

To see another of Brian's article  please click  here on the link.


If you like the area and are looking for for somewhere to stay? then please consider Austria holiday apartment it sleeps from 3-9 in comfort, and has the benefit of three bedrooms and 3 shower rooms.

Krampus, Christmas or New Year in Austria?

   










Austria Christmas and the New Year


Austria is a great place to enjoy the Christmas and New year festivities.

The snow adds to the atmosphere, the hot mulled wines, the Christmas markets, the Christmas Carol singing, traditional music, Christmas trees, the idea of a white Christmas all add to the appeal of a Christmas in Austria.

The Christmas tree has been a Germanic tradition for at least the last 300 - 400 years, but many areas across Europe pagan traditions have held evergreens to be a symbol of life during the long winter months. This symbol was adopted by early Christians and the decorated trees have become symbol of eternal life.

In 1841 Prince Albert, German husband of Britain s Queen Victoria, introduced the the custom of the Christmas tree to the British royal family.  From there the idea the tradition of having Christmas Tree appears to have spread far and wide across the world.

In 1850, a coloured etching of a decorated tree at Windsor Castle was published and the "Tannenbaum" became a necessity for every fashionable Victorian home. It was a tradition quickly embraced by Victorian England. Trees were set up for the Christmas season decorated with lighted candles, covered with tinsel, ribbon, paper chains, and sweets.

Christmas in Austria in some ways takes you back to the Victorian traditional Christmas, wooden toys, with wooden letters, fun filled sledging, ice skating on a frozen lake, a snow ball fight on the garden, a log fire to warm yourself around, mulled wine.

Krampus

Krampus in Austria

In certain areas of the Alps there is still the "Krampus" tradition a mix of pagan and the Christian Saint Nicholas, (Father Christmas, Santa Claus), bearing gifts for the children,  with  ornate Krampus costumes  of ghoulish figures, with frightening masks, carrying ringing bells on on their belts, and with whips to "beat"the occasional passerby!!

The "Krampus runs" take place in the first week of December but in particular on the 5th December.
While St. Nicholas brings presents to those children who haven been good during the course of the year, it could be said that the Krampus figures frighten the ones who have been bad! They quite often arrive together in an open slay being pulled by horses, to a village square, with an open fire, thumping music and an expectant crowd.

The two of them are a curious couple, good and evil traveling together!  but Advent times wouldn't be complete without them in Austria, or Christmas trees, decorations and an Advent wreath either.

In the Gastien area the celebrations rotate round different villages each year.

The Zell am See-Kaprun area holds fast to the tradition of the Krampus' run, for more photographs click on the link. The following events are typical  but will vary from year to year:-

03/12 6:00 p.m Krampus run for children, village square Thumersbach
04/12 7:00 p.m Krampus run, village square Thumersbach
05/12 6:00 p.m Krampus run, Salzburgerplatz Kaprun
05/12 7:00 p.m Krampus run, centre Zell am See

"Run" times for Krampus will be publicised by the local tourist office, and a list of other events in Kaprun  and Zell am See given can be found  here.

In some ways the tradition of Krampus has similarities with the Halloween celebrations else where in the world, they perhaps share the same Ghoulish, heathen origins.

The idea of Austrian Christingle markets, Skiing or snow boarding over Christmas and into the New Year will also appeal to many.  It is well worth thinking about, but if you wish to go, you will need to book early.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay please consider staying at  austria holiday apartment it can sleep from 3 to 9 persons in comfort.

Ski at Austria Holiday Apartment

Kaprun – the perfect base for a winter adventure

Austrian  Alps

While our apartment is brilliantly situated for a beautiful summer holiday – and you can still even include a little sledging if you fancy thanks to the glacier - it is of course the most perfect base for an exciting winter adventure. Once the weather in the UK starts to change – with the light evenings fading and the warm air replaced by cooler mornings and a fair bit of rain and wind, it can mean only one thing; autumn has arrived! For many of us the start of autumn is super exciting and no, it’s not because Christmas is only round the corner, it because it’s the start of the ski season. For those who love the crisp, clean mountain air this time of year is special as it means the countdown has begun to your big trip away. Whether it is for a long weekend, a week or if you’re really lucky, ten days, keen skiers look forward to their annual trip with great excitement. If you’ve already booked with us we can promise you a fantastic experience - the apartment is just perfect; brilliantly comfortable, in a great location and with plenty to do right on your doorstep. With a bit of something for everyone, here are just some of the great winter activities to enjoy near the apartment.



Kaprun – beginners slopes

The area has a pretty good reputation for beginner’s slopes; up on the Maiskogel the atmosphere is just perfect – really relaxed and the runs are mostly tree lined and gentle in nature. Once you’ve built up a bit more confidence there are some great progression slopes where you can practice your turns and stops to perfection. Although these slopes are on the lower side they are brilliantly easy to reach from the accommodation. If, at the start of the season, the snow down low is looking a little on the thin side then head on up to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier which is the snow sure plateau further up the mountain. Up here you are guaranteed to get fantastic snow coverage and the facilities all round are just excellent. If you are heading up the glacier or out for the day skiing and are new to the slopes then make sure you have packed all your essentials in a small rucksack so that you can fully enjoy the day – have a look this checklist from Iglu Ski for some great tips and advice.


Great for snow boarders – big and small

The Snowpark Kitsteinhorn, Kaprun boasts Austria’s biggest super pipe along with mogul slopes and ski trails – so enough to keep most boarders and freestyle skiers happy. Situated nice and high at 2,900 metres the park has loads of space to practice those manoeuvres in. The half pipe is an amazing 160 metre long and 6 metres high. Not quite up to that standard yet? Well grab a drink and sit in the spectator area to enjoy watching the exploits of those giving it a go. There are two other great snow parks too - Schmittenhöhe at the Hahnkopflift and the Park on Maiskogel – both of which can offer kids (and those still young at heart) a safe environment in which to have fantastic fun.

Kitzsteinhorn snowpark

Fancy a bit of cross-country?

If boarding or downhill skiing isn’t your thing then how about trying cross country? Kaprun has a number of beginners and medium difficulty loops for you to set off on. For those a little more advanced there are over 200 km of trails in the area to work your way round and if you fancy a little skiing at night, how about the 5 km track up on the Kitzsteinhorn plateau – the track is floodlit. Beginners should head for the easiest trail that starts in Karpun and is called West trail.


Time for some après ski?

So you’ve enjoyed some great runs and are feeling pretty pleased with yourself – now it’s time to enjoy some of the nightlife Kaprun has to offer. Stop off at one of the many ski huts on the slopes and sample some mulled wine or the Austrian specialty Kasnocken and enjoy the stunning light as it begins to fade across the mountains. Down in the town things are slightly livelier and there is great choice of ski pubs and bars to get the party started in.



Beginner or old pro, young or old, boarder or cross country lover, Kaprun and the surrounding area has some truly great winter activities to keep you busy this season. Make the most of your holiday and come to our beautiful Austrian resort of Kaprun, and savour that fantastic mountain scenery and air. Have a great holiday.   

Melissa Sutter.

Traveling in and around Austria in your car what you will need.

Austria Holiday Journey tips for car drivers

Plan your route well in advance – this way you will arrive at your destination quickly and safely. Take account  of  traffic  and weather conditions  as you go over the Alps Grossglockner  Alpine  mountain pass, a great summer drive Make the journey a relaxed part of your holiday and include enough breaks. Autobahn vignette all car divers who are travelling on autobahns in Austria  must  display  valid vignette ( certificate)  to the windscreen. Current prices at year 2013 for i) 10 days €8.30, ii) 2 months €24.20, iii) 1 year €80.60.  If  you have hired a car  in Austria  the Vignette  will be included,  but  if  you have  hired from outside Austria  you  will  need to purchase one from a Petrol service station.  Austrian  Vignette  for  Motorway  use Make way  for an "Emergency lane" in traffic jams: make way for emergency vehicles! On autobahns and highways, a "lane" must be formed between the individual traffic lanes, so that if  there is a traffic jam or the traffic is slowing down. This will helps emergency vehicles to get to an incident more quickly. In Austria  winter tyres are compulsory from 1st November to 15th April In winter conditions, between 1st November and 15th April, winter tyres must be used or snow chains on at least two drive wheels. Snow chains are only allowed, however, if the road is continuously covered with snow or ice. Again Austrian hire  cars  will come  with these as standard. Have a  reflective high Viz / vest with you  outside built-up areas car drivers must put on a reflective vest after a breakdown or accident when entering the road. Other things you need when driving in Austria Warning triangle, first-aid box, hands-free speakerphone, other valid personal documents (driver's license, insurance documentation, European Health Insurance Card) We wish you a safe journey for your well-deserved Austria holiday.   For  further information on driving  in Austria  please see this link Enjoy  the journey,  and  if  you are looking for  a rental apartment for somewhere to stay for between  3-9 persons,   please consider staying  at Austrian Holiday Apartment  in Kaprun

Zell am See and the Kaprun ski areas

Skiing resort Areas Kaprun and Zell am See

Kaprun  and Zell am See are located in the heart of the Alps in the province Salzburg, they sit close together in a spectacular mountain in one of the prettier ski areas of Austria.

The holiday region of Zell am See Kaprun has over 14,000 beds and two million overnight stays are recorded  each year, making it one of the more popular holiday destinations in Austria. There is an abundance of fantastic views, beautiful flora and fauna in an Alpine setting. The Lake Zell offers opportunities for relaxation and well-being, golfing, hiking, and bathing are at the focus for the summer time program, but visitors can choose from many more activities as well.

During the winter seasons, 56 cable car and lift facilities take visitors up onto the mountains,  with 136 kilometers of pistes. Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the perfect conditions of the Kitzsteinhorn Snow-park on the 2,600-metre-high glacier plateau.  Even in the summer you there is the possibility  of skiing down the glacier.  Both resorts Kaprun and Zell are family friendly.

Location map of Zell am See and Kaprun.

The lakeside, ancient market town of town of Zell am See and the alpine village of Kaprun, are located about  7 kms ( 4 miles) apart, next to the Hohe Tauern mountain range, with the key ski mountains peaks of Kitzsteinhorn 3.203 m, complete with glacier. The Maiskogel at 1.675 m both located above Kaprun, back across the valley above Zellamsee is the Schmittenhöhe / Schmitten which rises to 2.000 metres, and is topped by the Empress Elizabeth Chapel.

Empress Elizabeth Chapel on top of the Schmitten Above Zell am See

These are two charming resorts come with distinct traditional Austrian features.  Both resorts are well linked by bus and have access to the 138km of ski  runs, in three distinct ski areas, offering a variety of changes in scenery, altitude and attitude!

For those learning to ski there is a choice of ski schools with easily accessible nursery slopes, plenty of intermediate slopes and of course challenging black runs and with off-piste areas.

 View from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Kaprun in the valley bottom and Zell am See in the distance

 

Kaprun  and Zell am See the Europa Sport Region Skiing Area

25 facts. For further information on the ski area and a ski map click on the link

1. Skiing Altitude 755m-3000m
2. Resort Altitude 755m (Zell am See)
3. Piste length 138km
4. Number of runs 53
5. Nursery Slopes 13%
6. Blue 40%
7. Red 34%
8. Black 13%
9. Number of Lifts 57
10. Drag lifts 30
11. Chair lifts 15
12. Cable Cars 12
13. Direction of predominately slopes N/S/E
14. Terrain Parks yes
15. Half Pipe yes
16. Cross Country Trails 200km
17. Glacier skiing yes (October to June)
18. Night Skiing yes
19. Mountain Restaurants 20
20. Snow making 80% of runs covered
21. Resort Ski Bus yes, included in ski pass price
22. Bus Linked Resorts Zell am See, Kaprun, Schuttdorf to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier
23. Traditional Après Ski yes in both resorts
24. Austrian Alpine atmosphere yes.
25. Spa / wellness yes Tauern Spa Kaprun opened its doors in November 2010.

Tauern Spa Kaprun opened its doors in November 2010 and is well worth a visit on any day of the year

Apartment Rental Accommodation in the Zell am See - Kaprun area?

Looking for somewhere to stay for 3-9 people?  With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms,  please consider staying at www.austria-holiday-apartment.com

 Austria Holiday Apartment in Kaprun sleeps from 3-9 with a view of the Kitzsteinhorn

Austria Skiing all year Round?

Skiing is a winter sport right? well yes but there are opportunities to ski into the winter, spring and even the summer. The skiing won't be as extensive and the weather won't be as cold, but it is certainly possible to ski outside the recognized ski season of mid December to the Easter holidays.

In Austria there are a number of glaciers in the Tyrol, but the only glacier ski area in the Salzburg area is the Kitzsteinhorn above Kaprun close to Zell am See. The facilities on the top of the mountain come newly refurbished with even  a cinema complex now added.

Summer Skiing in the Austrian Alps

If you are selective a choose an area where there is glacier skiing, the attached article "Summer Skiing in the Austrian Alps" gives plenty of suggestions to make the most of the opportunity to get in that extra ski holiday, or perhaps the start of a ski career by having a lesson or two!

A place to summer ski is on the Kitzsteinhorn rising to 3203 metres with a glacier so it is possible to extend your ski season and ski on in April, May June and beyond weather dependent further on into the year. In some years weather dependent it is possible to ski most of the year round. In the case of the Kizsteinhorn, it normally shuts down for weeks in the summer when maintenance takes place on relocating the ski lifts which have been sliding down the glacier!

Kitzsteinhorn glacier normally open from October through to June or even July for Skiing!!

 

The lifts for skiing at the Kitzsteinhorn are operating all year round - the first ascent is at around  8.15 a.m. 

Usually in April almost all lifts are open. In summer generally the main cable-cars and a few ski lifts at

 the very top (at approx 2900 metres) of the glacier are operating – approx. 3,5 piste km slopes. 

The number of open lifts and pistes is always depending on the actual snow situation.

They cannot give you an exact preview for summer skiing as this is very much weather dependent, its recommended that you contact the Kitzsteinhorn ski lift company direct to get the latest situation

Then they can tell you the exact piste situation or you can also have a look on http://en.kitzsteinhorn.at/news/openedlifts.htm.

For further information and the Live-Panorama from the Kitzsteinhorn please have a look on www.kitzsteinhorn.at.You will also find out more about events, weather, snow and the feeling, to be 3000 meters above it all.

Summer map of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area close to Kaprun and Zell am See

For an interactive map of the Kitzsteinhorn in the summer click on the attached map link where it is also possible to use it to plan your alpine walks.

Many spring and summer visitors, like to take up the opportunity of an extended ski season, but they also like the possibility of a combination of activities. Skiing, walking, a round of golf or even two for at the Zell am See, Kaprun golf courses there are two 18 hole championship golf course!

Other possibilities are cycling, swimming in a mountain lake in one of the local spas or pools. In the case of Kaprun and Zell am See there is the new Tauern-Kaprun-Spa world, which opened in  November 2010.

In Austria there are 8 glacier ski areas, where it is possible to have an extended ski season.

The majority of  of the resorts are in are in the Austrian Tyrol area, with the Kitzsteinhorn being in the Salzburg area, and the  Molltaler Gletcher being in Carinthia.

Tyrol Summer Skiing

The Tyrol summer ski areas are at Dachstein, Kaunertaler, Hintertuxer, Solden, Piztaler and the Stubaier glacier ski resorts, the Tyrol area is the area around Innsbruck. are in the Innsbruck area of Austria

For further information on somewhere to stay please see  www.austria-holiday-apartment.com   The apartment sleeps from 3 to 9 persons with a view of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier from the terrace.

With a view of the Kitzsteinhorn.

Summer family holiday in Kaprun Austria.

Once again we were tempted back to the Austria-Holiday-Apartment in Kaprun for the third year in succession, which speaks for itself!

Our two girls are now 6 and 8 years old and we also brought along a set of grandparents too as we knew they’d love the area, with the apartment being spacious enough to comfortably accommodate us all.

 

We were all really excited at the prospect of returning as we’d previously had two really good trips and knew that there was plenty for us all to do, young and not so young. 

This year we traveled to Munich by Easyjet from Manchester the night before and stayed in the Novotel at Munich airport – very impressed, felt like 5*, and for only €99 for a family room with breakfast recommended! It was so comfortable we set off too late and so arrived in Kaprun much later than planned. But the Holiday apartment looked great again and on the girls made swift use of the garden and outdoor swing.

Dorffest Kaprun

Dorffest Kaprun

We didn’t stay in for long though as we had been had informed, in advance of our stay of the Kapruner-Trachten-Dorffest (Festival) which was to take place on Friday 12^th and Saturday 13^th August so we headed into the town to see all the festivities.  It seemed the entire town was there having a great time eating, drinking and enjoying the music. All the local organizations and clubs had beer/food stands and I was particularly impressed at the chap who hit the Kitzsteinhorn on the ‘test your strength’ stall.  We all found a bench and had some excellent local food, plus a beer or two.

As the weather forecast was looking promising for the week we decided to go for a ‘hike & swim’ card again, providing access to the cable cars on the three mountains:- the Kitzsteinhorn, Schmittenhohe and Maiskogel plus the indoor swimming pool & lido in Zell am See, which for 6 consecutive days was approx €190 (2 adults and 1 child with 1 child free).  This was ideal for us as we wanted a mixture mountain and water activity.

Map  plan  of  Zell am See  -  Kaprun  lake  and mountain areas

We were fortunate enough to have sunshine for the majority of our stay but on the one day of rain we were keen to visit the new Tauern Spa Kaprun  which opened in November 2010 – if its good enough for the Olympic downhill gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and UEFA Champions League team Lyon then its good enough for us!  

For a family of 4 it cost €60 for the whole day (a 3 hour pass was only marginally less at €52).  We made good use of the multiple heated indoor and outdoor pools, even in the rain!  The girls loved the circular fast ‘lazy’ river and small slide and Emma especially liked the salt water pool. The long water slide was fun, but mostly and scarily in total darkness, older kids would love it though!   Even though it was very busy, there were enough loungers and parts of the complex to explore. A neat touch was that the wristband provided on entry served to provide both locker security and a cashless means of paying for food & drink in the restaurant. You simply settle the bill on returning the wristband when you leave. It’s definitely worth a visit.

 

Schmidolin's Feurtaufe

Schmidolins Feurtaufe

Our first walking expedition was a return to the children’s favourite “Schmidolin’s Feuertaufe” where there are 11 action stations, some of which had been modified since last year, on a circular walk situated between the Areitbahn and City Express gondolas. This time we started from the former (the numerically correct way around) and had fun at each one. The children even managed some that the adults attempted hopelessly at!  Its great for younger kids and as always they enjoy receiving a certificate at the end.

Later in the week we awoke in the apartment to see clear blue sky over the stunning Kitzsteinhorn Peak World 3000 and decided it was to be the day to make our first ever ascent of the glacier by the three cable cars. The whole family took the trip and enjoyed the breathtaking views from the viewing platform at 3029m. It was almost t-shirt weather but we had come appropriately prepared to go tobogganing at the ice arena  and so we left granny & grandpa enjoying a coffee and taking in the scenery from the restaurant. The sledging was nothing short of fantastic fun for everyone, here’s our Youtube clip to prove it. 

The young boy in me found it exciting to sit in the cab of a Pisten-Bully machine, just wished I could have driven it! There was something to do for everyone up there, so would recommend exploring the Kitzsteinhorn website for more detail.

We eventually made our way back down the mountain and after completing our descent back down we visited the memorial to the 155 people that lost their lives in the funicular tunnel fire disaster of 11.11.2000 how sad. The tunnel is no longer in use and access to the glacier is now via two ski lifts. 

Alpine Roller Coaster in Kaprun

Maisiflitzter in Kaprun

  
We also tried out the Maisiflitzer alpine coaster  this is a new installation in Kaprun where you sit securely in a two-seater sled and are pulled up the ski slope for 700m which with a few bumps and turns runs back down the ski slope on tracks for 1.3km. It takes about 12 mins from start to finish but you can control how fast you descend. We bought a family ticket for €23 for one run down and thought it was great! Older children might like to do this more than once though so its worth considering a 3 run ticket for €60. An added attraction was the bouncy castle, play park, animals and café at the base station.

When we weren’t up in the mountains we generally spent the rest of our time at the Zell am See lido, playing in the pool/water slide and also swimming to the pontoons in the clear fresh waters of lake Zell. Maybe some day we will visit the pool at Niedersill which has come highly recommended to us, we just can’t seem to tear ourselves away from Zell am See, probably because we make daily visit to the café’s and ice cream stalls!

The last new thing we did was to take a pedalo on the lake, which we had for just under an hour for €14. I rather enjoyed our girls doing some of the work (their choice!) and it was nice to get a new perspective on the surrounding landscape. Whilst messing about in the middle of the lake a drama unfolded as the rope at the front was used for fishing (don’t ask!) and this got caught around the paddle underneath, rendering the peddles totally useless. After much pulling we managed to free it just about enough to make our return to shore, phew! Time for another ice-cream! 

Anyway all in all it was another fantastic holiday, probably the best there yet! The region in my opinion has to be up there with the best in Europe when the weather is good. It offers so much for everyone. Thanks again to the Housley's for use of their apartment, we can’t fault it!

Many thanks

J and E

Update  we  actually  stayed  again in the  area  in the  same  apartment   click  on the  Link for  further  family holiday  excursion ideas.

 

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

View from the Apartment where we stayed of the Kitzsteinhorn