A postcard town on a frozen lake with a proper ski mountain rising straight behind it, Zell am See does alpine winter for the whole spectrum: gentle nursery slopes and superb ski schools, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier for snow-sure teenagers, plus tobogganing, ice skating on the lake in cold winters and horse-drawn sleigh rides for anyone opting out. Non-skiing days are the secret strength — few resorts offer this much to do off the piste.
Featured in Ten winter-magic trips for families who love the cold · Family
A lakeside town with a mountain attached, which changes everything for non-skiers: the promenade around frozen Lake Zell, boat-house cafés, and the Tauern Spa's rooftop pool steaming against the peaks. Skiers in the group ride the Schmittenhöhe; everyone reunites for lunch at altitude via the pedestrian-friendly cable car. Salzburg is ninety minutes away for a culture day.
Featured in Ten cosy winter resorts for people who don't really ski · Mountain