Zell am See in Summer: Top things to see and do

A stunning mountain lake set against a backdrop of mountains, Zell am See is a perfect summer paradise. Relax by the lakeside or take the cable car for amazing mountain views. Here’s the best way to enjoy Zell am See in summer.

Updated: February 2025

Zell am See in Austria is a perfect place to relax on a summer Alpine adventure in the Austrian Tirol region. Zell am See in summer is just beautiful. The lake is stunning, and there are loads of different activities you can do when you visit Zell am See in the summer. You can hire a boat on the lake, or you can walk or cycle around the lake. You can even take a cable car up to an amazing viewpoint high about the lake. Here are all the best things to do in Zell am See in summer.

Where to stay in Zell am See in summer

If you’re looking to treat yourself to a relaxing and luxurious stay, I recommend the Hotel Tirolerhof. This friendly hotel has an excellent spa with a wide range of different steam rooms and saunas, which is perfect to relax your muscles after a long day of hiking. The food at this hotel is amazing as well. The buffet breakfasts are plentiful, but it’s the gourmet dinners that are really outstanding. I took so many food photos on this trip.

I recommend choosing a hotel in Zell am See that’s close to the main lake. It’s lovely to be able to walk down to the lake in the evening and soak up the atmosphere of summer evenings in Zell am See. And the main activities in Zell am See are centred around the lake, so it’s ideal to have a hotel nearby.

Things to do in Zell am See in summer

There are so many great things to do in Zell am See. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing break, or a more active holiday, there’s something for everyone. Here are the top things to do in Zell am See in summer.

1. Cycle or walk around the Zell am See lake

There are many ways to enjoy the huge lake at Zell am See on a sunny day. A great way to see all of the lovely scenery is by cycling or walking around the lake. You can hire bikes from the main town in Zell am See. The path around the lake is flat and easy to follow, so it’s a great place to cycle. You can also walk around the lake as well – although it’s a bit lake, so it takes a while to walk all the way around. You can easily walk different sections of the lakeside path on different days, to be able to see it all.

2. Hire a boat on Zell am See lake in summer

My favourite way to enjoy the lake at Zell am See in summer is by hiring a boat. It’s really easy to hire a boat on Zell am See lake. There’s a choice of different types of boats to hire. One of the most popular types of boats to hire are e-boats. The e-boats are really easy to drive, with a simple steering wheel. You can drive the e-boat anywhere around the lake to really enjoy the views and relax.

Or alternatively you can hire a peddalo and peddle your way across the lake. There’s something really magical about floating in the middle of the lake, soaking up the sun, with no one else around.

3. Take the cable car up the Schmittenhöhe from Zell am See

For some of the best mountain views of the Austrian Alps in summer, take the Schmittenhöhebahn cable car up to the top of the mountain from Zell am See.

The views of the Hohe Tauern National Park are stunning, and there’s a lovely restaurant/cafe at the top as well where you can relax with a drink as you admire the scenery and the views down to the lake in Zell am See.

4. Go hiking at the top of the Schmittenhöhe from Zell am See

If you’re feeling a bit more energetic, you can try some hiking from the top of the Schmittenhohe cable car. There are a range of hiking trails for you to choose from, with varying levels of difficulty. Hiking in the beautiful fresh air of the Austrian Alps is one of my favourite ways to enjoy the amazing scenery in the summer.

5. Take a day trip from Zell am See to Krimml Waterfalls

Krimml Waterfalls is only an hour away from Zell am See by train and makes a perfect day trip from Zell am See in summer. It’s a great activity to do on a more cloudy or rainy day in Zell am See in the summer.

Krimml Waterfall is Austria’s biggest and most famous waterfall. It’s hugely impressive, with an immense amount of water pouring over. There are four separate waterfalls with a steep path leading to the best viewpoints. Be warned that you get very wet if you go too close to the waterfall!

You can check out the latest train times for the Pinzgauer local railway on the website.

6. Enjoy Zell am See in the evening with its summer street party and light show

The town of Zell am See comes alive in the summer evenings with a street party and light show on the lake. Throughout the town marquees appear with live Alpine music and plenty of drinks. On the lake, the ‘magic lake show’ every Tuesday and Thursday at 9pm is spectacular, with lights dancing to music along the dark lake. Visit the website for more information about the lake show.

7. Sunbathe by the lake with a good book

After several days hiking, boating, watching waterfalls and eating great food, it’s always nice to have a more relaxing day in Zell am See in summer. There are plenty of grassy areas next to the lake where you can relax in the sun with a book and enjoy the clear mountain air and views.

Enjoy your trip to Zell am See in summer! If you’re looking to extend your adventure in the Austrian Alps, Kitzbuhel in summer is a great area for hiking with stunning mountain views. Or you could visit Alpbach in summer, one of Austria’s prettiest villages. Or if you fancy heading to a city, Innsbruck in the summer is a great place, or you could try a Sound of Music tour of Salzburg in one day. And don’t forget Austria’s enchanting capital city, Vienna.