Avoid huge lift lines and crowded restaurants this year with a trip to one of Austria’s most underrated resorts. Often eschewed in favour of its more famous cousins, the skiing in the Zillertal arena offers more than enough to cope with the big boys. The village’s rustic charm is preserved alongside state of the art alpine infrastructure and varied après.
The largest village in the Zillertal arena, Zell am Ziller is a diverse resort with a dizzying array of skiable terrain and some of the best off slope activities going. An authentic mountain town, Zell has retained much of its original charm and character by virtue of its year round population of locals.
Despite being one of the nation’s largest ski areas, the Zillertal arena is surprisingly under visited by Brits - often neglected in favour of the more famous Mayrhofen just around the corner.
Exploring a ski resort has never been more exciting, with horse drawn sleigh rides being the most romantic option, llama trekking the most eccentric and cross country skiing undoubtedly the most energetic. Tobogganing tracks are open late; the longest is 7km and floodlit well into the night, and was recently graded as the best and safest of its kind in Austria. Skating, bowling, and even tennis can be enjoyed at the local leisure centre and the free ski bus is available to shuttle you around after the slopes have closed.
If you’re lucky enough to catch the Stroh Juchee, you’ll never forget it. An on-mountain soap box race, highly customised sleds are raced down the mountain with points awarded for speed, fancy dress and of course the design itself. Previous entrants included a giant woolly mammoth, a dancing pope and a recreation of the Red Bull Stratos jump!
In good conditions Innsbruck airport is under an hour away, and with Salzburg and Munich airport not much further out (2 ½ and 3 hours respectively) Zell is readily accessible from the whole of Europe.
The standard ski pass covers the whole of the Zillertal arena (139km of pistes, 51 lifts) though the pass is automatically upgraded to the Salzburg Superski card if you stay for longer than 2 days, which covers 2000km over 20 local ski areas including the Hintertux glacier!
The nearest airport to Zell Am Ziller is Innsbruck at 60 km or about 1 hour by car
The nearest ski resorts to Zell Am Ziller include Mayrhofen, Hochfügen, Finkenberg, Gerlos, Fügen/Spieljoch.
Anyone a little hungry after the day’s activities will be left satisfied by the offerings of the Jogg'l Kessl. Serving a selection of snacks including pretzels, pizza and baguettes, you’ll be able to take the edge off your hunger before indulging in the house special- Jogglkirsch - which needs to be tasted to be believed! At the Restaurant Englhof you’ll enjoy traditional regional dishes made using local ingredients, alongside a variety of international dishes. The neighbouring cocktail bar boasts over 500 different types of spirits and one of the best show cocktail makers in the world! In the Teufelsküche (Devil in the kitchen) you’ll find food for all of the family at a budget friendly price. Providing self-styled ‘ski instructor food’, they offer daily lunch specials, giant pizzas, budget friendly steaks and an assortment of Tyrolean dishes. The Landgut Zapfenhof specialises in preparing gourmet versions of traditional dishes, with as many of the ingredients as possible actually grown on site and the rest sourced locally.
In terms of the après, Zell seems quieter than some of the more well-known Austrian resorts, yet this belies the true variety on offer. With daily drinks specials and regular events throughout the season, the Kocher Alm is the first port of call after a day’s skiing. Step right off the lifts and onto the large sun terrace to enjoy a drink before heading inside to sample the cosy local atmosphere. The Saustad'l is another lift side bar and serves a wide arrange of beers, brandy’s and mulled wines to help you recover from the day’s work. Disco MTS is the local nightclub - those looking to dance the night away need look no further. Whether you prefer it traditional or hip-urban, folkloric or rock-infused, chic or casual, there's something here for everyone. The options range from relaxed enjoyment of a beer in a cozy umbrella bar to thrilling top concerts in the ski arena. Additionally, the event calendar of the Zillertal Arena offers daily changing events to suit every taste and age. Whether you've had an eventful day on the slopes or simply want to savour the atmosphere, you'll find the perfect après-ski experience in the Zillertal Arena.
Good selection of shops in the village. Innsbruck about 60km (37 miles) from Zell is well worth a visit for shopping as well as sightseeing, especially the world famous underground Swarovski Crystal World which opened in 1995 and has since become one of the Tyrol's biggest tourist attractions.
View our detailed Zell Am Ziller snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Zell Am Ziller snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Zell Am Ziller snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.
Maximum and minimum adult Zell Am Ziller lift pass prices ranged from €193 to €193 for 6 days access to the Zell Am Ziller ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Zell Am Ziller holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.
Lift Tickets | Child | Adult | Senior |
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1 Day Price | N / A | N / A | N / A |
6 Day Price | €88 - €88 | €193 - €193 | N / A |
Age Range | 6 - 14 | N / A | N / A |
Most of our ski holidays to Zell Am Ziller packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Zell Am Ziller from nearby airports
Flights from London take about 2 hours to Innsbruck, Salzburg. This table shows approximate transfer times to Zell Am Ziller from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.
Airport | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Innsbruck | 60 km | 1 hour |
Munich / München | 190 km | 3 hours |
Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.
The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Zell Am Ziller transfers.
Station | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Zell am Ziller | 0 km | 0 minute |
Need help choose your Zell Am Ziller ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!