A wonderful summer holiday smells of sun, sea and well-earned rest. And of endless fun too. But what if you leave out the sea and replace it with a crystal-clear lake? And add emerald-green mountains and a bright white glacier?
In one place you will have everything at once for the best summer holiday, full of unusual experiences and ease. And all within easy reach. Discover Zell am See – Kaprun, the holiday pearl of Austria, with your children.
Why choose one thing when you can try everything
It is sometimes quite a dilemma, is it not? Planning a holiday that works for everyone, and above all for your children. One of them adores swimming, another animals, both want to fool around, and you want to get on a bike and head off into the hills. Zell am See – Kaprun is a perfect paradise for anyone who wants to be spared exactly that dilemma. Everyone is enthusiastic here - lovers of nature, of active exercise and of thoroughly unusual experiences. Will you wake a dragon, or would you rather build a snowman?
But let us take it from the beginning, and nicely from the bottom. On the floor of the holiday valley the large lake See ripples and glitters, with the picturesque little town of Zell am See on its shore. You could not wish for a better base for your holiday - from it the water is a short walk away, and so are the beaches. While you sunbathe, the children play in the waves, on a boat and on a surfboard, on slides or with paddleboards. They may swallow a little water amid all the fun, but do not worry about that at all. Its cleanliness is a point of pride here and it is perfectly drinkable.
When the calm of the lake surface begins to bore you, get on a bike with your children and set off along the cycle paths further up the valley, perhaps as far as the waterfalls in Krimml. In the winding gorges of the local Salzach river you will also find properly wild rapids that every little rafter will appreciate. And because there is never enough adrenaline, head up into the hills and give the legs, diaphragms and brains of your little ones a proper workout. Ideally on Schmittenhöhe.
To the mountains for fun and discovery
The mountain rises into the clouds just behind Zell am See and a dragon lives on it. Well, more of a little dragon. His name is Schmidolino, he cannot sit still and is always thinking up some madness. At the same time he is quite troubled. He still cannot breathe fire, and for a dragon that is not much good. Have no doubt that your children will help him. On the special Schmidolins Feuertaufe adventure trail they will complete one task after another and will certainly get fire out of the little dragon. As a reward they can conquer his perfectly designed fortress full of climbing frames and slides.
On the way to Schmidolino you will also reach the edge of the Mystischer Wald. Dare to step inside! It will tell children the story of the legends of the Pinzgau region and, through all kinds of tasks, will lead them to the Schmiedhofalm mountain hut with its special climbing playground. Let the little ones let off steam there and then head on to Schmidolins Feuerstuhl. On the highest electric motocross circuit in Austria children get a taste of slightly more worldly fun, full of fast laps on special motorbikes, and that really will be a ride!
Were the motorbikes a success? Then do not hesitate and cross from Schmimttenhöhe to Maiskogel, which rises above nearby Kaprun. It is not called the family mountain for nothing - besides beautiful nature, at its foot you will also find an amusement park full of bouncy castles and slides. Just above it, though, begins the well-known Maisiflitzer alpine coaster, which winds down the mountainside for a full 1300 m. Alone or in pairs, take a seat and slide from the mountain down into the valley at up to 40 km/h!
On the climb up, stop at Maiskogel Alm Ranch - the food is excellent and right by the hut there is also a petting zoo with animals. Children can also enjoy the animals in the activities of the special Cool Kids Fun programme, which is definitely worth trying. With the Zell am See – Kaprun Sommerkarte bonus card, children get a trip with llamas, a day on the farm, a climbing course, archery or an art workshop free of charge or for a fraction of the price. It will also save you in bad weather - it gets you into the pool and wellness centre in Zell am See at a discount.
Though why should you do things by halves. Go straight to Tauern SPA Kaprun, one of the best Austrian pools and wellness centres, where the water swirls, the steam rises and the massage oils smell wonderful. Simply an oasis of calm in which you gather strength and the children are royally entertained.
Up for the views
From the summer classics of swimming, biking, playgrounds and walking, Zell am See – Kaprun gets you to very unusual fun in no time, fun that turns your holiday into an unforgettable experience. One look at Tauernkraftwerke Glockner-Kaprun, a complex of high Alpine dams with a hydroelectric power station, and you and the children will be speechless with amazement. Two giant reservoirs lie one above the other at 2000 metres above sea level, framed by Alpine peaks, and their majesty will take your breath away.
In few places will you see such a perfect symbiosis of human engineering and pure nature in one spot. You will learn more about both on a guided tour of the power station, in the local interactive exhibition or on a walk along the surrounding trails. The Kräuterlehrpfad takes children into the world of Alpine herbs and plants, with just the right number of tasks and activities for you all to enjoy the beauty of the landscape here to the full. Above all those views!
The peak of all peaks will win you over with them too, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which looks down on the whole valley from 3000 metres above sea level. Take the cable car up from Kaprun and leave your swimsuit below - even in the middle of July you can ski here, enjoy a toboggan ride or build a proper snowman. The children will be thrilled by that, believe us. Perhaps the only thing they will like more is the modern natural-science exhibition in the National Gallery, the centre of the local viewing platform with the Gipfwelt 3000 restaurant.
Once you have had lunch here and stepped out onto the cantilevered terrace, let the unbeatable view of the surrounding Alpine giants take effect; more than 30 of them rise all around. The ideal end to your great summer holiday and the ideal place for a souvenir photo of it. So that in winter you can look back on this well-spent time with real enthusiasm.
Has the Zell am See - Kaprun area won you over too and do you want to spend your summer there with your children? We are here for you and will help you arrange everything quickly and efficiently.