What's on in Zell am See, Austria through the year

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, Christmas holidays in Austria

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Ski season (5 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Semester (winter) holidays in Austria, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ski season (5 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Austria, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Ski season (5 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Austria, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Ski season (5 Dec – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — Pentecost (Whitsun) holidays in Austria, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Grossglockner road open

  1 May – 2 Nov · usuallyTrail season

  The high alpine toll road over to Carinthia opens in early May and closes for the winter at the start of November. It is gated at night even in season and the top is often in cloud. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Lake swimming season

  15 Jun – 10 Sep · usuallySea warm enough

  The Zeller See is shallow and warms properly by late June, which is unusual at this altitude and the reason the town has a summer season at all.

Still on: Grossglockner road open (1 May – 2 Nov (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Austria, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Grossglockner road open (1 May – 2 Nov (usually)), Lake swimming season (15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Ironman 70.3, Summer holidays in Austria

• Festival

  Ironman 70.3

  30 AugMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  A half distance race at the end of August that closes the lakeside roads for the Sunday and fills the town with people carrying bikes. Access from the north is restricted for the day. Source ↗

Still on: Grossglockner road open (1 May – 2 Nov (usually)), Lake swimming season (15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Austria, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Almabtrieb cattle drives

  12 Sep – 5 Oct · usuallyHarvest

  The herds come down off the Pinzgau pastures decorated through late September, village by village, with the dates fixed a fortnight ahead depending on the weather up top. Source ↗

Still on: Grossglockner road open (1 May – 2 Nov (usually)), Lake swimming season (15 Jun – 10 Sep (usually)), Ironman 70.3 (30 Aug)

Busy — Autumn holidays in Austria, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Glacier skiing opens

  5 Oct – 30 Nov · usuallySki season

  The Kitzsteinhorn turns lifts from about the tenth of October, months before the valley runs. It is a cable car up, a short area at the top and a cable car down. Source ↗

Still on: Grossglockner road open (1 May – 2 Nov (usually)), Almabtrieb cattle drives (12 Sep – 5 Oct (usually))

Busy — Advent market, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Advent market

  20 Nov – 26 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  A lakeside Advent market in the old town and a second one up at Kaprun castle, both small. The Krampus runs in the first week of December are the louder half of it. Source ↗

Still on: Grossglockner road open (1 May – 2 Nov (usually)), Glacier skiing opens (5 Oct – 30 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Advent market, Christmas holidays in Austria

• Season

  Ski season

  5 Dec – 15 Apr · usually

  Two separate mountains: the Schmittenhoehe above the town, low and dependent on snowmaking, and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun, which is where the snow actually is.

Still on: Advent market (20 Nov – 26 Dec (usually))