Swimming in Salzburg – lake life in the Austrian Alps
Crystal-clear, refreshingly cool, impossibly beautiful
The temperatures climb, the sun hits the valley floor – and Lake Zell works its magic. Nestled between mighty three-thousand-metre peaks, this turquoise gem is one of the finest spots for swimming in Salzburg. The water is so clear you could drink it – and that is not an exaggeration: Lake Zell genuinely has drinking-water quality.
Eight kilometres long, up to 1.5 kilometres wide and reaching a pleasant 24 °C in summer, the lake offers three bathing beaches at Zell am See, Thumersbach and Schüttdorf. Whether you are after a bracing morning dip or a lazy afternoon on the shore during a holiday in Kaprun, swimming in Austria rarely gets better than this. And with the alpine lifestyle hotel ever.grün just 15 minutes away, your towel is never far from a comfortable bed.
More than a swim – activities on and around the lake
Lake Zell is not just for swimmers. Hire a boat and chug your way towards sunset. Hoist the sails and glide across the glassy, shimmering surface with mountains reflected in the water. Grab a stand-up paddle board and explore hidden stretches of shoreline –nothing but the gentle splash of the lake for company.
Back on dry land, the options keep coming. Stroll hand in hand along the lakeside promenade, cycle the full loop by e-bike, or try Nordic walking along the riverbank. For the best views, lace up your boots and go hiking in Salzburg – the trails above the lake reward you with a bird’s-eye panorama across the entire Zell am See-Kaprun region. And do not forget your swimming things: a quick dip between activities is the best way to recharge on a summer holiday in the Austrian Alps.
Swimming near Salzburg – a region made for water lovers
What makes swimming near Salzburg so special is the sheer variety of water experiences within easy reach. Beyond Lake Zell, the wider region around Kaprun offers mountain streams, glacier-fed pools and the dramatic Sigmund-Thun gorge – natural spectacles that turn a simple swim into a proper adventure.
The Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card, included with your stay at the sports hotel ever.grün in Austria, opens up even more possibilities: free cable car rides to alpine viewpoints, local bus travel and access to attractions across the region. Combine a morning on the lake with an afternoon on the Kitzsteinhorn in summer, where you can stand on a glacier at over 3,000 metres and take in views that stretch across the entire Alps. Or swap the water for two wheels and explore the valley on one of the many cycling and mountain biking routes that start right on your doorstep.
Back at ever.grün – relax, refuel, repeat
After a day at the lake, the wellness hotel ever.grün in Salzburg is exactly the place you want to come back to. Rinse off the sunscreen and head straight to the URBAN.SPA – your spot to unwind with a sauna session, a soak or simply some quiet time before dinner.
And then there is dinner. The Cross.Over Kitchen in our restaurant in Kaprun brings the best of the Alps together with flavours from across the globe – Levante, Asia, the Mediterranean – in a style that is modern, fresh and endlessly curious. At the Feel.Good.Buffet, you build your plate exactly the way you want, whether you’re plant-based, pescatarian, or eat everything. It is the perfect end to a sun-soaked day by the water.
Swimming, mountains, spa, great food – alpine life for urban people. Come hungry, leave happy.
See you soon.
Your ever.grün team
