Summer in Zell Am See
 

I am interested in spending a month this summer at a lake area like Zell am See. I would be with out a car and need to be within walking distance of trains and other activities. Anyone familiar with Zell or St Gilgen or any other lakes area - perhaps even near Vienna ?

I spent 10 days at a lakeside hotel at Zell am See late summer of 99. It was unbelievably cheap, the walking was excellent, (around lake was a nice little hike - approx 8Km I think), a couple of days took cablecar up mountains and hiked all day (many hiking trails). Twice caught local bus to nearby places of interest. The railway station is in town centre and I took train to both Salzburg and Innsbruck (day trips)and on Sunday (only day it was running) took the steam train ride (not very comfortable but superb hiking at destination).<BR><BR>I didn't use them but there were sail and pedaloe type boats for hire, plus a little cruise ship that did afternoon and dinner cruises. Maybe there were other activities, but for a 10 day break I didn't need to look for them. <BR><BR>My only words of caution would be in regard to the train line which passes along one side of the lake, right in front of some of the lakeside hotels. Trains run through the night and were incredibly noisy. Also, yes, there were some activities but I don't know whether enough to keep you interested for a month. Late in the summer season, it was a rather sleepy place, maybe it's livlier earlier in the season.

I spent 10 days at a lakeside hotel at Zell am See late summer of 99. It was unbelievably cheap, the walking was excellent, (around lake was a nice little hike - approx 8Km I think), a couple of days took cablecar up mountains and hiked all day (many hiking trails). Twice caught local bus to nearby places of interest. The railway station is in town centre and I took train to both Salzburg and Innsbruck (day trips)and on Sunday (only day it was running) took the steam train ride (not very comfortable but superb hiking at destination).<BR><BR>I didn't use them but there were sail and pedaloe type boats for hire, plus a little cruise ship that did afternoon and dinner cruises. Maybe there were other activities, but for a 10 day break I didn't need to look for them. <BR><BR>My only words of caution would be in regard to the train line which passes along one side of the lake, right in front of some of the lakeside hotels. Trains run through the night and were incredibly noisy. Also, yes, there were some activities but I don't know whether enough to keep you interested for a month. Late in the summer season, it was a rather sleepy place, maybe it's livlier earlier in the season.

Bob-<BR>Zell am See is nice, but you mentioned lakes around Vienna. I don't particularly recommend any lakes close to Vienna, but east of Salzburg are the Salzkammergut lakes, my favorite of which is the Traunsee. Lovely scenery, a castle or two, nice villages, and lots of hiking room. Try the Classic Hotel Post in the village of Traunkirchen, which is beautifully located on the lake.

While there may not be any real lakes around Vienna, what about staying in one of the lovely little towns along the Danube with easy train (or even boat) access to the sights of Vienna?

If you are in Zell am See, I do hope you can find a bus tour over the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. It is a stunning mountain traverse. We drove over it last September and thought the scenery wild, high, and beautiful. It was cloudy, cold and windy that day,but we loved it. The highest altitude you reach is over 8,000 feet which may not seem like much, but the starting altitude is so low that you have a climb of about 7,000 feet. That is equal to the elevation gain you experience when traveling from Denver at 5,300 feet to the top of Loveland Pass at nearly 12,000 feet. It is long, steep, and winding. But don't let that deter you.<BR><BR>