Kaprun

The historic glacier town of Kaprun shares a ski area with Zell am See, forming the Europa-Sportregion. Situated in Salzburg Province, this resort has plenty of traditional Austrian charm, with chalet style buildings, boutique shops and fantastic restaurants. Sharing a ski area with Zell am See, Kaprun is one of the best dual season locations in Austria. 

Apres ski in the resort is lively, with the famous Schnaps-Hans Alm Bar alongside a number of other lively bars and restaurants. There is a spa and wellness centre in the resort, where there are treatments, saunas, steam baths and swimming pools. Zell am See, with its clear mountain lake, is only five minutes away and provides the perfect place for boating in summer and ice skating in winter. 

Only 85 minutes from Salzburg airport, 2 hours from Innsbruck and 2 and a half hours from Munich, this resort is exceedingly accessible. For those not keen on flying, there are even direct trains into Zell am See.

The immediate ski area at Kaprun is centred around the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. With 41km of slopes on the doorstep, and skiing that goes up to 3203m, this is one of the more snowsure areas around. The slopes are fantastic for intermediate skiers, with plenty of blue and red runs. Expert skiers can enjoy the larger Europa-Sportregion.

The Europa-Sportregion has over 130km of slopes, with skiing for all ability levels. The range of skiing involves everything from high, wide powder runs to narrow tree runs. The area has superb views over Lake Zell, which is as stunning in winter as it is in summer. Small Alpine huts provide the perfect place to stop off for lunch, enjoying the scenery. 

As one of the highest resorts in the Austrian Alps, the season in Kaprun can last up to ten months of the year; summer skiing and early opening times ensure that during winter, this is one of the most reliable options around. 

Sharing a ski area with Zell am See as it does, Kaprun is a popular dual season destination. The biggest draw to the resort is the summer skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, which is always popular amongst international teams doing summer training. The glacier is also home to summer sledding, hiking routes and sunny terraces where you can relax.

Lake Zell is warm during the summer months, and is a perfect place to swim, sail, paddle board or kayak, with various lidos around the lake that serve as excellent spots to relax during warm afternoons. The mountains surrounding Kaprun and Zell am See are home to numerous mountain biking trails ranging from the simple to the more extreme.

There are two golf courses in the area, the Kaprun course is 18 holes at par 73, while the Zell am See course is only par 72. Both courses are easy to get to and offer incredible views over the Hohe Tauern national park. 

There are only a small number of new build and resale apartments in Kaprun, with some sitting in convenient central locations and some in more peaceful spots on the edge of the town. New developments in the centre of town or close to the ski slopes are perfect as either investment opportunities or a chance to get your dream ski home in a snow sure resort.