Kaprun

Village · Zell am See, 🇦🇹 Austria

Kaprun is a village in the Salzburg Alps, a short drive from Zell am See. It is the base for the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which offers skiing almost all year, and for the high alpine reservoirs in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

The village has a small centre and a castle. Together with Zell am See it forms the Europe Sport Region, which makes it a good base for both winter and summer.

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When to visit

December to April is ski season, and the glacier is open for skiing nearly all year. June to September is best for hiking and for the high alpine lakes. April–May and October–November are quieter. Winters are cold and snowy.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

3° (feels like -1°) · extremes -14°–8°
-5° at night
14 rainy days
6 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

4° (feels like 0°) · extremes -14°–11°
-4° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

8° (feels like 5°) · extremes -10°–16°
-1° at night
16 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

13° (feels like 11°) · extremes -4°–22°
3° at night
15 rainy days
8 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Fair

18° (feels like 17°) · extremes 2°–25°
7° at night
21 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

22° · extremes 6°–29°
12° at night
21 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

23° (feels like 24°) · extremes 8°–30°
13° at night
22 rainy days
9 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

23° (feels like 24°) · extremes 9°–30°
13° at night
20 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in September

Good

19° (feels like 18°) · extremes 4°–26°
9° at night
16 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair

15° (feels like 13°) · extremes -1°–22°
6° at night
14 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

8° (feels like 6°) · extremes -8°–17°
1° at night
14 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

4° (feels like 0°) · extremes -13°–10°
-3° at night
14 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

KitzsteinhornThe Kitzsteinhorn is a mountain in the High Tauern range of the Central Eastern Alps in Austria.

KaprunMountain resort popular with winter sport lovers, especially snowboarders. Laid-back atmosphere, plenty of slopes to choose from.

Sigmund Thun Klamm GorgeA narrow gorge created by a mountain river is a real nature marvel. Enjoy a little bit of adrenalin while walking the wooden foothpath!

Kaprun High Altitude Storage LakesTake a hike around these water reservoirs and enjoy the panoramic view of the surroundings. You can also tour one of the dams.

Burg Kaprun

Kaprun High Mountains ReservoirReservoir built for the purpose of creating a renewable energy resource. Visit the multimedia centre and enjoy the scenery and falls.

Großes WiesbachhornThe Großes Wiesbachhorn is a mountain in the federal state of Salzburg, Austria and, at 3,564 m above sea level, is the third-highest peak…

Kitzsteinhorn is a 3,203 m peak with a glacier ski area. A cable car and tunnel lift reach the top station at about 3,000 m, with views and a summit platform.
Kaprun High Altitude Storage Lakes are reservoirs high in the mountains, reached by a road and a funicular. The dams were a major project built after World War II.
Sigmund Thun-Klamm is a gorge with wooden walkways above a rushing stream.
Kaprun is the village centre.
Burg Kaprun is a medieval castle above the village.
Kapruner Ache is the glacial river that flows through the valley.
Großes Wiesbachhorn is a high peak in the Glockner group, for experienced alpine hikers.

Featured Lists

Rudi234 / CC BY-SA 3.0 at

Kaprun Essentials

Kaprun’s landscape is defined by the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, reaching 3,029 meters, and the engineering feat of the Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden high-altitude reservoirs. The region features the 320-meter-long Sigmund Thun-Klamm gorge, carved by glacial meltwater, and the 12th-century Burg Kaprun fortress. For recreation, the Maiskogel mountain provides accessible trails and skiing, while the Gipfelbahn cable car connects visitors to the Top of Salzburg panoramic platform.

10 places

What to experience

Ski the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.
Visit the high alpine reservoirs.
Walk through the Sigmund Thun gorge.
Hike a mountain trail from the valley.
Swim in Lake Zell in summer.

Tours & Activities

Kaprun — Map

Day trips

Zell am See is a lake town, about 15 minutes by bus or car.
Saalfelden is about 30 minutes by car.
Saalbach is a big ski and bike area, about 40 minutes by car.
Salzburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is about 45 minutes away by car in summer.
Krimml Waterfalls are about 1 hour away by car.

Where to explore

Zell am See is the closest preferred town, with train links.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car. Innsbruck and Munich are alternatives.
By train: The closest station is Zell am See, about 15 minutes away by bus. Salzburg to Zell am See takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: Take the A10 motorway and the B311 road via Zell am See.

Getting around

The village is small. Buses link Kaprun with Zell am See and the glacier lifts. Ski buses run in winter. Summer guest cards often include cable cars and public transport.

Driving

A car is helpful for the Grossglockner road and nearby valleys. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. The high alpine road to the reservoirs has a toll. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Food & drink

Salzburg-region food includes Kasnocken, cheese dumplings, and Kaiserschmarrn. Mountain huts serve simple dishes. Dairy farms sell alpine cheese.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Kaprun is safe. Glacier and high-alpine weather changes quickly. Altitude can cause headaches for some visitors. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Kaprun was a quiet farming village until the 1930s, when work began on the high alpine hydroelectric plant. The reservoirs were completed after World War II and brought visitors. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts opened in the 1960s.