Ski Hotel in Zell am See near the areitXpress Gondola

My personal highlight: a few runs on the Schmittenhöhe, with the glorious view over Zell am See and the surrounding mountains.

Ursula Auer, Hotel Der Schütthof

Is Hotel Der Schütthof ski-in ski-out?

No. Hotel Der Schütthof is not ski-in ski-out: you walk to the areitXpress valley station rather than stepping out of the door onto a piste. At the end of the day you can ski down to the valley station on the one valley run to Schüttdorf, though it is not for beginners: they take the gondola down. If skiing straight from your door matters most to you, book a slope-side place instead. If you are still weighing up Schüttdorf against the town centre or Kaprun as a base, our guide to where to stay in Zell am See compares the three.

A hotel near the areitXpress gondola: how far is the walk?

From Hotel Der Schütthof at Kitzsteinhornstraße 2 in Schüttdorf, Zell am See, it is about 5 minutes or roughly 600 metres on foot to the areitXpress valley station, and guests walk there in their ski boots. The areitXpress is Schüttdorf's own way into the ski area, so you do not need to go into town to get onto the mountain.

When does the areitXpress run in winter 2026/27?

In winter 2026/27 the areitXpress is planned to run from 4 December 2026 to 4 April 2027, daily from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm; the lift company says the start of the season depends on snow and weather. For the snow month by month, see Is Zell am See snow sure?. The trassXpress is also planned to start on 4 December 2026 and the cityXpress in the town centre on 10 December 2026. The lift ticket counters open 15 minutes before the lifts start running.

If your trip falls in the first weeks of December, check the lift company's opening hours before you travel.

How a ski day works from the hotel

From Hotel Der Schütthof, a ski day starts with the breakfast buffet from 7 am and the short walk to the areitXpress. Most guests collect their hire equipment the afternoon before their first ski day, usually the day they arrive, so they can ski straight away the next morning.

Is there ski hire and a ski room at the hotel?

Yes. Hotel Der Schütthof has its own ski hire, with 10% off the whole range for hotel guests, as well as a camera-monitored ski room and a lift pass service: you buy the Ski ALPIN CARD without queuing at the main reception in Hotel Latini next door. Reception sells every lift pass except group tickets and season passes, and once you are here you can order yours through the hotel's digital guest information system or on the printed order form at reception.

The ski hire is between the two hotels, down a staircase from the terrace and clearly signposted, and it opens for the winter on 1 December 2026. You do not need to reserve, as there is enough equipment for hotel guests, and guests of other hotels can hire there too. For 2026/27 hire prices, see our guide to ski hire in Zell am See.

In the ski room, your boots can stay overnight; take your helmet up to your room, as helmets sometimes get mixed up. The lift pass comes on a key card with a €2 deposit, and our Zell am See lift pass prices for 2026/27 show what the pass itself costs.

Jürgen, the ski instructor who works with both hotels, teaches for the Skischule Zell am See, in English too, and Hotel Der Schütthof guests book lessons with him at the main reception in Hotel Latini next door. In New Year's week and the February school holidays, book your lessons before you arrive: contact the hotel and it will pass on his details. The school's office is right at the areitXpress valley station, open daily in the winter season, and our guide to ski lessons in Zell am See has the lesson prices and meeting points.

Where does the areitXpress take you on the Schmittenhöhe?

The areitXpress, a 10-person gondola, climbs from the valley station at 766 m to 1,400 m in seven minutes. In winter, the Areitbahn II and III gondolas take you on up to 1,901 m, or you can take the Glocknerbahn, an eight-seat chairlift.

The Schmittenhöhe has 77 km of slopes, 30 km of them blue, 28 km red and 19 km black, and the lift company's interactive ski map shows where everything is on the mountain; reception has printed piste maps for guests. Our guide to skiing in Zell am See covers the pistes, lifts and mountain huts.

Is the Schmittenhöhe good for beginners?

Yes. Beginners staying at the hotel can start right at the areitXpress valley station, where Schmidolin's Magic Carpet is an extra-wide, gentle practice slope with a covered conveyor belt, and ski schools, ski hire and places to eat are close by. The lift company points out that beginners need no cable car ride to reach its valley lifts, the practice lifts included; on the Magic Carpet or the Bambilift, a ticket valid from 9 am costs €13.00 in winter 2026/27, the same for adults and children. The Skischule Zell am See says beginners on its courses need no lift pass for the first one or two days at its areitXpress station. Our guide for beginners in Zell am See covers where to go after the nursery slope and how many lessons you need.

What other ski resorts can you reach from the hotel?

One lift pass, the Ski ALPIN CARD, covers the Schmittenhöhe, the Kitzsteinhorn in Kaprun and the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn. Schüttdorf is also a good base for skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier: the bus there leaves from a stop 5 minutes' walk from the hotel, and the Kaprun lift company says the glacier's ski season runs from autumn into early summer. Over the Schmittenhöhe, the zellamseeXpress link lift heads towards the Glemm valley and the Skicircus; it is planned to run from 11 December 2026.

After skiing: the rooftop Vulcano Spa

Back at the hotel, the rooftop Vulcano Spa has a Finnish sauna with a view, a bio sauna, a steam room, relaxation rooms, a panorama room facing the Kitzsteinhorn and a sun terrace. It is included in your room rate and open from 4 pm to 8 pm, for guests aged 14 and over. Hotel Der Schütthof has no pool of its own; you can use the pool and spa at Hotel Latini next door for a fee: €10 a day, €5 for children up to 13, or €20 a day with the sauna area.

Booking your ski week

Booking direct gets you the hotel's best rate, better cancellation terms, an upgrade when available and a small welcome gift. You can also book a ski package, which besides the lift pass usually includes half board and a welcome drink, often a spa voucher too; our guide to Zell am See ski holidays explains how packages work and how to book the room, the lift pass and lessons.

At Hotel Der Schütthof, half board is cheaper booked in advance than added at the hotel, and families can choose a family room or a Kitzsteinhorn junior suite for up to 4 people, with reduced rates for children. The hotel has no airport transfer of its own, but reception will gladly order you a taxi, and train guests are picked up free from Zell am See station, daily 8 am to 6 pm, if they arrange it at least 24 hours ahead.

Hotel Der Schütthof and Hotel Latini are closed from 26 October to 26 November 2026. Hotel Der Schütthof takes guests again from the night of 1 December, Hotel Latini from 27 November.