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Ellmau Ski Resort
Set at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser Mountain range, Ellmau has a small population and so much classic Austrian charm that you’re unlikely to get through the week without donning Lederhosen or a dirndl. The village is built of the sturdy wood and stone structures you only find in the mountains, made picture-perfect by the central parish church. It’s not all about the aesthetics - you’ll find some excellent eateries, affordable après ski, and good quality chalets, hotels and apartments of all shapes, sizes and star-ratings.
So far, so good, but here come the real perks: being within an hour’s drive from the Innsbruck, Munich and Salzburg airports, this is one of the most easily accessible resorts in the Alps – especially convenient for quick ski breaks and family trips. The village is easily reached by road, and an uber-efficient shuttle bus service runs within the resort to keep the roads as clear and traffic-free as possible.
Then there’s the skiing – with a respectable top altitude of 1870m and terrific snowmaking technology, the slopes behind the village are always well prepared for a day on the snow. Ellmau is one of the focal points of the Ski Welt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, made up of 288km of ski runs across Brixen in Thale, Going. Itter, Kelchsau, Scheffau, Söll, Westendorf, Hopfgarten and Ellmau. For even more coverage, serious skiers can purchase the Kitzbuheler Alpen All Star pass for access to over 1000km of piste in no less than 10 ski areas (including the resorts of Kitzbühel, Alpbach, Kaprun and Saalbach).
Stats & FAQ
Location: Austria
Established: 1950
Open: December- April
Downhill: 284km
View our detailed Ellmau snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Ellmau snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck | 1hr |
| Munich | 1hr 10mins |
| Salzburg | 1hr 10mins |
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| Top Altitude: | 1870m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 820m |
| Resort Altitude: | 820m |
| Longest run: | 7.5km |
| Slope Orientation: | NSEW |
| Vertical Drop: | 1220m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1220m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 284km |
| Beginner slopes: | 43% |
| Intermediate: | 45% |
| Advanced slopes: | 12% |
| Lift Pass Price: | € 235 (Adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Hopfgarten, Itter, Scheffau, Söll, Westendorf, Brixen im Thale and Going. | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Ellmau
The resort has an excellent lift system connecting to the neighbouring villages of Going and Scheffau. It really comes into its own for beginners: children’s lessons take place in ‘Kinderland’ (next to the ski school office on Alte Straße 3) which is kitted out with magic carpets, snow plough area and mini slaloms. You’ll find a range of short, gentle blues at the bottom of the mountain leading down into Ellmau and Going, well protected and separate from the rest of the ski area. #100b from Astberg is a nice long route to progress onto, as is the #80 from Hartkaiser on the other side of the village.
Intermediates will be in their element - jump on the Ranhart draglift and head to the Hartkaiser #80a to see what you’re made of, then move on to wherever takes your fancy.
Whilst this resort may not be renowned for its white knuckle terrain, the sheer variety keeps things interesting for those who are happy to roam. There may not be heaps of off-piste, but you’ll find some decent trails on Hohe Salve - with the area’s main draw being for beginners, the powder remains widely untouched. There is also a large infrastructure project underway over on this side of the Skiwelt. With 2 new gondolas under construction for 20/21 ski season and a gondola and chairlift already added for 19/20.
In terms of terrain parks, the local Kaiserpark probably best serves families but confident freestylers can head over to Söll and Westendorf for more of a challenge. Soll is home to an easy to intermediate snowpark, situated alongside the ‘Rinner chairlift’. And you can head to the ‘Big Playground’ snowpark in Westendorf for the choice of easy, intermediate and advanced routes, with the option for some seriously big air if that’s what you’re after.
After hours, one of the local runs from Astberg is usually illuminated or you can pop over to Söll which has a massive 10km of floodlit pistes – Tyrol’s biggest night skiing area.
Ellmau Apres Ski
The local après is low key but merry, with Pub 66 easily winning the gong for most popular drink spot (trust us, after a few sherries the karaoke here starts looking a lot more appealing). Living up to Austria’s reputation for stein-swinging après.
If you’re in the mood to warm up and relax, we love the Bettina - a gorgeous mountainside café in the perfect location for a family pit stop on the way back down the slopes - they do smashing hot chocolates and glühwein.
Amongst the thirty-something restaurants, Brenneralm is a favourite for its varied menu (including all the best hearty Austrian dishes), convivial atmosphere and stonkingly good views (best enjoyed from their sheepskin covered deckchairs) – on top of the fact that it’s right on a toboggan run, which sprogs always love. Italian restaurant and bar, Memory, is the place for pizzas and cocktails that won’t break the bank and Café Bergland is a go-to for a brilliant Austrian alpine atmosphere and a fantastic steak and chips.
Non-skiers won’t have to sit twiddling their thumbs here, with attractions off the piste including a swimming centre with a sauna and steam bath and a sports complex with tennis and squash. There’s also traditional winter fun aplenty with sleigh rides, curling and ice skating.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Ellmau
Best time to visit & ski Ellmau
In the northern part of the SkiWelt, Ellmau’s slopes have some of the best snow in the area. They’re not Austria’s highest, so for good coverage it’s best to ski here in the middle of the season (January-March) when the snowfall’s most consistent and weather’s coldest. The pistes face all directions and being part of a huge and varied ski area, you can plan your skiing to find the best snow throughout the season. If snowfall’s lacking, the area has excellent snow making coverage thanks to a socking great 1700 snow cannons all over the region.
Peak Dates
Christmas in Ellmau has an especially magical feel and a ski holiday here will leave you with a memorable Christmas week. The skiing at this time of year is great and there are lots of festive activates to take part in!
If you’re looking to do something different to see in the year, book a ski holiday in this beautiful resort.
Ellmau Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Year in Ellmau is great, with lively celebrations, great skiing and phenomenal food - the perfect way to kick off the New Year! Ellmau New Year ski holidays ‣
Half term in Ellmau is a popular time of year, especially for families. The snow conditions are at a peak and you can enjoy the excellent terrain the resort has to offer. There are lots of activities to keep kids entertained and with its wonderful nursery slopes and first rate ski schools your little ones will be hitting the slopes in no time! Ellmau Half Term ski holidays ‣
Easter in Ellmau is a really lovely time and place to spend a late season ski break. Despite the lower than average altitudes, you can still enjoy some amazing skiing here if it’s an early Easter and there’s been good snowfall. Ellmau Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Ellmau
Ellmau is a beautiful family resort with great facilities and an atmosphere to match. This is a resort families fall in love with and want to return again and again. Choosing the right accommodation for your family holiday is important and there are some terrific options in Ellmau. Try out Hotel Hochfilzer which is near the ski school and nursery slopes. With meals included and on-site facilities, you can all enjoy a relaxing holiday. A lot of hotels have childcare on site which can be really handy for families with young children.
Only an hour’s transfer from Innsbruck, Munich and Salzburg airports, it’s really well suited to families travelling with small children. There are a range of childcare options in resort and accommodation for children too young to ski and for those old enough to hit the slopes, the ski schools are second to none - Schischule Ellmau Hartkaiser and Top Ski School Aktiv Ellmau have patient ski instructors that will teach you and your kids to ski in no time! Superb nursery slopes are located a short walk from the centre of the village, they’re wide open and a safe distance making them the perfect place for the kids to learn!
For a break from skiing there are numerous non-ski activities to take part in – you’ll find a fantastic indoor swimming pool and centre with thrilling slides and a sauna and steam bath for the adults. You can also have a go at ice skating, ice curling and sledging. There are plenty of eateries in the area most of which are family-friendly. Cantina Bar Mexican is really popular with families visiting the resort as they offer fantastic kids options.
GroupsGroup Holidays Ellmau
There’s some amazing accommodation in the area to suit groups of all shapes and sizes holidaying in Ellmau. Hotels are a popular option for groups and there is plenty of choice in Ellmau - have a look at Hotel Hochfilzer, it’s in a great central location near slopes and shops and has fantastic facilities. For a cheap group holiday, self-catered apartments like Tom Sojer Apartments, are fantastic – everyone can take turns in the cooking and cleaning and enjoy quality time in an intimate setting.
With excellent ski schools, slopes to suit every preference and fantastic connections to the Ski Welt, the slopes here are perfect for groups of mixed abilities. As well as great skiing there are some excellent bars for après ski and a fun night club where you can all dance the night away. Pub 66 is a favourite après venue with tourists and locals - it holds karaoke nights that are nearly always rammed with partying snow lovers. There are over thirty restaurants in the village that will really suit everyone’s taste.
If some of your group would rather spend their holiday away from the slopes, there’s plenty to do. Winter sport activities include ice skating, curling and sledging and you can also have a game of skittles with the locals! One of the most popular non-ski attractions is the large swimming pool centre with slides, saunas and steam baths.
Which are the best ski holidays in Ellmau?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Hochfilzer | 7 | £ 999 |
| Hotel Flora | 7 | £ 899 |
| Hotel Alte Post | 7 | £ 737 |
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