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Overview of Ellmau
The ski resort of Ellmau is an attractive village located in the valley of the Wilder Kaiser in the north-eastern corner of Austria’s large SkiWelt ski area . It is a lively and buzzing Austrian resort with brilliant views of the stunning Wilder Kaiser mountain range. The village is also incredibly charming with its quaint chalets and traditional Alpine style buildings surrounded by the astounding beauty of the snow-covered mountains. Ellmau is a popular ski destination in Austria that receives large influxes of skiers every year and thankfully, the resort is big enough to cater to large numbers of visitors throughout the season quite easily. Just 1 hour and 30 minutes transfer from Salzburg, Ellmau also makes a fantastic short stay option for families.
As part of the SkiWelt ski area, Ellmau Austria has access to up to 284 kilometres of pistes across the area. The village sits at a modest altitude of 820 metres and its pistes range between 620 metres to 1,956 metres. The snow conditions are always really good and the ski area is largely characterised by its tree-lined runs that are most suited to beginners or cautious intermediate ski levels. The slopes within the local Ellmau ski area are mostly gentle and have great links to the neighbouring village of Going and its pistes. It's also very well linked with the Hartkaiserbahn funicular granting quick and easy access to the wider SkiWelt system. Although there are more blue runs than red runs at Ellmau, intermediate skiers do seem to have more fun thanks to its connections to other areas of the SkiWelt area as well as Kitzbuhel which offers a lot more intermediate options.
The village generally has a very friendly vibe to it. Popular with families, even when it's crowded it does not feel stuffy or rammed full. It has several bars and restaurants and a nightclub for the late-night crews. It offers a bit of everything to all visiting demographics and has a reputation as one of the favoured resorts in the SkiWelt area.
Thanks to its outstanding facilities, fantastic runs, piste conditions and some superb accommodation standards, Ellmau is one of Austria's leading and upcoming ski resorts among winter sports hopefuls. It is also an excellent family-friendly ski resort; from the quality of the nursery slopes and instructors and to their proximity to the accommodation as well as the childcare options, Ellmau should definitely be a holiday destination for a lot of young British families.
With a substantial area of up to 280 kilometres of pistes to cover, there is something for everyone at Ellmau and the SkiWelt area. The terrain here covers everything from long descents back down to the resort, to gentle, tree-lined blues, to challenging reds and impressive off-piste opportunities for advanced skiers.
Beginners don't need to venture too far up the pistes just yet as the nursery slopes are in the village and next to the centre and the accommodation areas. After gaining a bit of confidence, beginners should take the chair lift to the quiet and almost secluded Astberg mountain to access its gentle blues and breathtaking views.
There are long, tree-lined red and blue runs from the top of the Hartkaiser mountain all the way back down to the village that intermediates would enjoy very much. They can also check out the north-facing slopes beneath the Hohe Salve. There aren't too many black runs in Ellmau for advanced skiers with only a few dotted across the area; with the Silleralm descent and Eiberg slalom run coming down Hohe Salve mountain. The area does have a good number of off-piste opportunities to explore as well.
Freestylers used to have to take the bus to Westendorf, via Brixen to access the half-pipe and terrain park there but before Ellmau Kaiser park was developed. Now, with its own park that caters to every snowboard level from beginners through to advanced, freestylers can enjoy all they want here. Each ability level has a dedicated lane and there is also a cool chillout spot with refreshments when they need to take a breather.
Freeriders and carvers on the other hand would love it on wide-open runs just beneath the Hartkaiser gondola. Ellmau’s pistes are great for beginners and intermediate level free-riders. Its wide-open, long slopes are perfect for long cruises.
Snow Conditions in Ellmau
Ellmau has very good snow conditions throughout its ski season which runs from December to April. It has very good snowmaking facilities capable of covering 229 kilometres of its 284 kilometres.
Ellmau has a mixed apres-ski scene capable of catering to chilled out crowds as well as the party-hungry holiday makers visiting the resort. Ellmau is a large resort and has a good number of bars, restaurants and pubs each with a different sort of vibe. As evening draws in, the apres-ski starts to take shape with skiers arriving down from the slopes and more crowds start to gather at the bars. From cosy and mellow evening dinners and a few drinks to cocktails, shots, DJ sets and late-night dancing; take your pick at Ellmau this season. We have listed a few places for you to check out when you are down here.
Memory Bar
Lovely bar and restaurant, Memory bar is an ideal place to kick off or end your apres ski evening at Ellmau. Start with a couple of snacks or perhaps a meal in the restaurant section before kicking off your first drinks for the evening in the lovely bar area. If you started your evening earlier, then you can stop by for a meal and a nightcap. Either way, you can always expect to find a fantastic atmosphere in Memory Bar; the ambience has a lovely blend of traditional Italian with a modern twist. It has a very friendly and welcoming staff and is rated one of the favourite and best places in Ellmau.
Sandy’s Disco Bar
An underground bar with a cave-like ambience, live DJ set hosting loud music sessions, Sandy’s Disco bar is the ideal place to visit for a night of partying. For the raucous and party lovers, Sandy’s is where to head for a late-night dance to fresh tunes and old classics. It features a great drinks menu and always has a quality DJ on the decks.
Pub 66
A resort favourite amongst visitors and locals, Pub 66 welcomes skiers every day from 3 pm until late at night. It is a typical Austrian pub with a traditional Alpine interior design of wood and stone finishes, supplemented with a good selection of beers, pub food classics and more. The atmosphere is very lively and it builds up very quickly from then the pub opens every day. There is a DJ booth that constantly blasts classic party music through the evening, ensuring the mood stays lit up. Pub 66 is also well known for its themed parties on occasion so look out for any updates when in Ellmau.
Sky Bar: Hotel Kaiserhof
Enjoy a chilled out evening at the SkyBar in the 5-star rated Hotel Kaiserhof. It is the perfect place for an elegant evening of drinks and finger food. Located on the top floor of the hotel, the Sky Bar features lovely views of the valley. It is elegantly furnished with comfy armchairs and backlights for extra effect. The drinks menu features sophisticated cocktails, wines, beers and more. For a chilled out evening away from the raucous noise and partying at the village, the Sky Bar can be your best bet for the evening.
Ellmau has superb onsite facilities, as most people would expect. It is well equipped to cater to its large influxes of holidaymakers every season. On the slopes, it has a fantastic network of lifts, piste grooming facilities and snowmaking cannons. Off the slopes, the resort has a good amount of shops, restaurants, ski hire stores and more. We have highlighted a few facilities you will find essential.
There are a number of ski hire and rental stores at Ellmau where you can walk in and hire your ski equipment. If you are planning to visit Ellmau this season and are making plans to rent ski equipment whilst at the resort, why not simply hire your ski equipment directly from us from Erna Low as part of your ski holiday package. It is the easiest and most convenient method of securing your ski equipment for your holiday to Ellmau. Simply select the equipment you need from our ski extras page and add them to your total order. Once confirmed, your ski equipment will be prepared and reserved for you until your arrival at the resort, where you can pick them up Ordering your equipment online and ahead of time is perfect especially if you are travelling with a large group or with family members. It saves a lot of time and hassles and makes the trip so much more relaxed and enjoyable.
You can get all your ski passes from the lift machines at Ellmau however a much easier way of purchasing your ski passes for Ellmau would be to get them from us directly at Erna Low and simply add them to your overall total order. Ellmau receives huge influxes of skiers visiting every year, so avoid the large queues and crowded people at the lift machines and secure your Ellmau lift pass from the comfort of your home before you even step a foot on your departure plane. You may also stand to benefit from some discounts and additional perks when you place your ski pass order with us online. Once your order is confirmed, your ski pass will be generated and sent to you prior to your arrival. All you need to do is arrive, get changed and head straight for the slopes without stopping to join the ticket queues.
Enjoying a relaxing and re-invigorating spa, sauna and swimming session after a long day of skiing down the slopes is indeed a welcome reward. Whether you prefer to begin or end your day with a spa session and swimming session, Ellmau has a variety of awesome wellness facilities to choose from. Most of the hotels here have wellness centres, however, you can also book sessions in other places as well or even check out the Kaiserbad leisure centre located in the hamlet of Wimm just outside of Ellmau but only a short bus ride or 15 to 20-minute walk from Ellmau. In addition to its sports facilities ( tennis, squash, climbing walls etc), it has an Aquarena with heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, bubble-jet hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas. For more indulgent and luxurious services, check out the Kaiserhof Spa in the 5-star Hotel Kaiserhof. It offers world-class spa services, offering total relaxation and physical regeneration. The PurPur spa is fully equipped with a bio sauna, Finnish sauna, a quiet room “Silenzio” equipped with heated relaxation loungers, light therapy, a private spa area with laconicum, fantastic views of the Wilder Kaiser mountains, infrared sauna and a luxurious brine steam bath. In addition to the spa and sauna facilities, the wellness centre also has a big panoramic indoor pool with a waterfall, a massage bench as well as a countercurrent system and fantastic views of the Wilder Kaiser. For the sake of variety and choice, Sporthotel Ellmau in Tyrol is another stellar choice for a wonderful spa session. Its Kaiser Spa offers very similar services including a bio sauna, ice fountain and vital steam. They also have a nude pool (adult only ) with massage jets, a fresh air room and waterfalls and much more. The spa choices at Ellmau are almost endless.
Ellmau may not be a particularly famous ski resort but is not a small one either. There are several shops across a range of services that cater to just about every profile of holidaymakers visiting Ellmau. There are a few fashion shops, a number of supermarkets, wine shops, restaurants, ski sports rental shops, restaurants and many more.
Ellmau is a recognised family-friendly ski resort that welcomes children of all ages and is also very well equipped to cater to them and their families. From entertainment to childcare, on the slopes and off the slopes, accommodation to moving around the ski resort, the resort is very well prepared to welcome children.
There are several ski schools at Ellmau where you can enrol your children for ski lessons. If you are interested in finding a ski school for kids when you visit, we would highly recommend that you register your children's ski school lessons , directly with us. Erna Low has been present in the European Alps for more than 90 years and has built and established some amazing relationships with ski schools and instructors, including Ellmau. Our ski school partners are ranked amongst the very top ski schools in the Alps and as such, securing your children's ski lessons with Erna Low only means that the children receive some of the best tutelage from some of the best ski instructors. It also saves parents and accompanying adults a lot of time at the resort, by eliminating the often tedious decision-making process of trying to decide what school to enrol the children in.
There are several exciting activities for the entire family at Ellmau. The resort has a large ice skating rink and a curling lane which are popular activities among holidaymakers at the resort. There are also daytime and floodlit toboggan slopes at Ellmau which are also very popular activities to undertake with families. Families and kids can also enjoy a bit of snow-tubing down the gentle, purpose-built slopes on inflatable rings. Additional family activities for entertainment include horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage rides and snowshoe walks through the snow. If you get tired of the cold winds and snow, the Aquarena in Wimm has a large indoor swimming pool with children's slides providing great fun for the family. There are also children friendly sports and playrooms at the leisure centre.
Most of the ski schools in Ellmau ( including our partners) operate kids clubs, kindergartens and childminding services. There is also a crèche available for children from the age of six months and up to 4 years old.
Ellmau village sits at 820 metres. Its local ski area is the Astberg at 1,267 metres and the Hartkaiser at 1,555 metres both of which are suited for beginners and intermediates.
