Ski Chalets in Ellmau, Austria

Description

Ellmau is an Austrian ski resort sitting within the SkiWelt circuit along with neighbouring resorts including Brixen im Thale, Going, Hopfgarten, Itter, Kelchsau, Scheffau, Söll and Westendorf. The resort sits at an altitude of 800 metres, with groomed pistes running up to just under 2,000 metres.

A sizeable and traditional Alpine town, Ellmau offers better value for money than many other Austrian resorts, but can suffer from the low altitude at the start and end of the winter ski season.

Visitors to Ellmau can enjoy a total of 49 kilometres of slopes in the local area, with 280 km across the entire SkiWelt domain. A total of 15 gondolas, 36 chairs and 39 surface lifts are in place, whisking skiers up the slopes with a speed and ease many visitors to Austrian ski resorts have become used to.

Ellmau’s skiable terrain is heavily dominated by cruisy blue and slightly more challenging red runs, making it best suited to learners and intermediates. There’s a real mixture of short and long slopes around the whole area, and when the snow is in good condition it’s a paradise for intermediate skiers keen to tuck in the miles. Beginners can visit the superb nursery slopes, which are fully covered by snow-cannons, to practise their first turns in comfort. For experts, the biggest challenges are off-piste but the snow can be unreliable.

With reputable ski schools, swift lifts, excellent learner-level terrain, diverse intermediate-level slopes and an excellent sports centre to enjoy away from the pistes, Ellmau works well for families with children.

There are gentle slopes all over the ski area so learners are not stuck to one part of the valley, and the resort has little of the rowdy nightlife prevalent in some of the larger Austrian resorts. That said, groups of friends in Ellmau in search of nightlife will also be able to find it.

Freestyle skiers and snowboarders visiting Ellmau in search of a terrain park can hit the Kaiserpark. Nestled on the Hartkaiser in Ellmau — within easy reach of the Tanzboden lift — the Kaiserpark is Ellmau’s own snowpark. It offers sunny location, a halfpipe wall, a number of tables between 4 and 12 metres in length, and a range of boxes too. Music pumps out of the park’s large speakers and there’s a chill-out area with deckchairs to relax in and watch the action.

Ellmau is home to a limited range of catered ski chalets, with the majority of the accommodation options dominated by hotels, gasthofes, pensions and self-catered apartments.

There’s not much by way of packaged accommodation with flights and transfers included, but the majority of Ellmau’s UK-based visitors manage just fine arranging travel into Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich separately.

Visitors to Ellmau can fly into the airports of Innsbruck, Salzburg or Munich. From here, onward road transfers typically take approximately 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

Getting There

Unless you have booked a package holiday where the travel is all sorted for you, you may want to think about how you are going to get to and from the resort. Ellmau is actually a very easy and convenient resort to get to with many options for travel.

Fly

The most popular way to get to resort is to fly, there are three local airports to Ellmau.

Innsbruck Airport- 70km- 1hr15
Salzburg Airport- 1hr30

Munich Airport- 160km-2hrs

Transfers From the Airport

There are several companies who offer shared and private transfers to get you from the airport to the resort. It is worth checking transfers arrangements before booking your flights especially if you want a shared transfer as these are less regular and you don’t want to be waiting around for hours at the airport.

Which transfer company you should use will depend on your group size, flight times and budget.

Recommended transfer companies for Ellmau are

Four Seasons Airport Transfers offer a shuttle service from all the major airports, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich, to Ellmau. Both private and shared transfers are available in a standard minibus of up to 8 people. They can also cater for larger groups with coaches and even a more luxurious limousine services.

Air Shuttle offer shared transfers only from Innsbruck to Ellmau. They run regularly throughout the day and must have a minimum of 3 people for the transfer to run.

Ski Lifts offer private and shared transfers from Innsbruck, Munich and Salzburg airports to Ellmau. They also offer transfers to the resort from nearby railway stations.

Shuttle Direct offer a variety of private transfers from all nearby airports and train stations up to Ellmau.

Alps2Alps offer private transfers to Ellmau from Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich airport as well as from the train stations at Worgl and Kufstein. During the busier times they do sometimes offer shared transfers from the airports so it is worth enquiring with them for a slightly cheaper transfer.

Sun Transfers offer private transfers from a variety of airports to Ellmau. They have a range of vehicle sizes so can tailor this to your group.

By Train

The nearest train station is in Wörgl. Buses run to and from Ellmau directly to the station throughout the day. Taxis are also available to take visitors to and from the station. It is located approximately a 20 minute drive from Ellmau.

There is no direct route to get from the UK to Wörgl by train. Tickets for the route can be pricey and are not released until 180 days before the day of travel, so you have to be on the ball with checking when they are issued. The easiest route is to board the Eurostar in London or Ashford take it all the way to Brussels, then board the train to Cologne, from Cologne take the train to Wörgl. All of these trains are on an overnight sleeper services. Alternatively head to Paris then to Zurich and finally the train to Wörgl. Both of these journeys can take upwards of 10 hours.

Driving to Ellmau

Unlike driving to the French Alps it is much longer and trickier to make it to the Austrian Alps. This puts a lot of people off as the cons outweigh the pros simply because of the length of time it takes. If you are coming from the UK, it is easy to use the euro tunnel which departs approximately every 15 minutes from Folkestone and takes 35minutes. Prices start from £90 each way.You can book your crossing at https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/home/.

Alternatively you can take the ferry from Dover to Calais. This operate up to 23 times a day and takes 90 minutes. This is bookable at https://www.poferries.com/en/portal.

Upon arrival in Calais it is about a 10 hour drive to Ellmau with a total distance of 1083km. You have to head across France towards Munich and then across the German border towards the Austrian Alps.

When to Go

Ellmau is located in the North eastern corner of the SkiWelt. The village and its slopes sit at a relatively low altitude of 620m with skiing up to 1957m. This means that it has a relatively short season and the best snow coverage falls between January and March

If the snow is lacking and the runs back to the village need a top up then the SkiWelt has Austria’s largest network of snow cannons with 1,700 cannons covering 229km of piste.

Although the season is short, it is popular throughout the winter and does get busy during peak weeks, however the resort has excellent lift facilities which whisk visitors up the mountain efficiently to the further SkiWelt resorts.

Where to Stay

After Soll, Ellmau is the second largest ski village in the SkiWelt area. Despite this, the village is still relatively small. The main ski lift is located 10 minutes’ walk or a short bus ride from the main street in the resort centre.

Unlike other resorts, there are no distinctive separate parts to the village, so although the accommodation is scattered, you will never be too far from the lifts.

The majority of accommodation in Ellmau is hotels with the exception of a few chalets and self-catering apartments. This presents variety allowing guests to tailor the holiday to thier needs and budget.

Getting around

Ellmau is quite a compact resort, consisting of only a few long streets so it isn’t too difficult to get around.

Bus Routes

The main bus route going through Ellmau and Going is free with a lift pass, as are the busses that run through the resort itself. There is a bus that runs from the village centre to the base of the Hartkaiserbahn lift.

If you are looking to travel further afield, then the Postbus is a local service which runs through the different villages in the area. The route starts at the train station in Worgl and continues onto the different villages in the SkiWelt area. The bus costs €1.50.

Ski Lifts

The ski lifts in the area are being slowly updated to make getting around the SkiWelt area much swifter and efficient. The relatively new 10-seater gondola lies on the edge of the village whisking visitors up to the Hartkaiser as well as the Hartkaiser funicular.

There is over 90 lifts servicing the SkiWelt area carrying an average of 142,000 people per hour.

Taxi

There are several companies that will be able to offer taxis to get around resort and to other neighbouring resorts. It is recommended that these are booked in advance.

On Foot

The village of Ellmau is the easiest to get around on foot. Although the village is spread out it is relatively small so it doesn’t take long to walk from one end to the other. The walk from the village centre to the Hartkaiserbahn lift takes just over 10 minutes.

Apres

Après is a popular pastime throughout Austria, and a lot of late night clubs are often full of tourists rather than locals. Unlike some other resorts in the SkiWelt area, the après scene in Ellmau is relatively quiet with just a handful of traditional and cosy bars. Hotel bars tend to be popular go-to, with cheery staff, affordable drinks and a happy atmosphere.

Pub 66 is the most popular drinking spot. They often have live music at après time from 16:00 and host daily parties with special drinks deals.

Ötzi (Sandy’s Bar) is one of Ellmau’s nightclubs, often hosting a DJ or live music. Angels is another popular local nightclub in the village centre.

Bettina is a lovely mountainside café if you’re after a more family friendly atmosphere. It is ideally located on the way back into Ellmau, perfect for a pit stop. They also do smashing hot chocolates and glühwein.

Memory Bar as well as being a top class Italian restaurant it’s also a great cocktail bar with a lovely atmosphere and a fantastic menu.

Cantina Bar Mexico is a great venue which has a great post-ski snack menu and a warm atmosphere, ideal for the whole family to enjoy their après time together.

O’Malley’s is an Irish bar contained within the Hotel Alpenhof. The bar has a lively atmosphere throughout the season and shows all the major sports fixtures, even a lot of English football!

Ellmauer Alm is a traditional local Austrian drinking parlour. They have live music daily in the winter months. It is located in the centre of the village, just behind the Sporthotel Ellmau. The bar tends to be busier at après time and then quietens down as people flock to the large restaurant also located within the property.

Eating out

There are over 30 restaurants located in and around Ellmau so there is plenty of choice of where to go.

Brenneralm is a firm favourite for visitors to Ellmau. They have a varied menu which includes the best of local Austrian cuisine. This mountain restaurant enjoys fantastic views of the area which are best seen from the deck chairs on the terrace.

Memory is an Italian restaurant with a reputation for the best pizzas and cocktails in Ellmau.

Saffron is one of Ellmau’s more unusual restaurants serving a curious combination of Italian, Indian and Oriental food.

Alte Post as well as being one of Ellmau’s most popular hotels, is also a well-liked eatery. This building is amongst one of the oldest in the village being the ‘Post House’ from a bygone era. The food here is authentic Austrian cusine.

Jägerhütte is a mountain hut with very reasonable prices for their food and drink. Despite the venue being quite small, it enjoys a lovely atmosphere without being rowdy or too noisy.

Rübezahl is a cosy mountain hut, located on the slopes just above Ellmau. They do extremely reasonably priced food. Due to the excellent value that this venue offers, it can get quite busy.

For traditional Austrian dishes on the mountain, head to the Tanzbodenalm

Good for Couples

Kaiserhof

Harmstätt 8

Ellmau

+43 5358-2022

Good for Family

Gasthaus Lobewein

Dorf 22

Ellmau

+43 5358 37550

Good for Family

Gasthaus Widauer

Austraße 4

Ellmau

+43 650 4450515

Good for Friends

Ellmauer Alm

Alte Str. 4

Ellmau

+43 5358 3755509

Activities

If you have a non-skier in the group or if you do not plan on spending all day on the mountain, then you might want to consider some other activities that are available in the resort.

As well as a selection of shops, bars and restaurants, Ellmau has quite a few alternatives for non skiers.

The Kaiserbad Leisure centre is located a short bus ride or a 15 minute walk from the centre of Ellmau. Here they have an indoor pool complete with water slide for children, saunas and a steam room. If you want to practise some sport then they also have an indoor tennis and squash courts, as well as a climbing wall.

If you can’t resist some tobogganing or snow tubing, then this is on offer both during the day and the evening. The runs for these activities are purpose built and located next to the nursery slopes, so they are tucked out of the way in a safe area for everyone to enjoy. These pistes are also floodlit at night so they can be enjoyed even if you are spending all day on the mountain.

Cross-Country is a popular sport in the SkiWelt with Ellmau alone boasting 83km of cross country trails and the entire of the SkiWelt having 196km of trails. The runs for this sport tend to be long and they can be challenging but you have to be aware that the altitude of the runs are low so you have to pick the right time to travel.

Going is located just next door to Ellmau and is connected with Ellmau’s complimentary ski bus service. Located here is an ice rink, a great activity for children and adults alike. As well as ice-skating the rink is also available for curling.

Snowshoeing is ideal for those who want to admire the beautiful nature of Ellmau and surrounding villages. Take a guided snowshoe walk through the surrounding countryside on winter paths. You might even come across a few Alpine animals!

For those wanting a romantic experience or a family favourite, then hop aboard the horse-drawn sleigh, wrap up in some fur blankets, sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning snowy capped mountain scenery.

Ski School

Ellmau has 2 main ski schools and an additional specialist snowboard school. All 3 of the schools cater for abilities whether it is your first time skiing or whether you have been skiing for years and looking for a guide to show you the best parts of the SkiWelt area.

The schools offer a wide range of services from beginner group lessons to private ski clinics. Group lessons are more sociable and will generally work out cheaper but are less intense than one to one tuition. If you are unsure as to which level you are and what is the most suitable course for you, then contact the school and they will be happy to advise what is best.

We would recommend booking your ski school in advance as availability is limited, especially for peak dates.

Top Ski Schule offer both private and group courses for all abilities. They are very flexible with their lessons offering just a few hours or a full week of tuition. They are an excellent school for children with a focus on learning through fun games.

Skischule Ellmau offer multiple lesson options for both adults and children. They can also provide supervised lunches for children if needed. They work in conjunction with Skiset equipment hire and offer discounts if both are booked together.

Freaks on Snow are a specialised snowboard school with over 30 years teaching experience

Getting around

Ellmau is quite a compact resort, consisting of only a few long streets so it isn’t too difficult to get around.

Bus Routes

Ski Lifts

There is over 90 lifts servicing the SkiWelt area carrying an average of 142,000 people per hour.

Taxi

There are several companies that will be able to offer taxis to get around resort and to other neighbouring resorts. It is recommended that these are booked in advance.

On Foot

Family ski

The attractive resort of Ellmau sits within the SkiWelt, one of the largest ski areas in Austria. Excellent-quality nursery slopes and a peaceful town centre make Ellmau a strong resort choice for parents taking kids to the slopes, and it’s a comparatively inexpensive place to ski and stay, too. The resort sits at only 800 metres, with slopes running up to 1,955 metres, so altitude can be a problem – especially at the start and end of the winter ski season. Lifts are swift, which is typical of Austrian resorts, and the terrain is brilliantly well suited to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

The nursery slopes can be found under a five minute stomp from the village centre, with a broad selection of challenges and activities to help learners master the basics on the snow. We recommend beginners gain confidence here before tackling the steeper slopes higher up, because the pistes can get busy – especially on peak dates. If you’re with the family higher up the mountain, and looking to return to base avoiding the crowds, the funicular is on hand to whisk you down the mountainside away from the crowds.

Overall, this is a charming and traditional mountain town which welcomes families with open arms. Ski schools have a good reputation here, and there’s a wide selection of non-ski activities to keep kids entertained off the slopes, such as tobogganing, ice-skating, snow-shoeing and even curling.

Group Ski

Ellmau has a great selection of pistes, activities and accommodation suitable for a variety of groups. Ellmau is a low altitude resort at 820m and enjoys a short but sweet season sometimes closing at the end of March. Ellmau sits in the heart of the SkiWelt, joining with an additional 9 villages to form 284km of piste meaning that there is suitable skiing for all abilities.

Although the apres ski and nightlife is not as lively compared to other resorts, there is still a fair few bars dotted throughout the village to keep everyone entertained. Ellmau offers a good array of reasonably priced accommodation mainly in the form of hotels and self-catering apartments with very few chalets to suit groups of all tastes and budgets.

Childcare

For parents with kids looking for childcare in Ellmau, the Bergkaiser Restaurant has a children's restaurant with child care services. The facility accepts kids aged from two up to 5 years. For alternatives, or older children, there’s a good selection of ski schools with half- and full day classes with or without supervised lunch included.

The Piste

Beginners

There are some nice nursery slopes towards Going as well as some by the road on the way to the funicular. Both Ellmau and Going share a small area of slopes slightly separated from the rest of the SkiWelt. As the area is a little out of the way, it tends to be quieter providing a great environment for beginners looking to build up confidence. This seperate area is serviced by the Astberg chair located between Going and Ellmau. The Brandstadl is another good area to head with lots of short and easy runs.

Intermediates

The SkiWelt is ideal for intermediates with a wealth of long cruising blue runs and some nice easy reds for smooth progression. The large SkiWelt area is accessible for all abilities so intermediates can really take advantage of all the different villages and build up a lot of miles. If they really want to get some practice in then skiers can try the circuit of up to 20 red runs that run throughout the whole region and directly back into the village. The long red stretching from the top of the Hartkaiser to Blaiken is a great one for testing you skills out at the beginning of the day.

The runs down into the village from the top of the Hartkaiser Funicular are lovely early in the day but they can get slightly slushy and even more challenging towards the end of the day as they get more skied out. This is also true of the runs heading towards the Ranhart draglift and the Almbahn chairlift. For something slightly longer head to the Schmiedalm chair.

Advanced

Although the resort is not known for its advanced skiing, there is definitely not a shortage of runs for more experienced skiers. The ski route from Brandstadl to Scheffau is great as is the little mogul field in between Brandstafl and Neualm. The famous Black East piste on the Eastern section of the slopes is for advanced skiers only. As is the White Kög, an un-pisted slope near to the Köglbahn lift.

Ski School

We would recommend booking your ski school in advance as availability is limited, especially for peak dates.

Freaks on Snow are a specialised snowboard school with over 30 years teaching experience

Equipment Hire

There are several hire shops in Ellmau, each with a wide range of winter sports equipment for you to choose from.It is recommended that you book in advance as many stores will offer online discounts.

Intersport has 2 shops in Ellmau, one located on Dorf street and another on Weissachgraben. They provide a wide array of state of the art equipment to suit all abilities. As they have numerous shops across the SkiWelt area, they are very good at locating a specific type of ski or boot if you have any requests.

Skiset have 1 main shop in the Dorf area. Skiset have a lot of shops across the Alps and have a really good reputation for high quality equipment. They are also happy to change your equipment throughout the holiday.

Sport 2000 have 1 shop located in the centre of the village. They offer a wide range of equipment for all abilities.

Top Ski Rental also stocks a high quality range of skiing and snowboarding equipment. They are also the sister of Top Ski Schule who offer a range of lessons.

Lift Passes

The main lift pass available covers the entire SkiWelt domain giving you access to 284km of piste with 76 blue runs, 83 red runs and 9 black runs, as well as 3 snow parks.

The below prices are based on the current rates in resort but may change at the time of booking.

Lift Ticket      Child (7-15yrs)   Teen (16-18yrs) Adult
1 Day Price    €34.50               €37                     €49
6 Day Price €120                  €179.50                €239.50

Children under 7 years of age ski free of charge when a parent purchases a SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser- Brixental for a minimum of 3 days. If there are multiple children from the same family under 15 then they all receive a free lift passes.

There is a €2 deposit for all lift passes even those that are free of charge. This deposit is returned when the lift pass is deposited back at the ticket office or the automated return machines.