Ellmau resort guide - a general overview
Ellmau sits on the northern edge of the vast Skiwelt, one of the world's largest linked ski areas. A seriously impressive lift system will take you across the Hartkaiser mountain towards the resorts of Scheffau, Söll, Hopfgarten, Westendorf and Brixen im Thale. Most of the terrain is suited to beginners and intermediates, but following fresh snowfall there is some decent off piste to be found through the trees.
The traditional village makes for a great base for families, especially as there are some excellent gentle runs and beginner slopes located right above it. It is also a very affordable resort, both in terms of the accommodation on offer and up on the hill for food and drink. The rest of the area is a vast network of wide, well-groomed and tree-lined blues and reds. This makes it a great resort for bad weather skiing, especially as a lot of the lifts have protective bubbles and seat heating. The sense of travel is excellent, but it must be noted that the challenges for advanced and expert skiers are somewhat limited, unless there has been fresh snowfall.
We recommend Ellmau as the perfect resort for families with young children and adult groups who are beginners.
Resort stats
284km
800m - 1,955m
Level of skiing
- Beginners
- Intermediates
- Experts
- Snow sure
- Off-piste
- Ski area
Qualities
- Charm factor
- Non-skiers
- Nightlife
- Resort layout
- Fine dining
- Short transfer
- Resort value
Airports
- Innsbruck
- 1hr 30mins
- Salzburg
- 1hr 30mins
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Great for families - quiet & charming
- Good nursery slopes & more confidence building runs
- Access to the vast Ski Welt ski area - an intermediate paradise
- Investment in snowmaking means the pistes stay skiable for longer
Cons
- Ellmau is a low altitude resort, so snow coverage can vary
- You do need to take a ski bus to get to the main lift or a draglift
- Limited expert and advance terrain to be found
- Limited nightlife
Restaurants
Ellmau Resort Restaurants
In this small Austrian village there are a good range of restaurants to suit all tastes. The Ellmauer Alm is a very traditional restaurant serving authentic tasty Tyrolean cuisine. The staff here will treat you with true Austrian hospitality making for an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable all round dining experience (the roast pork and the schnitzel get the best reviews!). The Mestizo Lounge cafe restaurant also offers a great early evening snack menu which you can enjoy with the incredible view of the impressive mountains right next to you. The Gasthaus Lobewein is another popular eatery serving a wide range of dishes from steak and chips to Austrian country fare at a very reasonable price. If you like Mexican food head to Cantina Bar Mexican Ellmau which serves a vast array of delicious Mexican dishes, coupled with efficient and friendly waiting staff this is a great place to go if you've had enough schnitzel and wiener for one week!
Ellmau Mountain Restaurants
When skiing Ellmau, the Panorama Restaurant is the one to aim for. The Panorama is located in the middle station of the Hartkaiser Mountain and is a self service restaurant with an extensive menu including either a light bite or a more hearty main meals. The views in this place are literally breathtaking. Another option for great food with a view is the Restaurant Bergkaiser, located on top of the Hartkaiserbahn. This place can seat up to 1500 and has a great terrace to kick back and relax on in the sun. Apparently the garlic soup is also worth a try!
Ellmau Apres Ski
In all 3 villages across this region there is lively apres ski. Before heading back to your chalet for dinner stop off at one of Ellmau's best watering holes. Amongst the best are the Memory Pub and Pub 66 which are amongst the livelier options. The Helden Bar is a good spot to catch some local live bands play. Austrian apres ski is like no other and you have to try dancing on a table in your ski boots at least once!
Ellmau Nightlife
Not much to write about.
Funicular
Cable Car
Gondola
Chair lift
Drag lift
Property
