Ellmau, Austrian Alps

Ellmau: 5 things to know before you go

Austrian Alps, Austria ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น

Ellmau sits at 820 m at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser, the family heart of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, Austria's largest interconnected ski area at 284 km of pistes and 90 lifts. The Hartkaiser cable car lifts you straight from the village onto the linked plateau, with the famous Stanglwirt hotel and a postcard onion-domed church anchoring the centre.

1.Is the snow reliable in Ellmau?

Usually, with help. From 820 m to 1957 m the resort leans on grooming and snowmaking in lean spells, so check the live report before booking early or late dates (score 78/100).

2.Do you need a car, or can you ski in and out?

This is more of a valley base than a slopeside village, so expect a lift, train or shuttle to the snow each morning. Staying central, near the main lift, saves the most time.

3.How big is the ski area, and who is it for?

It is one of the bigger domains on the site: 284 km of piste on 90 lifts, enough to ski a different sector every day of the week. The terrain is balanced (0 green, 40 blue, 35 red, 15 black), which suits a mixed-level group skiing together.

4.What is the resort like?

Ellmau stands out for a family-friendly setup and a vast, multi-sector domain.

5.When is the best time to go?

The season usually runs Dec 1 to Apr 14 (about 19 weeks). For the most dependable cover, the deep-winter window of January to February is the safe bet. Conditions soften as spring arrives, so earlier in the window is the safer call.

The full Ellmau guide

Hotels, piste breakdown, snow month by month, lift and rental info, map and more.

See the full Ellmau guide โ†’

More questions, answered

How much vertical drop does Ellmau have?
About 1137 m of vertical, from a 820 m base to 1957 m at the top.
Is Ellmau part of a larger ski area?
Yes. Ellmau is part of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental ski area, one of the big linked domains, so a single lift pass opens the whole thing.
Is Ellmau good for beginners?
It can work: 0 green and 40 blue runs are enough to start, though the area rewards skiers who can already link turns.

Where to stay

Hotels we like for ski access and value. Prices are indicative; check live availability.

Tirol Lodge
4.31.2k reviews
โ‚ฌ105
โ˜… Top pick

Tirol Lodge

Very good ยท 1.2k reviews

Why we like it

A long-standing favourite in Ellmau, trusted by thousands of guests before you.

Guests rate this hotel as very good (4.3/5 from 1,182 reviews). It sits about 850 m from the slopes. A budget-friendly option for Ellmau, with live nightly rates shown for your exact dates so you always see the best price.

โ‰ˆ 850 m to the slopesBudget-friendly
From
โ‚ฌ105/ night
Check availability โ†’
Das Kaiserblick Ellmau
4.5710 reviews
โ‚ฌ135

Das Kaiserblick Ellmau

Very good ยท 710 reviews

Why we like it

Strong value for Ellmau, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.

โ‰ˆ 600 m to the slopesMid-range
From
โ‚ฌ135/ night
Check availability โ†’
Sporthotel Ellmau in Tirol
4.5681 reviews
โ‚ฌ140

Sporthotel Ellmau in Tirol

Very good ยท 681 reviews

Why we like it

Strong value for Ellmau, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.

โ‰ˆ 900 m to the slopesMid-range
From
โ‚ฌ140/ night
Check availability โ†’
Hotel Hochfilzer in Ellmau am Wilden Kaiser
4.6588 reviews
โ‚ฌ140

Hotel Hochfilzer in Ellmau am Wilden Kaiser

Excellent ยท 588 reviews

Why we like it

Strong value for Ellmau, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.

โ‰ˆ 550 m to the slopesMid-range
From
โ‚ฌ140/ night
Check availability โ†’

Ratings and review counts from Google Places. We may earn a commission on bookings.

Live snow report