If you’re looking for a fantastically family-friendly ski resort in Austria, the Ellmau piste map is an excellent choice for you. A pretty valley village with access to a superb expanse of ski area, it’s situated on the north-eastern corner of the beautiful region that makes up the SkiWelt domain, overlooked by the Wilder Kaiser range.
Let’s Talk Skiing
This resort gives you access to one of the world’s largest linked ski areas – SkiWelt, featuring a huge 284km of slopes. It’s certainly an accessible resort, and you can use your Ellmau lift pass on its superb lift system which links you to Going and Scheffau villages which are nearby. Beginners and families are extremely well catered for here. Kids will love Kinderland which you’ll find on Alte Straße 3 – next to the school office.
Here they can try out mini slaloms, a magic carpet and a great snow plough area. There’s also some confidence-boosting gentle blues to try. And when you’ve found your confidence, you can move on to #100b from Astberg or #80 from Hartkaiser.
There’s no doubt that the Ellmau pistes are particularly good for intermediates. The Hartkaiser #80a is a great one to try – just head for the Ranhart draglift to get you there. Although the resort doesn’t have a huge amount for serious adrenalin seekers, you will find an extensive variety of runs to get under your belt. At the moment they’re working on a huge infrastructure project on SkiWelt featuring two new gondolas. For off-piste in Ellmau, head for Hohe Salve, which is pretty good for beginners too.
Night-time skiing fans in Ellmau are recommended to visit Söll which is renowned for being the largest area for night skiing in the Tyrol. Or you could try one the pistes at Astberg. If you’re looking for snowparks, Kaiserpark is really good for families or you could try Söll or Westendorf which is the home of the Big Playground; with a great variety for all levels of ski fans.
The Resort
A great resort for families, Ellmau has a nice laid-back feel but is still lively. There’s lots for non-skiers in Ellmau too. So, if you’re looking for something more active, you can enjoy the swimming centre and sports complex. You’ll find squash and tennis courts, or you’ve got some relaxing options. If you’re looking for some more traditional winter activities, why not try curling, ice skating, or take a sleigh ride.
Once you’ve enjoyed a day on the slopes there are some great Ellmau bars and restaurants. You’ve got around 30 restaurants to visit. Brenneralm in particular is a good shout, where you can enjoy some traditional Austrian cuisine. Or you could try Café Bergland, where you can experience a good Austrian welcome. You’ve also got Bettina which is a great mountainside café; well worth a visit to warm up with a hot chocolate or glühwein on your way back down the slope.
If you do want to party however, make sure you visit Pub 66 which one of the best venues for après-ski entertainment in its karaoke and party atmosphere.
Staying in Ellmau
For ski accommodation in Ellmau, you’ll find a lot of chalet-style apartments and chalets here. You’ll also find an extensive range of Ellmau hotels which vary in style and budget. So, whether you’re looking for traditional Austrian chalet-style hotels or luxurious all-inclusive hotels in a contemporary style, there are lots to choose from.
Snow Conditions
When it comes to altitude, Ellmau reaches 1927m. Although it does have good snowmaking facilities, the lower slopes can be affected by the sunshine. Traditionally, March is the best month for snow, with an average snow depth of 182cm at the top. Conversely, November sees the lowest, with traditionally an average of 27cm at the top.
Resort Life
You’ve definitely come to the right resort if you’re looking for a location that offers both a traditional Austrian experience – and an affordable one too. Ellmau has a nice variety of shops to explore including excellent ski hire. It’s quite a peaceful resort and very welcoming for families.
Head for Wimm, just a 15-minute walk away – or take the bus. Here you’ll find the Kaiserbad leisure centre, the home of the Aquarena wet zone. Families will love the bubble jet tubs, flumes, indoor and outdoor pools, and relaxing in the steam rooms and saunas.
You’ll certainly enjoy the traditional Austrian après-ski here which runs from the afternoon till night. Although if you’re looking for night-time partying to the early hours, you’ll find the bar-style entertainment is a bit more low key.
What’s Good About
We like Ellmau as it’s a great relaxed family ski resort with lots of true Austrian charm. Ski-wise, you’ve got full access to SkiWelt, which is one largest linked ski areas in Austria. They’ve really thought about the snowmaking facilities here, but that doesn’t always help the lower slopes in the sunshine. It’s a particularly good location for ski beginners, with an excellent variety of pistes for intermediates too. A particularly affordable location to choose, even by Austrian standards, plus it also has a great variety of accommodation to choose from.
The SnowResort Verdict
There’s no doubt that the Ellmau piste map is a super location for intermediate skiers, thanks to its easy access to the SkiWelt ski area. However, it is worth bearing in mind that that the main Hartkaiser lift is a little further to out of town. Beginners have a treat in store thanks to their dedicated slopes. They’ve really thought about the location, with excellent snowmaking facilities and superb lift system. It may not be the most challenging resort for advanced skiers, but the variety of pistes makes up for it.