A popular ski village on the northern side of the massive SkiWelt, Austria's largest skiing area, Ellmau is the ideal destination for a family skiing holiday. With stunning views of the snow-crowned Wilder Kaiser massif, this quaint Alpine village still retains its traditional aesthetic in spite of modern developments and is as picturesque as it is entertaining, boasting an enormous modern leisure centre alongside rustic 17th century farmhouses. Our collection of the best places to stay in Ellmau has something for everyone, from quaint rustic stays to contemporary hotels.

Ellmau's heritage has roots that run deep. A historic farming settlement dating back to the 12th century, it was an important stopping point for travellers going between Worgl and St. Johann on the old route to Salzburg, and it was even a focal point of the struggle between Napolean's armies and the Austrian mountain soldiers. Many of the buildings - from old chalets and farmhouses to timbered barns and granary stores - date back to the 17th century. The Hotel Alte Poste, for example, was the first post office in the village, built in 1616, and the building - though now a hotel - is still owned and managed by the descendants of the first postmasters.

There is much to do here, in both the winter and summer. With access to well over 280km of ski runs in the SkiWelt area, is it ideally placed for a family skiing holiday, and the runs cater to all ages and levels of experience. During the summer, the tree-lined slopes of the Wilder Kaiser teem with hikers and bikers. For a fun afternoon outing with the kids, be sure to take them to the KaiserBad Leisure Centre, which boasts not only pools and waterslides, but climbing walls, tennis courts and a top-of-the-range wellness centre - the perfect place to go after a tiring day of hiking or skiing.

What not to miss

• Enjoy skiing on the 280km-worth of pistes in the SkiWelt area behind Ellmau.
• Feeling brave? Attempt to conquer the Wilder Kaiser mountain range.
• Take the kids for a fun afternoon at the KaiserBad Leisure Centre, enjoying the waterslides and wellness centre.
• Visit the Hotel Alte Poste, a building dating back to 1616.
• Find some solace in the picturesque church in the centre of the village.

This is a popular spot, particularly during school-holidays, so to ensure a room at one of the best places to stay in Ellmau we recommend booking well in advance.

The best places to stay in Ellmau

Contemporary style

• Hotel Der Bar: a stylish hotel with contemporary rooms, offering a gourmet restaurant and a pampering spa ideal for unwinding in after a long day on the slopes. Great for couples.

Pure luxury

• Biohotel Stranglwirt: a 5* chalet with spacious pinewood rooms, 6 restaurants, an extensive spa, indoor and outdoor pools, stables and tennis courts. Totally divine.

Alpine chic

• Sporthotel Ellmau: offering chic and spacious rooms with gorgeous views, a golf course, a gourmet restaurant serving sumptuous regional fare and a pampering spa.
• Hotel Hoch Filzer: a beautifully-renovated farmhouse with a focus on health-living, offering an extensive wellness centre, stylish and modern rooms and a restaurant serving high-quality organic cuisine.

For families

• Hotel Kaiserhof: a breathtaking 5* hotel in a spellbinding setting, offering large light guestrooms and suites big enough for a family. Boasting a spa, gym, 5 restaurants and an indoor swimming pool.
• Hotel Christoph: the quintessential family-orientated hotel, offering bright and elegant rooms, not to mention an incredible childcare package including rock climbing and cooking classes, (meanwhile parents can relax in the spa!)
• Cordial Sporthotel: the very best of Alpine-living. Offering simple, pleasant individually-styled rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows boasting enchanting views of the mountains. There is a cosy restaurant, spoiling spa and a games room ideal for keeping the kids entertained.

For an apartment or chalet

• Our partner Booking.com has a wide range of chalets and apartments in the nearby area.

Travel information

• Fly to Salzburg Airport, from where you can get a bus or taxi to Ellmau, the journey taking 1h 15 minutes.
• If you want to rent a car we recommend contacting our partner Rentalcars.
• The best time to go depends on what you want to do. In terms of winter activities, like skiing, the best time is between January and March, when the temperature ranges between -1 and 6 degrees. During the summer months, the temperature can reach highs of up to 21 degrees.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in Tyrol,
• or Austria,
• or contact one of our Gurus for advice.