Mountain Cable Car Ellmau - Hartkaiserbahn

The modern 10-seater gondola lift Hartkaiser transports guests in 9 minutes from the valley station in Ellmau (820m) directly into the hiking and skiing paradise of Hartkaiser (at 1550m). All cabins are equipped with seat heating and Wi-Fi, accessible for the disabled, and a particularly long boarding area ensures comfortable and relaxed boarding. With an incomparable view of the Kaiser Mountains, the ride on the modern gondola becomes a special experience.

The mountain station is an ideal starting point for numerous hiking and walking trails in summer. Additionally, rustic alpine huts and cabins provide culinary enjoyment on the mountain, inviting you to rest and savor. Right at the mountain station of the Hartkaiserbahn is the adventure world Ellmi’s Magic World. The 4,000 square meter children's playground with a carving hut, petting zoo, climbing castle, and many other adventure stations delights visitors of all ages throughout the summer.

Middle Station:
Winter: open daily between 11:00 and 16:30 (since February 8, 2026)
Summer: Access and egress from the mountain side between 10:00 and 16:45 (mid-May to mid-October) possible

Once upon a time...
by the local chronicler of Ellmau, Christian Kuen
44 years of Hartkaiser funicular railway
January 20, 1973, marks a significant and forward-looking date for the upswing of Ellmau's tourism. On this day, the completed funicular railway at Ellmau's Hartkaiser was ceremoniously inaugurated in the presence of numerous local representatives from politics and business, thus laying the foundation for a successful future. Men with vision succeeded at that time through great courage and commitment in creating a successful basis from which Ellmau still benefits today.
In January 1972, the extensive bridge construction began by the company Voest. Just a few months later, the construction of the valley station was completely finished, and the erection of the mountain station, including an integrated restaurant, followed in summer or autumn. The Hartkaiserbahn has been modernized several times in the following years and today is one of the most important components of the Ski World Wilder Kaiser - Brixental.

In summer 2015, the funicular was replaced by a hyper-modern 10-seater XLarge gondola lift that features all the latest cable car technology. The new Hartkaiser lift is one of the most modern cable cars in the world. All cabins are equipped with seat heating and Wi-Fi, accessible for the disabled, and a particularly long boarding area ensures comfortable and relaxed boarding. The valley station was completely renovated: the Ski World Ellmau now offers a sports shop with ski and bike rentals, a heated ski depot of 1500 m², a restaurant, and an après-ski bar. In winter 2018/2019, the Hotel Tirol Lodge opened directly at the valley station of the Hartkaiser gondola lift.