I don't often experience a hotel that touches me so much that I still think back to it two weeks after departure. A hotel that exceeded all expectations in every way possible. A hotel that was simply a wonderful place that, once you've checked in, you simply never want to check out ever again.
Hotel Der Bär in Ellmau, Tirol is exactly such hotel. We checked in to Hotel Der Bär without any expectations and were completely surprised and overwhelmed by this special hotel.
Ellmau and the surrounding area are apparently very popular as a Winter destination, so keep reading if you are looking for a top address for the coming Winter.
We can say from our own experience that this area is highly recommended in Summer as well!
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She stayed at hotel Der Bär on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
Location
Hotel Der Bär is located in the little town of Ellmau in Tirol, Austria. It's just an hour and fifteen minutes from Munich, Innsbruck and Salzburg. We actually travelled to Munich and rented a car from there to get to Ellmau. It's a very easy and doable drive. Just keep in mind that you will need a vignette for Austria. You can get one at any gas station when you drive towards the border.
A vignette for one day costs €8.60 EUR and a vignette for 10 days costs €11.50 EUR. If you go for more than one day, take the 10 day vignette, it pays off. (Prices are based on own experiences in September 2024)
Ellmau is part of the of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range, located in the eastern part of the Austrian state of Tirol. The Wilder Kaiser mountain range stretches from St. Johann in Tirol to Kufstein, with the four villages of Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Söll on its southern foothills.
Opposite the Wilder Kaiser are the Kitzbühel Alps. In Winter this is home to the region's ski resort, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental. You can access this ski resort from the four villages in the valley, including Ellmau.
Ellmau is one of the four villages in the valley. It's a lively Tyrolean village with the amazing and impressive views of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range from every corner of town. It's very centrally located and very easily accessible. Ellmau and the Wilder Kaiser mountain range are a number one travel destination in both Summer and Winter.
Inclusive Services
A stay at Hotel Der Bär comes with an inclusive approach and let's you enjoy exclusive luxury quality. They say it exactly right on their website, much of what makes a holiday at Hotel Der Bär so special cannot be put into words. That's exactly how it is. Staying at Hotel Der Bär surrounds you, pampers you and relaxes you.
Their included services include breakfast until 11 AM, afternoon snacks between 1 PM and 3 PM, home made cakes until 4.30 PM and a 5-course evening menu.
In addition to these culinary delights, their swimming pools, wellness and relaxation are of course also fully included. We will delve further into the culinary delights and the hotel's swimming pools and wellness later in this article.
Bären Superior Suite
Hotel Der Bär has a wide range of rooms and suites to choose from. All their rooms have light-colored and pleasant oak floors, fine fabrics and an individually designed room concept.
We were super lucky to have stayed in one of their biggest suites, the Bären Superior Suite. The suite can host up to 6 people. The suite is located at the far end of the resort, away from the main buildings.
Our suite was on the ground floor of the building. Being located on the ground floor, our suite also has a quiet outdoor area with plenty of privacy. There are two bedrooms and a large living room. Once you go outside it's all nature. The view of the Wilder Kaiser makes it absolutely picture perfect.
The bathroom is large with a separate bath and shower and a double sink.
Both bedrooms offer very comfortable beds and a large television. They also both have access to the outdoor terrace, but only one of the bedrooms has the Wilder Kaiser views from the bed.
The terrace surrounds the suite, at the front there is a table with two chairs and also two sun loungers and a parasol.
Culinary
As we have mentioned before, a stay at Hotel Der Bär comes with all-inclusive culinary delights. You start your mornings in this hotel in the restaurant with a delicious and extensive breakfast.
Breakfast is buffet style and you can also have fresh eggs (any style), pancakes and waffles made. The friendly staff comes to the table for fresh coffee.
After breakfast you can almost go straight to the afternoon snacks. You can find this from 1 PM to 3 PM in the hotel bar. Afternoon snacks include fruit, salads and some hot food.
Also every day in the hotel bar along with the afternoon snacks are the home-made cakes. These are served from 1 PM to 4.30 PM. Every day you can choose from 3 or 4 delicious cakes and sweets.
After you have had your last pastry at 4.30 PM, you can join them for the 5-course dinner from 7 PM. For dinner you can choose between 2 choices for each course. On top of that there is also a salad bar and a large cheese board.
Dinners at Hotel Der Bär are the highlight of the day. The food is mainly local and of top quality.
The dessert are mouthwatering.
Make sure you dress appropriately for these evenings.
Pools
The swimming pools are really the eye catcher of this hotel. The hotel has a total of three pools, two outdoor pools and one indoor pool.
The indoor pool can be reached from the wellness area. The indoor pool is actually connected to the outdoor infinity pool.
The infinity pool is their best pool if you ask me. It's a heated pool (31 degrees Celsius) and has views of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range. Believe me, once you discovered the infinity pool, it's all you want. The other outdoor pool is heated to 24 degrees Celsius.
There are plenty of beds at both the indoor pool and both outdoor pools where you can relax between swims. We recommend the extreme lounging beds on top of the pool bar for ultimate relaxation and the best mountain views.
If you are done discovering the outdoor pools, then this is the indoor pool.
Pool bar
One of the best things about the outdoor pool area is the poolside bar. It's a wonderful spot next to one of their outdoor pools. There is simply no better way than to enjoy your holiday with a drink in your hand, enjoying the amazing mountain views.
Make sure you check out the pool bar and see what's on their menu.
Wellness
I couldn't get away from the infinity pool, but the wellness and sauna of this hotel are also worth checking out. From the indoor pool just take the stairs down and you will see the door to the sauna and wellness area. If you go further down you will also find the relaxation room.
In the wellness area you will find a panorama sauna, Finnish sauna, a steam bath, a brechel bath and a rain shower.
The panorama sauna offers wonderful views, so definitely relax here during your stay.
Fitness
Naturally, Ellmau and the surrounding area offer plenty of outdoor opportunities to be active. If you still don't think that's enough and are looking for even more action, the hotel also has a small but fully equipped fitness room. You can even join the morning yoga once a week.
Also once a week but only during summer you are able to join the hike to the hotel's own Bärenalm, where their head waiter Robert Lechner awaits you with a hearty snack. Ask at reception for the details.
Morning news
It is these details, executed to perfection, that really make the difference. Every morning at breakfast there is a new morning news waiting for you. By default they are in German, but feel free to ask for an English version. In this morning news the hotel gives you all kinds of tips for things to do in Ellmau and the surrounding area.
We read about the Hintersteinersee in the first morning news of our stay. We ended up visiting this one too and it was definitely a highlight of our stay. So keep an eye out on these morning news booklets, you never know what you end up doing and exploring.
Traveltomtom recommendations
We haven't experienced Ellmau in Winter, but if you're visiting in Summer we have a few recommendations we think shouldn't be missed!
Marien Chapel
We never get used to the view from our suite. The impressiveness of a mountain range remains something special. But we also noticed a small chapel on top of a hill, with what seemed like a beautiful view of Ellmau. The choice was quickly made, we would definitely walk up during our stay. It is very easy to get there and it is very much worth the short walk up.
If you walk up towards Hotel Der Bär from the church in town, you will soon see another hotel called Das Kaiserblick, on the left hand side when walking up. From their driveway there is a passage through the gate to the path that leads to the chapel. The view from this chapel is absolutely impressive and worth a walk up during your stay.
Hohe Salve Mountain
I think this was my favorite place and thing to do during our stay in Ellmau. The Hohe Salve is a mountain with the peak at 1829 meters. It's known for being Tirol's most beautiful view.
The views from the summit are truly stunning. On clear days you have 360 degrees view and can even see the famous Grossglockner, Austria's tallest peak.
From Ellmau it's a short 20 minute drive to the main station of the Salvenbahn. Here you can take the cable car all the way up to the top. On the summit you'll get rewarded with impressive views, but also with an old pilgrimage chapel and a restaurant. The restaurant has a revolving observation deck from where you can enjoy 360 degree views.
Hintersteinersee
We had never heard of the Hintersteinersee and probably wouldn't have visited it if we hadn't read about it in the daily morning news at breakfast.
Before heading back to Munich we decided to pay a quick visit to this amazing lake. The Hintersteinersee is a lake that spans 56 hectares and is up to 36 meters deep. It's located just a short 15 minute drive from Ellmau and high above the town of Scheffau, at 883 meters above sea level. There is a walking path all around the lake, so you can hike around the lake.
Following the path you will be rewarded with amazing views of the turquoise blue water of the crystal clear mountain lake. It's known to be one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Tirol. It's also one of the cleanest mountain lakes in the region, the water is clean enough to drink.
There is of course much more to see and do in this beautiful area. Keep an eye out on the morning news every morning at breakfast. The hotel provides you with some of their best ideas and must do in the area. So we recommend to read the morning news every morning during your stay, who knows what you end up doing!
Final thoughts on staying at Hotel de Bär
As you may have read, our stay at Hotel Der Bär was truly fantastic and left nothing to be desired.
From all the special inclusivity's, the amazing Wilder Kaiser views, the perfect infinity pool to the wonderful staff who will pamper you down to the last detail, everything here has been done to perfection.
From the wellness to the small details like the morning news at breakfast, it all really completed the picture of staying in style in a luxury hotel in Ellmau.
Enjoy your trip to Tirol, Austria.