Ellmau, Austria
Ellmau is a versatile holiday resort as it has something for both summer and winter holiday-makers. The municipality attracts active tourists for its famous ski slopes: Ski Welt and the Kaisergebirge mountain range that have at least 22 mountains, the highest of which is Ellmauer Halt at 2.344 metres.
Among the mountains, forests and meadows are plenty of routes for walking, cycling as well an abundance of rock faces for climbing.
For those tourists who arenât extreme sports fans: donât despair, Ellmau hasnât forgotten about you. The town has plenty of restaurants and hotels, many of which have their own pool. There are enough shops to satisfy the most ardent souvenir collector and thereâs even a golf course and water park.
Summer
If youâre looking to get a tan, youâve come to the wrong place as the average maximum temperature in the summer is only 15°C (59°F). The extreme maximum has known to be around 30°C (86°F), but thatâs the best if has to offer. Ellmau isnât famous for its scorching heat anyway.
The good side is that it doesnât always go below zero during the summer. Youâd best check the forecast before you set off as it can get mighty cold as the lowest extreme for the season is -19°C (-2°F). Luckily, the average low temperature is 7°C (44°F). Itâs still thick jacket weather though.
With the humidity in the high 70âs most of the time, the air will feel cool and there wonât be any of that discomfort you get with a hot holiday resort.
Something worth mentioning before you pack your ropes and climbing harness, summer is Ellmauâs rainy season and by gum does it rain. The averages for June, July and August are 156, 187 and 181mm. This comes over roughly eleven days per month. Expect your walking-boots to get grafted with mud.
Winter
When the winter comes youâd best pack on the brightly coloured ski clothes and find somewhere indoors thatâs warm.
0°C (32°F) is the best youâre going to get from Ellmau in the winter. Sure, it extremes at 14°C (57°F) from time to time, but itâs best to be on the safe side and pack for extreme cold. The average low-end temperature is -6°C (21°F), but it can get a lot lower.
The humidity is less than in the summer so it shouldnât have that much of an effect, but if it does it will bring around some ground frost and possibly even air frost too.
Just because it isnât strictly the rainy season, doesnât mean itâs bone dry. Anything from 55 to 81mm drops during this season and to add to things, it snows an average 6 days a month. That being said, itâs the snow and the slopes that most visitors go for.
All that moisture and the cold does bring about some fog for a week or so in the town, so best looking out of the window before you leave the hotel.