Austria’s longest mountain funicular runs from the Tyrolean village of Ellmau to near the summit of the Hartkaiser mountain, to the south-west of the town. The Hartkaiserbahn Seilbahn (funicular) was constructed by Waagner-Büro in 1972. The funicular consists of two passenger cars which are counterbalanced. An electric motor at the bergstation winds the cable. The two carriages each carry a maximum of 161 people, and have been refurbished in 2003. Much of the line is carried on A-frame pylons providing a steady incline, room to walk underneath the funicular, and also clearance in winter for snow. The 2,230 metre-long line runs between the car park at the talstation (804 metres above sea level) to the bergstation at an altitude of 1553 metres. From here it is possible in winter to ski across to the base station of the Brandstadlbahn, which comes up to Bradstadl (1650 metres), thus allowing a round trip. In summer there is a walking trail between the bergstations of the two lifts. The lift is open in summer between 8:30 and about 5:30pm, and operates half-hourly. In winter the service finishes earlier.

The nearest ÖBB station is St. Johann in Tirol (12 km away to the east) from where there is a Post Bus service. An irregular but basically 2-hourly service runs between the front of the station at St. Johann in Tirol (Vorplatz) and Ellmau. The talstation of the Hartkaiserbahn is approximately 1km south-west of the centre of Ellmau, and is signposted from the town centre.

Today the seilbahn is operated by Sport Center Ellmau - Going GmbH & Co Hartkaiserbahn KG., and in winter serves part of the Skiwelt skiing area.