Mountains, lakes, castles and palaces, historic towns, regional specialties and good wine, plus the proximity to Italy and Slovenia make Austria's southernmost federal state special.
Carinthia is located in the very south of Austria and offers its visitors a number of superlatives: Here you will not only find most of the country's lakes, but also the highest mountain, the Großglockner. And the most hours of sunshine are here in the south. Located right on the border with Italy and Slovenia, a unique mix of the Alps and the Adriatic awaits you in Carinthia. Perfect for a holiday with a mix of nature, culture and relaxation.
We went on a discovery tour at Lake Wörthersee, in Central Carinthia and at Lake Millstätter See. We brought along tips for hiking, relaxing and enjoying your holiday in Carinthia - and of course some insider tips that not everyone knows.
What do you think of when you think of Carinthia and Lake? I'm sure we'll also be going to Lake Wörthersee pretty soon. The bathing lake is not only the largest lake in Carinthia, but also the most famous. Ever since the series “A Castle on Lake Wörthersee” with Roy Black flickered across German television screens in the 1990s, almost everyone has known the lake in the south of Austria. By the way, the castle is in Velden and is now a five-star hotel. At the Falkensteiner Schlosshotel you can spend your vacation in a prime location with a lake view on Lake Wörthersee.
However, you have the best view over the lake from the Pyramidenkogel: the 100 meter high wooden observation tower on the south bank is one of the top sights and most popular excursion destinations on Lake Wörthersee. Finally, down on the shore, towns are lined up along the 16.5 kilometer long Lake Wörthersee, including Carinthia's capital Klagenfurt - and this is the perfect starting point to go on a discovery tour. There is a lot more to discover here in the south of Austria.
Lake Millstätter See is also high on the list of popular holiday destinations in Carinthia. The country's second largest, most water-rich and deepest bathing lake is framed by the mountain backdrop of the Nockberge and offers a wide range of activities, from water sports to mountain tours. On the north bank you can drive directly along the lakeshore from Döbriach in the east to Seeboden in the west. The barely developed, green south bank, on the other hand, is popular for cycling tours and walks along the water. In summer the small ferry Seenixe takes you here from Seeboden.
One of the most famous sights on Lake Millstatt is Millstatt Abbey. The former monastery and Benedictine monastery with church and cloister is still the center of the town today, and you can go on a journey through time in the monastery museum. The historic villas in Millstatt are also pretty from the time when Austria's nobility came to the lake for summer vacation.
Beyond the Alpine region around the Großglockner, Carinthia's mountain world often consists of gently rising hills - perfect for relaxed and decelerating hikes without stress. There are now a total of 20 so-called slow trails in Carinthia, which invite you to take a leisurely hike between lakes and mountains, always including great views. The slow trails are no more than ten kilometers long, have no more than 300 meters of altitude and you will be on the trail for a maximum of three hours - exactly the right thing for leisure hikers.
We even tried three slow trails during our trip. The Slow Trails Mirnrock and Zwergsee on Lake Millstätter See are short and easy to walk and offer great views of the lake - sometimes from high up at the foot of the world mountain Mirnrock, sometimes from the Millstätter Plateau with a view of Millstatt and the south bank. And the Slow Trail Längensee in Central Carinthia is also easy to walk, but at eight kilometers it is significantly longer. It leads from St. Georgen Abbey around Lake Längensee - and at the end of the tour you can jump into the lake at the lido. Splendid!
In Carinthia, it's not just the slow trails that await connoisseurs; in Austria's southernmost federal state, the topic of slow food is also the focus. Numerous companies have joined the movement for conscious eating culture and sustainable food production and rely on local products and fresh, regional and seasonal cuisine. The proximity to Italy and Slovenia is also visible on the plate and is reflected in the Alpine-Adriatic cuisine.
A good meal requires good wine - and you can find that in Carinthia today. Wine growing has a long tradition in the south of Austria and yet disappeared for a long time. Only since the 1970s has wine been grown on the sunny slopes again - a large part of it in Central Carinthia.
What shouldn't be missing from a gourmet holiday? Exactly, wellness and relaxation. If you haven't booked accommodation with a pool, sauna or spa area, you should definitely make a note of the Millstätter See bathhouse. Opened at the end of 2012, the modern bathhouse not far from Millstatt's stately lakeside villas reinterprets a piece of history. Following the example of historical bathhouses, you can have a really good time here right on the lake.
Various saunas, an outdoor infinity pool and spacious relaxation areas with a view await you on almost 4,000 square meters. After the infusion in the tower sauna, jump straight into the lake to cool off, simply great! And if you get hungry every now and then: the in-house café-restaurant L’Onda serves Carinthian specialties with a lake view.
Not only as a castle fan, you should also include a visit to Hochosterwitz Castle, one of the landmarks of Carinthia, on your to-do list for your vacation in the south of Austria. The popular attraction stands on a steep rock in the middle of the hilly landscape and is hard to miss from afar and is a real eye-catcher.
What's special are the 14 striking gates that you have to pass on the way up to the castle. They used to make Hochosterwitz impregnable. It will take you around 30 minutes to climb to the castle, but you can also use a lift. An armory, the weapons collection, a collection of pictures await you at the top - and a great view over the green central Carinthia to the Karawanken and Slovenia.
Finally, we head back to Klagenfurt, Carinthia's capital directly on Lake Wörthersee. Here you can combine art and culture with hikes in the mountains and a beach holiday at the lake. Lake Wörthersee is one of the warmest Alpine lakes and gets up to 28 degrees in summer. Then it’s off to the beach on the east bay.
And of course there is a lot to discover in Carinthia's capital throughout the rest of the year. For example, you shouldn't miss Klagenfurt's old town around the Old Square with its alleys, the colorful Baroque and Renaissance buildings and cultural highlights such as the State Museum with its coat of arms hall or the Museum of Modern Art. The city's landmark is the Lindwurm Fountain on Neuer Platz, which is also one of the must-dos. The best thing to do is to just let yourself go and go on a discovery tour. Maybe you'll discover why there are even astronauts in the parish church of St. Egid.
