Carinthia Lakes
5
Day Itinerary •
Austria
Five days in Carinthia give you the full extraordinary sweep of the warmest and most culturally rich lake district in Austria, from the fashionable Worthersee and Klagenfurt's extraordinary Renaissance old town to the turquoise Millstatter See, the extraordinary clifftop fortress of Hochosterwitz, the greatest Romanesque cathedral in Austria at Gurk, the hidden turquoise Weissensee, and the extraordinary Villach and Faaker See. This route covers the complete Carinthia. The Worthersee and its Belle Epoque resorts, Klagenfurt's Dragon Fountain and old town, the Millstatter See and its Romanesque abbey, the medieval walled town of Gmünd, Hochosterwitz and Gurk, the extraordinary Weissensee where no motorboats are allowed, Villach's extraordinary old town, the Faaker See, and the Roman ruins of Magdalensberg.
Best Time To Visit
June to September for swimming, year-round for culture
Getting There
Fly into Klagenfurt or Ljubljana, train from Vienna 3.5 hours
Getting Around
Car essential throughout for lake circuit and castles
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 150 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and driving
DAY 1
KLAGENFURT AND THE WORTHERSEE
MORNING
KLAGENFURT OLD TOWN AND DRAGON FOUNTAIN
Klagenfurt's extraordinary Renaissance old town centres on the Neuer Platz with its famous Lindwurm Dragon Fountain, based on a woolly rhinoceros skull found in the area and the symbol of the city since 1593. The extraordinary Landhaus arcaded courtyard is the finest Renaissance architecture in Carinthia. The Stadtpfarrkirche cathedral, the extraordinary Dom St Peter und Paul, and the Bishop's Palace are all outstanding. The Stadtgalerie contains the finest contemporary art collection in Carinthia. Travel: 20 min drive to Worthersee
MIDDAY
THE WORTHERSEE AND PORTSCHACH
The Worthersee is the most fashionable lake in Austria, its turquoise water reaching 28 degrees in summer and its Belle Epoque resorts the finest in Carinthia. Portschach on the north shore is the most extraordinary, its peninsula jutting into the lake with views in all directions. Brahms composed here, Falco was born nearby, and the extraordinary lakefront villas along the north shore give the finest Belle Epoque promenade in Austria. Maria Worth church on its peninsula is the most photographed in Carinthia. Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE PYRAMIDENKOGEL TOWER
The Pyramidenkogel on the hill above the Worthersee is the most extraordinary modern viewpoint in Carinthia, its extraordinary wooden tower at 100 metres the tallest wooden observation tower in the world, giving a 360-degree panorama over all the major Carinthian lakes simultaneously. The extraordinary wooden slide descending 56 metres from the tower platform is the longest indoor tower slide in the world. Entry approx 14 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Minimundus open-air miniature park on the Worthersee in Klagenfurt contains over 170 scale models of the world's most famous buildings at 1:25 scale, including extraordinary models of the Eiffel Tower, St Peter's and the Taj Mahal built with extraordinary precision over decades. Entry approx 16 euros. The finest miniature park in the German-speaking world.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Klagenfurt old town Coffee on the Neuer Platz below the extraordinary Dragon Fountain. | Lunch: Restaurant in Portschach Outstanding lakeside lunch on the most fashionable shore of the Worthersee. | Dinner: Restaurant Landhauskeller, Klagenfurt Outstanding Carinthian restaurant in the Renaissance building. Kasnudeln and local wine.
DAY 2
THE MILLSTATTER SEE
MORNING
MILLSTATT ABBEY AND LAKEFRONT
The Millstatter See is the most extraordinary deep-water lake in Carinthia, its turquoise water 141 metres deep. The Romanesque Benedictine abbey in Millstatt, founded in 1070, has the finest Romanesque cloister in Carinthia, its extraordinary carved capitals and the remarkable 12th-century frescoes in the chapter house outstanding. The abbey archive contains manuscripts of extraordinary rarity. The lakefront promenade below is the finest in the region. Museum entry approx 5 euros. Travel: 20 min drive to Spittal
MIDDAY
SCHLOSS PORCIA AND SPITTAL AN DER DRAU
Schloss Porcia is the most extraordinary Renaissance palace in Carinthia, its three-storey arcaded courtyard the finest Italian Renaissance architecture north of the Alps. The Museum of Regional History within has an outstanding Carinthian folklore collection. The Spittal old town around it has a fine historic centre. The Drau river promenade gives extraordinary views of the Alps above the valley. Palace entry approx 8 euros. Travel: 30 min drive to Gmünd
AFTERNOON
GMÜND, THE UNDISCOVERED WALLED TOWN
Gmünd in Carinthia is the most extraordinarily preserved medieval walled town in Austria, its intact city walls, round towers, Renaissance castle and guild houses entirely unaffected by modern tourism. The extraordinary Porsche Museum tells the story of the first Porsche car built here in 1948 in an extraordinary collection. The town is one of the most extraordinary hidden gems in Carinthia. Porsche Museum entry approx 12 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Nockberge National Park above Millstatt has the most extraordinary rounded Alpine landscape in Austria, its Nockalmstrasse toll road giving the finest panoramic mountain drive in Carinthia. The Nockberge are entirely different from the sharp limestone peaks elsewhere in Austria. Toll road approx 22 euros. Open June to October. The finest hidden mountain drive in southern Austria.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel Seevilla, Millstatt Outstanding lakeside breakfast before the morning abbey visit. | Lunch: Restaurant in Gmünd Outstanding Carinthian food in the medieval walled town. Local Kasnudeln and house wine. | Dinner: Hotel See-Villa, Millstatt Outstanding lakeside dinner. Local freshwater fish and the finest Carinthian white wine.
DAY 3
HOCHOSTERWITZ AND GURK
MORNING
HOCHOSTERWITZ, THE CASTLE ON THE ROCK
Hochosterwitz is the most extraordinary castle in Carinthia, rising 160 metres above the plain on an isolated volcanic rock with 14 fortified gates spiralling up the face. The innermost courtyard armoury museum is outstanding. The castle is visible from 30km away and has never fallen to an enemy in recorded history. The extraordinary views from the highest walls over the Carinthian plain and the Karawanken mountains beyond are the finest in the region. Entry approx 16 euros. Travel: 30 min drive to Gurk
MIDDAY
GURK CATHEDRAL
The Dom zu Gurk is the most extraordinary Romanesque building in Austria, its twin-towered facade and the crypt of 100 columns beneath the finest Romanesque interior in the German-speaking world. The extraordinary 12th-century Bishop's Chapel frescoes above the crypt and the Samson Carrousel fresco cycle are outstanding. The Verdun Antependium, an extraordinary enamel altarpiece of 1458, is the finest medieval enamel work in Carinthia. Crypt entry approx 2 euros. Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE MAGDALENSBERG ROMAN SITE
The Magdalensberg is the most extraordinary Roman archaeological site in Austria, its excavations revealing the capital of the Roman province of Noricum with extraordinary mosaics, complete house foundations and the finest collection of Roman bronzes in the country. The Magdalensberg youth bronze found here in 1502 was the first classical bronze found north of the Alps. The summit church gives extraordinary views over the Carinthian plain. Site entry approx 8 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Klopeinersee southeast of Klagenfurt is the warmest lake in Austria at 29 degrees in peak summer, entirely unknown to international visitors. The extraordinary clear shallow water and the small beachside villages are entirely free. The finest hidden swimming lake in Carinthia, 30 minutes from Klagenfurt.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gasthaus near Hochosterwitz Coffee before the castle gates open at 9am. | Lunch: Restaurant in Gurk village Outstanding Carinthian food in the cathedral village. Local cider and Kasnudeln. | Dinner: Restaurant in Villach old town Outstanding Carinthian cuisine. Local venison and Carinthian white wine.
DAY 4
WEISSENSEE AND VILLACH
MORNING
THE WEISSENSEE, THE CAR-FREE TURQUOISE LAKE
The Weissensee is the most extraordinary lake in Carinthia, a turquoise mountain lake at 930 metres where all motorboats are banned, the extraordinary silence broken only by electric boats and oars. The lake is 11km long and one of the most extraordinarily clear in the Alps. The extraordinary shoreline footpath circles the entire lake in 5 hours. The small villages of Techendorf and Neusach on the shore have extraordinary traditional Carinthian farmhouses. The lake is entirely free to visit. Travel: 1.5 hour drive to Hermagor
MIDDAY
THE NASSFELD PASS AND THE GAILTAL
The Nassfeld Pass above Hermagor gives the most extraordinary panorama over the Italian Alps from Austrian soil, the extraordinary view south over the Julian Alps and the Friulian plain extending to the Adriatic on a clear day. The Gailtal valley below is the most extraordinary traditional valley in Carinthia, its wooden farmhouses with their extraordinary carved balconies and barns the finest examples of traditional Carinthian vernacular architecture. Travel: 45 min drive to Villach
AFTERNOON
VILLACH OLD TOWN
Villach is the most extraordinary historic city in western Carinthia, its extraordinary old town on the right bank of the Drau with the extraordinary Parish Church tower giving the finest panorama over the city and the Karawanken mountains. The Stadtpfarrkirche contains the finest relief map of Carinthia in existence, carved in marble in 1530, extraordinary in its detail. The Villach Museum in the old town tells the story of the extraordinary Roman settlement Bilachinium.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Keutschacher See south of Klagenfurt is the most extraordinary undiscovered lake in the Worthersee district, a small turquoise lake in a nature reserve with no large hotels and an extraordinary natural beach. The Keutschach castle ruins above give views over both the Keutschacher See and the Worthersee simultaneously. Entirely free. The finest hidden swimming lake near Klagenfurt.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gasthof in Techendorf Coffee on the extraordinary car-free turquoise lake before the morning walk. | Lunch: Restaurant at Weissensee Outstanding lakeside restaurant. Local freshwater fish and Carinthian white wine. | Dinner: Restaurant Rathauskeller, Villach Outstanding traditional Carinthian restaurant in the old town. Local venison and Zweigelt.
DAY 5
DOBRATSCH AND FAAKER SEE
MORNING
THE DOBRATSCH, CARINTHIA'S PANORAMA MOUNTAIN
The Dobratsch at 2,166 metres above Villach is the most extraordinary free panorama in Carinthia, accessible by road to within 400 metres of the summit in summer. The extraordinary panorama takes in all the major Carinthian lakes, the Karawanken range, the Julian Alps and on clear days the Dolomites beyond. The Nature Park Dobratsch below has extraordinary botanical walks through the extraordinary limestone flora. The road to the summit car park is open June to October. Travel: 20 min drive to Faaker See
MIDDAY
THE FAAKER SEE AND THE ISLAND CHURCH
The Faaker See is the most extraordinary small lake in Carinthia, its extraordinary turquoise water with the Mittagskogel peak reflected in it and the tiny island in the centre with its extraordinary Romanesque chapel the most beautiful lake scene in Carinthia. The lakefront promenade at Egg am Faaker See gives the finest view. The extraordinary Rosegg castle and its animal park in the valley below is outstanding. The lake is entirely free to visit. Travel: 30 min drive to Klagenfurt
AFTERNOON
DEPARTURE VIA THE WORTHERSEE
The final drive along the north shore of the Worthersee from Velden to Klagenfurt gives the finest farewell to Carinthia, the extraordinary turquoise lake with the forested mountains behind visible from the lakeside road. The Klagenfurt airport is 3km from the city centre. The extraordinary Dragon Fountain in the Neuer Platz is the finest last image of Carinthia. The train back to Vienna departs from Klagenfurt main station and takes 3.5 hours through extraordinary Alpine scenery.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Ossiacher See east of Villach is the third largest lake in Carinthia and the most extraordinary for sailing, its extraordinary orientation and consistent winds making it the finest sailing lake in Austria. The Benedictine abbey on the north shore, founded in the 11th century, has an extraordinary Baroque church. The lake is entirely free and the promenade walks along both shores are outstanding.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Villach old town Coffee below the Stadtpfarrkirche tower before the drive to the Dobratsch. | Lunch: Restaurant at Faaker See Outstanding lakeside restaurant. Local freshwater fish and Carinthian white wine. | Dinner: Restaurant Landhauskeller, Klagenfurt Finest farewell Carinthian dinner. Local Kasnudeln and the finest Austrian Gruner Veltliner.
Where To Stay
Klagenfurt, Night 1 Hotel Sandwirth or Palais Porcia. Old town location. Approx 90 to 200 euros per night. Millstatt, Nights 2 to 3 Hotel Seevilla or Strandhotel. Direct lake access. Approx 80 to 180 euros per night. Villach, Nights 4 to 5 Holiday Inn Villach or Hotel Post. Old town location. Approx 80 to 160 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. The Worthersee reaches 28 degrees in July and August. The public beach at Portschach is the finest on the lake.
2. Hochosterwitz is most atmospheric at 9am before coach parties. The 14 fortified gates are extraordinary in morning light.
3. The Weissensee bans all motorboats. The extraordinary silence on the turquoise water is unlike any other lake in Austria.
4. Gurk cathedral crypt with 100 columns is the finest Romanesque interior in Austria. Go early for extraordinary silence.
5. Carinthian Kasnudeln filled with curd and mint are the finest regional pasta in Austria. Order them everywhere.
6. The Dobratsch above Villach gives the finest free panorama in Carinthia. Drive to the summit car park in summer.
Total Budget
80 to 150 euros/day