With its relaxed atmosphere and warm, sunny climate, Carinthia in southern Austria offers something for everyone
As the sun beats down, it’s easy to slip into holiday mode and to start imagining your next adventure. If stunning Alpine scenery, tasty cuisine and activities to suit any pace of life are on your agenda, then Carinthia – Austria’s southern-most region – may be just what you’re looking for. Better still, it’s easily accessible thanks to regular direct flights from London Stansted to Klagenfurt, Carinthia’s capital, in little over two hours.
Known for its relaxed flair, the region is studded with crystal-clear alpine lakes that, between May and September, often climb above 25C, thanks to Carinthia’s sun-drenched location. These warm waters make them ideal for swimming, however, there are plenty of alternative ways to enjoy the sparkling scenery of Carinthia’s lakes.
Lake Wörthersee, Carinthia’s largest lake and one of the warmest in the Alps, offers stand-up paddle tours to admire the surroundings, while romantics can soak up the atmosphere at Lake Millstätter See, either with an early morning dip, a rowing boat excursion for two or simply by exploring the shoreline to find one of its many secluded bays. The turquoise waters of Lake Faaker See can be experienced from canoe with a unique tour through the reeds, known as its ‘Everglades’, and Lake Ossiacher is a water-sport enthusiast’s dream as the thermal lift and gentle winds make it a wonderful windsurfing spot.
Should you prefer to take in the scenery from dry land, Carinthia offers many biking and hiking trails, including the Carinthian Lake Loop – a 420km cycle route that resembles a figure of eight and leads alternately past 20 lakes and along riverbanks with stunning vantage points along the way. Meanwhile, walkers can indulge their senses and enjoy the sun on their skin thanks to Carinthia’s 20 Slow Trails, each mapped out to offer relaxed lakeside paths that are no more than 10km in length.
For those days when you’re after something a little less active, Carinthia offers a variety of cultural experiences, from museums and cable cars to incredible wildlife and nature experiences – and the Kärnten Card offers free or reduced admissions to over 100 attractions throughout the region, as well as a wealth of inspiration on what adventure to head for next.
For more information and inspiration, visit visitcarinthia.at or follow on Instagram: @visitcarinthia.
Image credits: © Franz Gerdl; KÄrnten information/Edward Groeger; KÄrnten information/Gert Perauer