Introduction
Carinthia (Kärnten), Austria's southernmost state, bordering Italy and Slovenia, is the country's lake district and sun-trap — a relaxed, almost Mediterranean region of warm turquoise bathing lakes ringed by Alpine peaks. For travellers it offers summer swimming in some of Europe's warmest mountain lakes, the high mountains of the Hohe Tauern and the Grossglockner, the lakeside resorts and the easygoing southern flair that has earned it the nickname the 'Austrian Riviera'.
Overview
Carinthia is the warm, sunny south of Austria — a state of lakes and mountains tucked against the Italian and Slovenian borders, with a relaxed, almost Mediterranean atmosphere that sets it apart from the rest of the country. Its great summer draw is its lakes, among the warmest swimmable Alpine lakes in Europe: the large, glamorous Wörthersee, ringed by the resort towns of Velden and Pörtschach and the state capital Klagenfurt, with bathing jetties, lakeside promenades and a lively summer scene; the deep, clear Millstätter See; the turquoise Faaker See beneath the Mittagskogel peak; the Ossiacher See; and the pristine, protected Weissensee, one of the cleanest lakes in the Alps. In summer these warm waters, framed by green mountains, make Carinthia Austria's beach holiday. The state is also serious mountain country: its north and west rise into the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria's largest, crowned by the Grossglockner — the country's highest peak at 3,798 metres — reached by the spectacular Grossglockner High Alpine Road, one of Europe's great mountain drives. The gentler Nockberge offer rounded, hikeable summits, and winter brings skiing to resorts like Bad Kleinkirchheim (with its thermal spas) and Nassfeld on the Italian border. The capital, Klagenfurt, sits at the eastern end of the Wörthersee with a handsome Renaissance old town and its emblematic Lindwurm dragon fountain, near the popular Minimundus miniature-world park. With influences from Italy and Slovenia in its food and culture, plenty of sunshine, and a calendar of summer lake festivals and the famous Villach carnival, Carinthia is a relaxed, scenic region. It's at its best in summer (June to September) for the lakes and hiking, with winter offering skiing and spas.
Discover Carinthia
Carinthia's lakes are its signature, and in summer they are the warmest swimmable Alpine lakes in Europe — clear, turquoise water reaching pleasant bathing temperatures against a backdrop of green mountains. The largest and most famous is the Wörthersee, a long, glamorous lake whose shores hold the lively resort towns of Velden (with its grand casino and waterfront) and Pörtschach, and the capital Klagenfurt — its waters busy with swimmers, sailing boats and lakeside promenades, lidos and cafés through the warm months. To the north, the deep Millstätter See is calmer and ringed by mountains; the small, vividly turquoise Faaker See sits beneath the pyramid of the Mittagskogel; the Ossiacher See is a watersports hub; and the high, protected Weissensee is one of the purest lakes in the Alps, beloved for its clear water and, in winter, its vast natural ice-skating surface. Swimming, sailing, paddleboarding and simply relaxing on the lake jetties is the essence of a Carinthian summer — the reason the state is called the 'Austrian Riviera'.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Summer swimming in Europe's warmest Alpine lakes — Wörthersee, Millstätter See, Faaker and Weissensee.
The Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria's highest peak and the spectacular Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
Winter slopes and thermal spas at Bad Kleinkirchheim and Nassfeld, and ice-skating on the Weissensee.
Klagenfurt and its Lindwurm and Minimundus, Villach's old town and an Italian-Slovenian-influenced culture.
Frequently asked questions
Cities in Carinthia
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.