Lake Ossiach | 6 Fun Attractions for the Whole Family

Lake Ossiach (Ossiacher See) is the third largest lake in the state of Carinthia, after Lake Wörthersee and Lake Millstatt. The lake is located in the southern part of the Nock Mountains range, which belongs to the Alps. The highest peak near the lake is Mount Gerlitzen, rising to an altitude of 1,909 meters above sea level and offering a wonderful view of the mountains surrounding the lake. Around the lake, there are a variety of fun attractions for the whole family!

In the summer, the lake’s water is warm, reaching temperatures of up to 28 degrees Celsius. There are five main villages around the lake and several nature reserves in the uninhabited areas. The main villages are Annenheim, Sattendorf, Bodensdorf, Steindorf, and the village of Ossiach, after which the lake is named.

From the village of Annenheim, you can take a cable car up to Kanzelhöhe, from where you can eventually reach the summit of Mount Gerlitzen.

Around the lake, there are various attractions and enjoyable trails for the whole family. We have gathered the six best attractions you should know about if you plan to visit the lake.

1. Gerlitzen Fun-Park

At the middle station of the cable car that leads to the summit of Mount Gerlitzen, there is a park with a variety of fun attractions. The park includes activities such as:

Electric Car Track for Toddlers: A short and safe track with electric off-road vehicles suitable for children aged 3-12.
“Bungee” Trampolines: A high-jumping experience. Children are attached to an elastic cord that helps them reach thrilling heights while jumping on the trampoline.
Summer Tubing: Just like sledding, but in the summer! Tubing does not require getting into the water. You simply sit in a tube and slide down the specially adapted dry track.
High Ropes Course: About 160 obstacles and high ropes courses. Suitable for children aged 3 and up. The courses are divided into several levels, and some are at a height of 18 meters in the air!

Essential Information for Visiting the Fun-Park:

Operating Hours:

Changes may occur depending on weather conditions.

May 29th to June 30th: Every day from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 12:45 PM to 5:00 PM.
July, August, and early September: Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
September, October, and early November: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 12:45 PM to 5:00 PM.
From October 5th to October 25th, the cable car is not in operation.
Please note: Some attractions on the mountain operate until around 4:40 PM.

Attraction Costs:

Tickets for the attractions can be purchased at the station on top of the mountain after the cable car ride.

Combined Ticket (Tubing, balls for the wooden ball track, “Bungee” trampoline): €22.50
“Bungee” Trampolines (one use): €11
Summer Tubing (one hour): €12 per adult or child.
High Ropes Course (day ticket):
- Adult – €29.
- Child (3-13) – €24.
- Children aged 16 and over do not require adult supervision.

Kanzelbahn Cable Car Cost (Ascent and Descent):

Adult: €32
Youth (15-18): €24
Child (up to 15): €18
Child up to 6: Free.
Free for holders of the Carinthia Card.
More information on cable car prices

Official Websites:

Addresses:

Kanzelbahn: Kanzelplatz 2, 9520 Annenheim
Fun Park: Kanzelhöhe 24, 9521 Kanzelhöhe

2. Hiking Trail to the Finsterbach Waterfalls (Wasserfälle)

A short walk from the shore of Lake Ossiach, 3 beautiful waterfalls are hidden. This is a light and short nature walk that starts from the village of Sattendorf, located right on the lake shore. The trail is signposted and well-maintained, and part of it is on an asphalt path. The waterfalls are numbered, so you’ll know which one you’ve reached. The first waterfall is 23 meters high and can be reached just a few minutes after starting the trail. From there, you continue for about a kilometer through the forest until you reach the second waterfall, called Kesselfall. Another half a kilometer from there is the third and largest of the three waterfalls, called Schleierfall. Here, the water flows down from a height of 34 meters. Along the trail, there are beautiful views of the lake and its surroundings. If you arrive by car, you can park in the small village and continue on foot towards the trail.

You can get an impression of the trail in this video:

Address: Finsterbach, 9520 Sattendorf

Map:

3. Summer Toboggan Run in Ossiach (Sommerrodelbahn Ossiacher See)

The summer toboggan run starts right from the village area, so there’s no need to take a cable car up one of the surrounding mountains. After you sit in the sled, a special device will take you gently up the hill to the starting point of the run. While you are ascending, you can enjoy the wonderful view of the lake.

Unlike most summer toboggan runs in Austria, this one offers two parallel tracks, so you can race each other to see who reaches the bottom of the hill fastest. The tracks are made of metal, and the sled you sit in is very small, without a backrest or seat belts (it can be a bit dangerous if you go too fast). The track down is 760 meters long and has about 6 very fun, sharp turns. The sleds are suitable for one or two riders together.

Please note: The track is closed when it rains for safety reasons.

Operating Hours:

May: Thursday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
June: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
July and August: Every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
September (until the 7th): Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

Cost per ride:

Adult: €6
Child up to 12: €5

Official Website (German)

Address: Ostriach 126, 9570 Ostriach, Austria

Map:

4. Boat Trip on Lake Ossiach

If you want to admire the beautiful mountain scenery and the villages surrounding the lake, you can do so with a relaxing and enjoyable circular boat trip. You can also join a more elaborate cruise that includes a barbecue dinner in the evening.

A full cruise around the lake takes about two hours and costs about €21.90 for an adult and €11 for a child (ages 6-15). More information on prices for different types of cruises and booking in advance.

The boat stops at all the villages around the lake, so you can get off at any stop, wander around the village, and then get back on the boat to continue the cruise. The main stops are in the villages of Ossiach and St. Andrä. List of stops.

The cruise runs several times a day according to a fixed schedule. You can see the cruise schedule here.

5. Monkey Park in Landskron (Affenberg Landskron)

At the western end of Lake Ossiach is a monkey park with 160 Japanese macaques. The park has no small, crowded cages, but rather a huge living area for the cute monkeys. During your visit, you can watch the monkeys from just a touching distance as there are no fences separating the visitors from the monkeys.

You can find more detailed information about the park in the dedicated article we have prepared about it. Click for more information on the Monkey Park.

6. Birds of Prey Show at Landskron Castle

At the top of a wooded hill overlooking Lake Ossiach stand the remains of a large and ancient castle – Landskron Castle. The castle grounds serve as a breeding center for birds of prey, and great flight shows are held there during the summer days. You can read more about the show in the detailed article we have prepared. Click for more information on the Birds of Prey Show.