Klagenfurt & Lake Wörthersee | Recommended Attractions

Klagenfurt is a very pleasant city, but the main attraction, of course, is Lake Wörthersee, Carinthia’s largest lake, whose warm and clear waters invite many to swim and have fun in it during the hot summer months. Around the lake, there are several villages and towns with historic buildings and other attractions for the benefit of visitors to the area.

In this article, we will detail the city of Klagenfurt and Lake Wörthersee and mention several popular attractions in this area.

Table of Contents

Klagenfurt City – General Information
Main Attractions in the Old Town
Attractions Outside the Old Town
Lake Wörthersee – General Information
Swimming in the Lake
Recommended Villages and Towns Around the Lake
Recommended Accommodations
Attractions Around the Lake
Other Essential Information for Your Visit

Klagenfurt City – General Information

In the south of Austria, not far from the border with Slovenia, lies a large and ancient city – Klagenfurt. The distance from Vienna to Klagenfurt is about 325 kilometers (a 3-hour drive) and is almost the same as the distance from Klagenfurt to the city of Innsbruck in Tyrol (380 kilometers). The city is located at an altitude of 446 meters above sea level and is surrounded by forested hills to the north and the Karawanks mountain range to the south.

Legend has it that the city was founded after several brave warriors managed to defeat the winged dragon known as the “Lindwurm” that lived in this area.

Historically, the city was founded in the 12th century by Duke Herman, who ruled the area. The city’s purpose was to serve as a fortified stronghold to protect the trade routes that passed through this region.

The city area suffered from many floods, and in general, it can be said that the local residents were not very lucky. Throughout history, the city was damaged by fires, earthquakes, invasions by foreign armies, and also the wrath of the peasants during the great Peasants’ Revolt. In the 16th century, a fire broke out in the city so large that it destroyed almost all of it, and the Austrian emperor at the time, Maximilian I, gave up on it and did not invest money in its reconstruction. As a result, the city passed into the hands of a local noble family. Thanks to them, the city was rehabilitated and experienced a period of development and growth in the following years.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Klagenfurt was conquered by Napoleon’s army, and the old city walls were almost completely destroyed. Napoleon’s soldiers agreed to leave the city in exchange for a large sum of money, and they left the city with minimal damage.

Even during World War II, the city’s fate was not kind. During the war, the city was bombed 41 times. 612 people were killed in the bombings, and 443 buildings were destroyed. Towards the end of the war, the city was under the control of British forces who captured it without a fight.

After the war ended, the city began a process of reconstruction, and the city leaders showed innovation and progressive thinking for that period in terms of urban development. In 1961, Klagenfurt became the first city in Austria to establish a pedestrian zone and was also the first to start the “twin cities” cooperation with the city of Wiesbaden in Germany. The city has won the prestigious Europa Nostra Diploma three times, an award given to cities across Europe that care for the preservation of their ancient centers.

The city currently has about 100,000 inhabitants and is an important industrial center in southern Austria. Klagenfurt is not as touristy as other cities in Austria, but many come to it because of its proximity to the wonderful Lake Wörthersee or because it is on the way from Vienna to Slovenia. If you are planning to stay in the Klagenfurt area, read about recommended accommodations in Carinthia that travelers recommend.

Main Attractions in Klagenfurt’s Old Town

Most of the interesting places in the city are within a short walking distance of each other. You can, of course, get around by bus within the city (no need to drive a car inside the city). If you want to go to the lake, you can rent a bike and ride along the designated path until you reach the shore. You can, of course, also reach the shore by car.

Inside the city, it is worth visiting the old center, which has a variety of old buildings in the Renaissance style. In the west of the old town, there are remains of the old city wall from the Middle Ages.

The most important places in the Old Town are:

The Winged Dragon Fountain (Lindwurm), located in the New Square (Neuer Platz), dates from the 16th century. The winged dragon is the symbol of the city. The fountain depicts the fearsome dragon with its mouth open, from which water flows like a flame of fire. In the 17th century, a statue of Hercules was added to the fountain, representing the heroes who defeated the dragon and enabled the founding of the city.
The Landhaus (State Parliament) is a historic building erected in the 16th century. It is the most impressive building in the city that is not used for any religious purpose. The building is located between the central square of the Old Town (Alter Platz) and Heiligengeistplatz. The sides of the building have beautiful symmetrical gables that stand out in the city’s skyline. The rooms of the house are ornate and beautiful, and today this building serves as the parliament of the state of Carinthia.
The City Parish Church: The main church of Klagenfurt was built in the Baroque style at the end of the 16th century. From the outside, it is not particularly impressive and has one narrow tower similar to the towers of the Landhaus. The church hall is beautiful and decorated with large ceiling paintings and impressive golden statues. The church is a short walk from the Landhaus.
The Market Area: In Benediktinerplatz, a diverse food market is held every day (except Sunday) with many stalls of fruits, vegetables, and fresh local food. If you like the atmosphere of markets, it is worth visiting this market, which is anyway located near the historic buildings of the Old Town.

In addition, there is an interesting historical museum dealing with findings from all over the state of Carinthia. The museum is located at Museumgasse number 2.

Attractions Outside Klagenfurt’s Old Town Center

Minimundus Miniature Park: On an area of 26,000 square meters, many models of wonderful buildings are displayed with exceptional accuracy. The park opened in 1958, and by 1967, it had already received over a million visitors! To date, about 15 million visitors from all over the world have visited the park, and it is actually considered the best miniature park in Europe today. You can find more extensive information in the dedicated article we prepared about Minimundus park.
Happ Reptile Zoo (Reptilienzoo Happ): If you love snakes, crocodiles, spiders, and lizards, this zoo is especially for you! This zoo was established back in 1976 and has become one of the most popular attractions in Klagenfurt. Although its area is not particularly large (only 4,000 square meters), it has a wide variety of animals. The zoo has about 1,000 animals, including 20 types of lizards, 60 types of snakes, 20 types of turtles, an aquarium with piranha fish, spiders, scorpions, and more. In addition, there is a petting zoo with a variety of interesting reptiles and also other small animals like guinea pigs or rabbits. The most popular animals in the petting zoo are undoubtedly the small crocodiles. In the outer area of the garden, there is a small dinosaur park with accurate models of the interesting prehistoric animals, as well as water ponds with many water turtles.

Additional Essential Information for Visiting the Reptile Zoo

Opening Hours:

Summer: Every day from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Last admission at 5:00 PM.
Winter: Every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Last admission at 4:00 PM.
Please note: The garden is closed in November.

Costs:

Adult – €16.
Child (4-15) – €8.
Student – €14.
Free parking for visitors to the reptile zoo.

Official Website

Address: Villacher Strasse 237, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee

Map:

Europapark: This park is located between the Minimundus park and the shore of Lake Wörthersee. The park is well-kept and beautiful and invites its visitors for a relaxed and pleasant walk among the green lawns and colorful flowers. In the park, there are playgrounds for children and a small lake with a café next to it. Through the park, you can cross over to Lake Wörthersee.

Address: Friedelstrand 1, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee

Map:

Lake Wörthersee – General Information

This lake is the largest in the state of Carinthia and stretches for 16.5 kilometers. On its eastern shore is the city of Klagenfurt, and on its western shore is the town of Velden. Around the lake, there are other villages, the most famous of which are Pörtschach and Krumpendorf, located on the northern shore of the lake. Against the backdrop of the villages, the high and forested peaks of the Alps and the Karawanks mountain range are clearly visible.

The lake was formed by the melting of the huge glaciers that were in this area during the last ice age. The lake’s waters are extremely clear, and from a distance, their color appears bluish-green.

In the summer, the water temperature reaches up to 25 degrees Celsius. This is the warmest of all the large Alpine lakes in Austria. In winter, the lake sometimes freezes over and is used for an experiential ice-skating experience.

Since the establishment of public transport lines connecting this area to Vienna and its surroundings, the lake has become an extremely popular place in the summer months. Many wealthy families and nobles would come from Vienna to spend time at the lake during the summer. The wonderful combination of Mediterranean temperatures in summer, warm and clear water, and pampering hotels is definitely the reason for the place’s popularity among Austrians and tourists alike.

Swimming in Lake Wörthersee

Around the lake, there are several public beaches. Besides swimming in the lake, you can do a variety of fun water activities such as paddle boating or rowing, tubing or banana boats, surfing, and more. Swimming in the lake requires a fee, unless you are staying at a hotel that offers a private beach with access to the lake.

The swimming season starts from May until the end of September, from 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning until just before dusk. You can find information here about the operating hours of the beaches near Klagenfurt.

Entrance Fee (Daily Ticket):

Adult – €6.70
Child (6-15) – €2.70

Family Ticket:

Adult – €5.80
Child (6-15) – €1.40

If you arrive towards the evening (from 7:00 PM), there is a discount of about 50% off the regular entrance fee, and children enter for free.

Detailed price list

Recommended Villages and Towns Around Lake Wörthersee

Around the lake, there are many places with pampering hotels or quiet guesthouses. Some of the places offer a private beach with separate access to the lake and the opportunity for a wonderful view of the spectacular nature of this area.

We have gathered the 4 most recommended places to stay around the lake (besides Klagenfurt, which we have already detailed at the beginning of the article).

Velden:

This town is located on the westernmost shore of the lake. It is an ancient town that was founded in the Middle Ages and belonged to various noble families and eventually to the Austrian emperors of the House of Habsburg. In the 16th century, a very impressive Renaissance-style mansion was built in the town. The impressive mansion still stands today right next to the lake shore. Today, it serves as a luxurious hotel called Schloss Velden. If you want to pamper yourself in a particularly historic and impressive place, it is worth staying at this hotel (for more information about the hotel on the Booking.com site). A short walk from the hotel is a large casino overlooking the lake (Casino Velden). This is a very modern and well-equipped casino, considered one of the best in Europe. In addition, it has a fine restaurant with pampering gourmet food. Click for more information on Booking.com about recommended accommodations in Velden.
Pörtschach:

This town is located right on the northern shore of the lake, about 14 kilometers west of Klagenfurt. As early as the 19th century, the town became a popular tourist destination. Important guests such as Emperor Franz Joseph I, the composer Gustav Mahler, and Johannes Brahms spent time in this town. The town is characterized by many impressive villas on the lake shore. Some are used as small boutique hotels, and some are owned by wealthy families. Click for more information on Booking.com about recommended accommodations in Pörtschach.
Krumpendorf Area:

This area is also on the northern shore of the lake, a 7-minute drive from Pörtschach. On one of the hills in this area stands an impressive castle called Drasing Castle. In general, the area is rural and pleasant with picturesque and quiet villages. In these villages, you can find a variety of well-invested hotels and impressive estates. Click for more information on Booking.com about recommended accommodations in Krumpendorf.
Maria Wörth Area:

This area is on the southern shore of the lake and includes two small towns – Maria Wörth and Reifnitz. The tourist center is on a peninsula that juts out into the lake. In Maria Wörth, there are several ancient churches that are a popular pilgrimage site as well as a favorite place for Christian weddings. This area is considered one of the most beloved by visitors because it is almost completely surrounded by water. Even Gustav Mahler, the famous composer, fell in love with the place and built a holiday villa there, not far from a small hut he used to write his compositions. Many of his works were written right here on the lake shore. Today, the hut serves as a small museum about the composer’s life. Click for more information on Booking.com about recommended accommodations in Maria Wörth.

Attractions Around Lake Wörthersee

Pyramidenkogel Tower: This is a very special observation tower that allows visitors to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the lake and its surroundings, and also to enjoy a unique and fun experience of sliding down a giant slide from the observation deck back down. You can find more extensive information in the dedicated article we prepared about this tower.