Klagenfurt & Lake Wörthersee | Recommended Attractions

Klagenfurt is a very pleasant city, but the main attraction, of course, is Lake Wörthersee. It is Carinthia’s largest lake, with warm and clear waters that attract visitors to swim and enjoy themselves in summer. The lake is surrounded by villages and towns with historic buildings and other attractions for visitors to explore.

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
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

Klagenfurt City – General Information

Located in southern Austria, near the border with Slovenia, Klagenfurt is a large and historic city. It lies about 325 kilometers from Vienna (a three-hour drive) and roughly 380 kilometers from Innsbruck in Tyrol. The city sits at an altitude of 446 meters above sea level, nestled between forested hills to the north and the Karawanks mountain range to the south.

According to legend, brave warriors founded Klagenfurt after defeating the fearsome winged dragon known as the Lindwurm, which once inhabited the area.

In the 12th century, Duke Herman, who ruled the region, officially established the city as a fortified stronghold to protect the trade routes passing through southern Austria.

The city has faced many misfortunes over the centuries. Floods, fires, earthquakes, invasions, and even uprisings during the Peasants’ Revolt caused repeated damage. In the 16th century, a massive fire destroyed nearly the entire city. At that time, Emperor Maximilian I chose not to invest in its reconstruction, and the city came under the control of a local noble family. Thanks to their efforts, Klagenfurt was gradually rebuilt and entered a period of growth and development.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Klagenfurt was occupied by Napoleon’s army, and the old city walls were nearly destroyed. The soldiers agreed to leave in exchange for a large sum of money, honoring their word and departing with minimal damage.

During World War II, the city again faced hardship. Klagenfurt was bombed 41 times, resulting in 612 deaths and the destruction of 443 buildings. Toward the end of the war, British forces captured the city without a fight.

After the war, Klagenfurt began rebuilding, with city leaders showing innovative and forward-thinking approaches to urban development. In 1961, it became the first city in Austria to establish a pedestrian zone and also initiated its “twin city” partnership with Wiesbaden, Germany. The city has been awarded the prestigious Europa Nostra Diploma three times, recognizing its dedication to preserving historic city centers.

Today, Klagenfurt has around 100,000 residents and serves as an important industrial center in southern Austria. While it is less touristy than other Austrian cities, many visitors come for its proximity to the beautiful Lake Wörthersee or because it lies along the route 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 city’s main attractions are located within a short walking distance of one another. Public buses make it easy to get around the city, so there is no need to drive. If you plan to visit the lake, you can rent a bike and follow the designated cycling path to the shore, or simply travel there by car.

Inside the city, the Old Town is worth exploring, with its Renaissance-style buildings. In the west of the Old Town, remains of the medieval city wall can still be seen.

Key attractions in the Old Town include:

The Winged Dragon Fountain (Lindwurm): Located in Neuer Platz, this 16th-century fountain features the city’s symbol—a fearsome winged dragon spouting water like flames. A 17th-century statue of Hercules was added, representing the heroes who defeated the dragon and enabled the city’s founding.
The Landhaus (State Parliament): Built in the 16th century, this historic building is the most impressive non-religious structure in the city. Situated between Alter Platz and Heiligengeistplatz, its symmetrical gables dominate the skyline. The ornate rooms now serve as the parliament of Carinthia.
City Parish Church: The main Baroque church, built at the end of the 16th century, has a narrow tower and a beautifully decorated interior with large ceiling paintings and golden statues. It is a short walk from the Landhaus.
The Market Area: Benediktinerplatz hosts a lively food market every day except Sunday, offering fresh fruit, vegetables, and local produce. The market is conveniently located near historic buildings.

Additionally, the Historical Museum at Museumgasse 2 displays findings from across Carinthia, providing insight into the region’s past.

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.

This is what Happ Reptile Zoo looks like

Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

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 summer, the water temperature can reach up to 25 °C, making it the warmest of Austria’s large Alpine lakes. In winter, the lake sometimes freezes over and is then used for ice skating.

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.

This is what Lake Wörthersee looks like

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. The town, founded in the Middle Ages, passed through the hands of various noble families and eventually came under the Austrian emperors of the House of Habsburg. In the 16th century, they built a very impressive Renaissance-style mansion in the town. The impressive mansion still stands 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. Visitors consider this area one of the most beloved because water surrounds it almost completely. 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. He wrote many of his works right here on the lake shore. Today, the hut houses 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.