The state of Carinthia is surrounded by high and impressive mountain ranges that separate it from neighboring countries. The Eastern Alps form the border with Italy and Slovenia, the Tauern mountain range forms the northwestern border with Salzburg, and to the east, the Pack Saddle mountain range separates it from the state of Styria. The large river flowing through Carinthia is called the Drau and creates a wonderful valley that extends to East Tyrol.
Carinthia is famous mainly for its lakes and mountains, but its towns, history, and attractions are no less interesting. Many travelers choose to combine their trip to Carinthia with a visit to neighboring Slovenia. Carinthia’s largest lake, Lake Wörthersee, is one of the most popular recreational spots for Austrians during the summer months.
There are two common types of trips: a star trip or a touring trip. In a star trip, you choose one base accommodation and take day trips throughout the region. A touring trip means moving to a new accommodation almost every day. The type of trip depends on you and your family’s preferences. A family with children might prefer a star trip with one central accommodation, whereas a couple might choose to move from place to place throughout their trip. Of course, it’s not black and white, and you’ll have to decide what suits you best. Some people travel very spontaneously and don’t book accommodation in advance (which is certainly possible, but depends on the season and how picky you are).
As in any popular tourist area, the best accommodations get snapped up quickly. If you find the perfect place, it’s highly recommended to book it well in advance. If you find a place you like but are unsure about certain details, it’s a good idea to send an email (or a Facebook message if they have an active page), call the place directly, or get information from travelers through our Facebook group. After a brief inquiry, you’ll know if it’s the right choice for you.
Areas to Stay in Carinthia
The state of Carinthia isn’t small, but if you base yourself in a central location that’s not far from the main highways, you can get to all the popular attractions quickly.
The main places where many travelers stay are:
As you can see from the map, these destinations are fairly close to one another. They’re located roughly in the center of the country, yet still not far from Austria’s border with Slovenia.
Types of Accommodation in Carinthia
Throughout Carinthia, you’ll find plenty of wonderful accommodation options, whether in the heart of towns or surrounded by nature. You can choose from hotels, B&B-style guesthouses, holiday apartments, rooms with a fully-equipped kitchen, and even holiday farms.
Recommended Hotels
- EduCARE Hotel (Booking.com rating: 9.1)
- Hotel Seven (Booking.com rating: 8.9)
- Pension Krakolinig (Booking.com rating: 8.6)
- Seepark Wörthersee Resort (Booking.com rating: 8.7)
- Hotel Linde (Booking.com rating: 8.9)
- Barry Memle Directly at the Lake (Booking.com rating: 9.0)
- Hotel Sandwirth (Booking.com rating: 8.5)
- Hotel Diana (Booking.com rating: 8.8)
- WUNDERs – Ferienpension & Apartment (Booking.com rating: 9.5)
- Apart Hotel Legendär (Booking.com rating: 9.2)
Read detailed information about the hotels on the list in the extended article on hotels in Carinthia. If the places on our recommended list are booked, don’t worry. Of course, there are many other great hotels. Click for our customized search engine for recommended hotels on Booking.com (we’ve already added all the necessary filters so you’ll get directly to the best-rated hotels in the best locations).
Recommended Holiday Apartments and B&Bs
- Boutique Apartments Velden (Booking.com rating: 9.2)
- Appartements am See (Booking.com rating: 9.2)
- Seeappartement Marina (Booking.com rating: 9.6)
- Seeappartements Eden (Booking.com rating: 9.0)
- Mathias Panorama Ferienwohnungen (Booking.com rating: 9.6)
- Maltschacher Seewirt (Booking.com rating: 9.3)
- Waldvilla Bergsee (Booking.com rating: 9.4)
- Appartements Schwarzvilla (Booking.com rating: 9.5)
- Seeappartements Villa Sole (Booking.com rating: 9.4)
- Seeblick-Appartements Ossiach (Booking.com rating: 9.5)
- Rutarhof (Booking.com rating: 9.2)
Read detailed information about the apartments and B&Bs on the list in the extended article on holiday apartments in Carinthia. If you didn’t find an available apartment or B&B on our recommended list, click for our customized search engine for recommended apartments (we’ve already added all the necessary filters to get you directly to apartments in the ideal locations for your trip and with the best ratings).
Recommended Farms
- Bauernhof Ulbing
- Zwanzgerhof
- Oranhof (Booking.com rating: 9.5)
- Pleschinhof
Read detailed information about the farms on the list in the extended article on recommended farms in Carinthia. If you didn’t find an available farm on our recommended list, click for our customized search engine for recommended farms on Booking.com (we’ve already added all the necessary filters so you’ll get directly to the best-rated farms in the best locations).
We wish you an easy and quick search! You can always use our travelers’ Facebook group for more information.
