Saturday 21st March 2026 • Promotional Content


Hiking, biking and swimming — aided by gondolas, chairlifts, boats, buses and trains — are some of the best ways to explore Austria’s most southerly province


Now that there are three flights a week from the UK to Carinthia’s capital, Klagenfurt, you can swap your Medi- terranean summer holiday, where the aircon has to be on 24/7, for a more active immersion into nature that suits families and lifestyle enthusi- asts alike. You’ll soak up the relaxed vibe of the sunny side of the Alps, but with the excitement of the mountains — glimpsing glaciers and high peaks, cycling through forests and bathing in the clear, turquoise water of lakes that are warmer than the Med.


SWIMMING… Carinthia is Austria’s lake district, with 1,200 bodies of water and 10 ma- jor lakes. Here the water can reach 28C, being shielded from the wind by mountains, and often coming pure from underwater springs rather than cold streams. If you travel in spring or autumn, you can always warm up with a visit to one of the many lakeside spas.


…AND OTHER WATERSPORTS Tere’s lots to do on and around the water — standup paddleboarding, pedalo trips, sailing, fishing, yoga on the jetty, and running on the shore. And there are the rivers too. For an adventure, rent a canoe to do a few stages of the 13-section journey down the fast-flowing Drau, with your lug- gage transported from hotel to hotel ahead of you. Or, for a yet more unique experience, go canoeing through the Obir Stalactite Caves to see the moun- tains from the inside.


BIKING Te cycle paths along the Drau, Gail and Lavant rivers provide an easy, comfortable ride as you admire the mountains, sometimes still dotted with snow. On the 249-mile Carinthian Lake


Loop, boats take you and your rental bike to different starting points. If you get too hot, you can cool off with a dip, as the shores are publicly accessible. For a more challenging ride, experi-


ence the thrill of wooded trails in the mountains, with e-bikes making the routes more accessible.


HIKING Carinthia is the starting point for the famous 43-stage, 450-mile Alpe Adria hiking trail, which links Austria, Slo- venia and Italy. But there are many breathtaking mountain walks the whole family can tackle together. Te lifts that serve skiers in winter


help you explore the mountains in summer and there are plenty of family- run refreshment stops en route.


ART AND CULTURE As you cycle through bike-friendly towns and cities like Villach, Spittal and Klagenfurt, you’ll have a chance to hear classical music, choirs and jazz bands in squares filled with the summer buzz. In the evenings, artists meet in the medieval alleyways, courtyards and


Worldwide Travel Te Travel Guide


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LAKE FAAKERSEE © KÄRNTEN WERBUNG/EDWARD GROEGER


FAMILY TIME Whether you stay at a certified family hotel, child-friendly campsite or farm, there’s lots for families to do. Many campsites and farms offer evenings toasting bread and sausages around a crackling campfire, sometimes followed by torchlit hikes. But if you’re stuck for ideas, try these:


1. For adrenaline Try the rock labyrinth or zip-line at Nassfeld, a high-rope course for over-fives. Or rafting on the Möll or Drau.


2. For animals At Landskron Castle’s eagle observatory, watch birds of prey in action, while the Rosegg Animal Park has native species like lynx and deer, along with a petting zoo.


3. A flying visit In the climbing forest on Lake Ossiach, the Fly-Line lets parents and children glide in tandem silently through a tree-covered ravine.


PYRAMIDENKOGEL VIEWING POINT © KÄRNTEN WERBUNG/MARTIN STEINTHALER


4. Summer tobogganing The mountains’ many summer toboggan runs include the Nocky Flitzer at Turrach, the mile-long Pendolino in Nassfeld and the 25mph Kaiserburg Bob at Bad Kleinkirchheim, while at Lake Ossiach you can race each other on parallel runs.


arcades, which are transformed into concert and theatre venues with stun- ning mountain backdrops, offering a taste of the art, music and literature of the region. Castles and palaces — and even ships — are also turned into stages for the many festivals.


CULINARY DELIGHTS Shaped by Italian and Slovenian influ- ences, Carinthian cuisine is creative and seasonal, light and inventive, with fish and meat served with rare ancient grains or almost-forgotten vegetables in modern interpretations. Tanks to the clean water, the fish


is exceptional. Specialities include Carinthian lake trout (Kärntner


Te lifts that serve skiers in winter help you explore the mountains in summer and there are plenty of family- run refreshment stops en route


Fly direct from London to Klagenfurt and discover the sunny side of the Alps. From crystal- clear lakes to scenic mountain adventures, Carinthia is your perfect year-round escape.


STANDUP PADDLEBOARDING AT MILLSTÄTTERSEE © KÄRNTEN WERBUNG/TINE STEINTHALER


Book your getaway today and start planning at visitcarinthia.at


Lax’n), sometimes served as tartare, and char caviar, enjoyed with a glass of Carinthian wine, the province’s long wine-making tradition having recently been revived. Te lakeside terraces host several


award-winning restaurants with celebrity chefs. But regional speci- alities can be found in family-run taverns, with recipes passed down the generations. On


your hikes, try Carinthian


snacks of air-dried ham, potent Alpine cheese and sasaka (a tradi- tional, spicy spread). You can even join the Slow Food initiative — from baking bread to cooking in the forest.


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