Travel story: Carinthian Lakes

Off to Carinthia!

Our self-guided cycling tour kicks off on a sunny Wednesday. Since we arrive early, we have the entire day to soak up the sunshine in beautiful Carinthia. Our first stop is Affenberg Landskron. Around 180 Japanese macaques live on this four-hectare site, roaming almost as freely as they would in the wild. Afterward, we head to the famous bird of prey show at Landskron Castle, where we watch vultures, eagles, red kites, and other birds of prey soaring through the sky, an impressive sight!

After the show, we continue on to Villach and check into our hotel. After a warm welcome at the front desk, we receive our travel documents. During the welcome briefing with our Eurobike representative Erich, we get all the key information about our tour. Then it’s time to pick up our rental bikes, and just like that, our unforgettable cycling vacation is officially underway!

Birds of prey show in the Adlerarena in Landskron

Monkeys in the forest at Landskroner Affenberg

Once around Lake Ossiach

After a hearty breakfast overlooking the Drau River, we set off for Lake Ossiach. We begin by cycling along the river, leaving the city behind, then follow the charming Seebach stream. In the summer, locals enjoy swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and other water sports here. It’s also the lake’s natural outflow.

After a short break, we continue cycling with stunning views of the lake. The return route mostly follows the railway line and offers fantastic scenery along the way. On this sunny day, a refreshing dip at the Bodensdorf beach is just what we need. There’s nothing quite like a cool swim in such a beautiful lake!

After checking into our cozy hotel, we head out in the evening to Villacher Brauhof for dinner. I love this place, the beer garden shaded by chestnut trees, is simply beautiful. After an excellent meal featuring ribs, mushroom sauce with dumplings, and a Kaiserschmarrn for a sweet finish, we enjoy the mild summer evening with a stroll through the pedestrian zone.

Klagenfurt, here we come!

Stage two leads us to the elegant Wörthersee, with Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia as our destination for the day. We begin by following the route along the Drau River.

After a short break at the idyllic Bäckersee, we pedal on through gently rolling hills toward Keutschacher See. On the way, we pass the well-known Keutschach Moor Nature Trail. Armed with some fresh insights into this unique ecosystem, we set out to find the perfect swimming spot — and we do, right at Keutschacher See. A refreshing dip in the cool water and a light snack later, we’re back on our bikes and heading toward Klagenfurt.

The beauty of the landscape around Klagenfurt truly surprises me as I had never explored this area before. From the saddle, we follow the canal straight into the heart of the city, where we finally arrive in Klagenfurt.

Cycle break on the banks of the Bäckersee

Cyclist cycles along the Lorettoweg to Klagenfurt

Active holidaymakers on the moorland nature trail in Schiefling am See

Klopeiner See is calling

Unfortunately, the weather isn’t on our side today and rain is already forecast for midday. So, we decide to shorten the stage and take the R6 cycle path directly, which should lead us straight to Klopeiner See. We’re hoping to reach our destination before the rain arrives. But the plan doesn’t quite work out: just before Grafenstein, a shower rolls in, and we pull out our rain gear. After the brief downpour, we arrive in St. Kanzian on Klopeiner See.

Once checked in, we take a short break, wait out the next rain shower, and then enjoy a leisurely stroll down to the lake — the perfect way to end the day.

Riding on to St. Veit

Setting off under cloudy skies, we reach the Völkermarkt reservoir just as the weather begins to improve, patches of blue sky start to appear. With every mile, the sun comes out more and more and by the time we arrive in Völkermarkt, it’s pure summer weather.

I’m especially excited about this stage because I’ve never explored this part of Carinthia before. We discover charming little towns, peacefully basking in the bright sunshine on this beautiful Sunday. For me, this is Carinthia at its very best.

The highlight of this stage is Hochosterwitz Castle. It’s a dream, perched high on a rocky cliff, overlooking the entire region. From here, it’s just a short ride to our destination, St. Veit an der Glan.

After checking in at our accommodation, the Fuchspalast, we eagerly hop back on our bikes to visit the local outdoor pool. Feeling refreshed and recharged, we shift our focus to evening plans: pizza. We choose Pizzeria Milano — and it proves to be a delicious hit. To round off the night, we take a leisurely stroll through the charming town square of St. Veit, soaking in the peaceful evening atmosphere.

A cyclist looks at her travel documents at the Völkermarkt reservoir.

Cyclist takes a break in St. Lorenzen at the Völkermarkt reservoir

Heart sculpture on the town square in St. Veit

Walter von der Vogelweide fountain in St. Veit

Heading back to Villach

Today, we follow the bike path along the Glan River, passing the ruins of Glanegg Castle. After a brief stop in Feldkirchen, we continue cycling toward Lake Ossiach. Soon, we reach a familiar stretch from our first stage and follow the well-known route all the way to Ossiach. At a boat dock, we pause to soak in the stunning lake view.

We take a refreshing break at bike-beach Seebad St. Andrä, a well-kept spot with a spacious lawn for lounging and a cozy beachside buffet. Best of all, entry is free for cyclists.

Then we pedal the final few miles to Villach. After checking back into Hotel Voco, we head out to the Burger Boutique. Sharing an appetizer platter for two and each enjoying a burger with wedges, we happily stroll through Villach’s charming old town on our way back to the hotel. Naturally, a stop at the ice cream shop for a sweet treat rounds off the evening perfectly.

Active holidaymakers on the cycle path in Sonnberg

Cyclist with travel documents at Lake Ossiach

Day out to Faaker See

Time flies, and just like that, it’s already our final day of cycling. Today’s plan is a ride out to Faaker See. I’m especially looking forward to this, as I know the area around the lake quite well having spent many summers here as a child.

We decide to ride the stage in reverse since we want to try a via ferrata on Kanzianiberg. So, we set off from town on the familiar Drau bike path, beginning our last day of cycling. In Rossegg, we enjoy stunning views of the surrounding hills and the towering Karawanken mountains. Shortly after, we have to take a somewhat adventurous detour across a field as Kelag, the local energy provider, is expanding its network and has closed the regular path.

Now it’s just a short ride to Faaker See. Because we’ve reversed the route, we pass through a brief stretch of forest, coming out near the Arneitz campground. Shortly after, we take a refreshing break at the lakeside beach in Faak am See.

We don’t have much time, though, as storm clouds are rolling in. Now it’s time to pedal hard to make it back to Villach before the rain starts. We’re glad we planned the route in reverse as only a short stretch remains. Despite the approaching storm, we take a quick photo stop at the Warmbach’s mouth where it joins the Gail River. A wide sand and gravel bank has formed here, making it a popular local spot for relaxation. We don’t quite make it back to Villach completely dry, but thankfully, only the last few miles are ridden in the rain.

My favorite spot

Picking just one place isn’t easy as Carinthia is full of beautiful spots. But we decide on “Gerti’s Beach” at Keutschacher See. I chose it because it’s tucked away in an idyllic setting at the foot of the Pyramidenkogel. Whether you’re swimming or just relaxing on the grassy lawn, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of this iconic landmark above the Wörthersee.

Lido on Lake Keutschach with a view of the Pyramidenkogel

Travel Story: Carinthian Lakes