Why a Kärnten (Carinthia) Campervan Holiday is Worth It!

A trip to Carinthia makes you feel alive! Whether it's winter on the numerous slopes with stunning Alpine views, or summer, swimming in crystal-clear emerald lakes. Looking for inspiration for your next Carinthia holiday? We spent 10 days in Carinthia and are sharing the most beautiful places and best tips.

In Carinthia, pure natural idyll awaits you. Whether it's a mountain adventure on the Alpe-Adria-Trail or a bike tour against the breathtaking backdrop of the Karawanken mountains. Nature lovers and active holidaymakers will adore this southern Austrian state.

Carinthia's many lakes also invite you to sunbathe, windsurf, or sail.

A holiday in Carinthia offers countless excursion destinations and activities. You certainly won't get bored here!

What makes Carinthia special?

Carinthia, Austria's southernmost state, entices with diverse landscapes and a pleasant climate all year round.

Over 200 bodies of water provide summer swimming fun. Active enjoyment is paramount between the gentle Nockberge mountain range and the imposing peaks of the Hohe Tauern.

Carinthia boasts over 1,000 kilometers of hiking trails, just in the Lavanttal – one of Europe's most scenic hiking destinations. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced mountaineer, you'll find plenty of opportunities to explore the rolling hills and high peaks of the Carinthian Eastern Alps.

But the mountains aren't just for hiking; they also offer many opportunities for leisure cyclists, mountain bikers, and road cyclists.

A Carinthia holiday also offers numerous cultural excursion destinations. The state has 80 castles and fortresses. The Stadttheater in Klagenfurt is definitely worth a visit too.

Who is a trip to Carinthia suitable for?

No matter if you're traveling alone, with friends, or planning a family holiday, a Carinthia trip has something for everyone.

In summer, you can swim in the lakes, hike through breathtaking mountain landscapes, have fun at an amusement park, or simply stroll through town with an ice cream.

In winter, there are many great ski resorts that invite you to ski or enjoy other winter sports.

You won't be bored during your Carinthia holiday. A trip to Carinthia is truly worthwhile for everyone.

When is the best time to visit Carinthia?

Autumn or winter? Spring or summer? Which season is best for a wonderfully beautiful holiday in Carinthia?

Carinthia is a year-round destination. In winter, the numerous ski slopes and cross-country trails are ideal for sports enthusiasts. You'll also find frozen lakes for ice skating, toboggan runs, and beautiful landscapes for snowshoeing.

In the warmer months, you can go swimming, sailing, windsurfing, or fishing.

There are also hiking trails and mountain bike trails for beginners, advanced users, and peak baggers throughout Carinthia.

Where are the most beautiful places in Carinthia?

Are you planning a Carinthia holiday with a campervan and wondering which places you should visit? We spent 10 days in Carinthia and are sharing our insider tips.

Our itinerary:

1. Saualpe
2. Petzen
3. Lake Klopein (Klopeiner See)
4. Keutschach am See
5. Nassfeld
6. Lake Weissensee
7. Heiligenblut
8. Bad Kleinkirchheim
9. Turracher Höhe
10. Hochosterwitz Castle

Saualpe

We started our journey in Wolfsberg and drove directly up Wolfsberg's local mountain. You can pick up your campervan for Carinthia today at the myvanture rental station in Klagenfurt.

The Saualpe is a mountain in the Gurktal Alps. Its highest peak (Ladinger Spitz) is at an altitude of 2079 meters and offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. On clear days, you can even see as far as Slovenia and Italy.

The Saualpe is relatively flat, so it can get very windy at the summit. So, pack an extra jacket just in case.

In winter, there's a ski lift for beginners and a toboggan run. From spring to autumn, you'll find numerous hiking trails, especially suitable for those who prefer a leisurely pace.

Hiking enjoyment in the sunshine! That was the perfect start to our holiday!

Petzen

From the Saualpe, we already had our next destination in sight: the Petzen! What a view!

We took the gondola up and opted for a short, enjoyable hike.

If you're looking for an adventure, you can also choose one of the more challenging hiking routes.

In the summer high season, the Petzen is primarily frequented by mountain bikers. The difficulty level of the trails ranges from easy to extremely difficult. One of the world-famous EWS trails is only suitable for very advanced riders.

Carinthia Holiday at Lake Klopein

The beautiful lake landscape, the glittering winter forests, the gentle hills, and the boundless Karawanken mountains offer unlimited opportunities for both active sports enthusiasts and those seeking peace and relaxation.

Around Lake Klopein, there are several campsites directly on the lake or river.

Nestled between the lake and mountain landscape, we spent a few days at Camping Nord.

Keutschach am See

About an hour from Lake Klopein lies the next destination of our camping trip. We deliberately didn't go to Carinthia's largest lake because we wanted to escape the crowds in mid-summer.

Keutschach is just as beautiful, if not a bit more natural and quieter than Lake Wörthersee.

Speaking of "natural" – at Lake Keutschach, there's also a nudist campsite with direct lake access.

We spent a few days at the family-friendly Strandcamping Süd and had direct access to the lake.

From Lake Keutschach, there are numerous hiking and cycling trails that lead to neighboring lakes such as Lake Wörthersee, Lake Hafnersee, and Lake Rauschelesee.

Right by Lake Rauschelesee is the child-friendly Zauberwald (Magic Forest) and a bit further away are the Spintikteiche ponds. They are the ideal starting point for a short hike to Friedelhöhe. During the hike, you can catch glimpses of Lake Wörthersee.

Nassfeld

Nassfeld is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Carinthia. It's a little piece of paradise between Austria and Italy. Here you can enjoy action sports like mountain biking, skiing, leisurely bike tours, or delightful hikes.

Connoisseurs and extreme sports enthusiasts will also get their money's worth in Nassfeld. Right on the national border, there's a popular restaurant serving authentic Italian pizza.

We spent our days in Nassfeld at a 5-star campsite in Hermagor.

Lake Weissensee

Lake Weissensee is Carinthia's deepest lake. It offers its visitors something for every season: swimming, surfing, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding in summer.

In winter, you can go ice skating, curling, ice diving, ice hockey, skiing, or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

We spent our days at Lake Weissensee at Camping Knaller. We really liked the location directly on the lake, the diverse offerings, and the hospitality at the pitch.

Carinthia Holiday in Heiligenblut

From Lake Weissensee, it's only about a 1.5-hour drive to Heiligenblut. A village at the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain and part of the Hohe Tauern National Park.

Heiligenblut is an ideal starting point for many activities, such as horse-drawn sleigh rides, tobogganing, ice skating, winter hikes, or challenging mountain tours.

Summer is also ideal for mountain sports enthusiasts of all kinds. In this small village, you'll find a variety of climbing routes, hikes, and bike tours of varying difficulty levels.

With magnificent views of the mountain panorama, you can camp here in both summer and winter.

We chose Nationalpark Camping.

Bad Kleinkirchheim

After Heiligenblut, we sought some relaxation and wellness. After about a two-hour drive, we arrived in Bad Kleinkirchheim.

Bad Kleinkirchheim is a very popular holiday resort in Carinthia and has a lot to offer visitors of all ages.

We visited the Thermal Römerbad. With a diverse sauna landscape, outdoor pools with massage jets, and a massage and beauty center, you can truly relax here.

The modern architecture with idyllic views directly of the Kaiserburg ensures true well-being.

In general, the area around Millstatt and Bad Kleinkirchheim is wonderfully beautiful and an ideal starting point for leisurely hikes and bike tours.

We camped a bit further away from Bad Kleinkirchheim at Camping Brunner.

Turracher Höhe

After a relaxing stay at Lake Millstatt, we continued to Turracher Höhe. Turracher Höhe is Carinthia's highest village.

With three mountain lakes (Lake Turrach, Grünsee, and Schwarzsee), Austria's largest stone pine forests, and surrounded by impressive peaks, mountain sports enthusiasts and nature lovers will find everything they need for a wonderful Carinthia holiday.

Turrach also has a lot to offer families and children. For example, the Nocky Flitzer toboggan run and the Nocky’s AlmZeit family adventure world.

It's no wonder this place was discovered as a health resort early on.

Our pitch was at Almhütten Camping Schmidt, amidst nature and a peaceful atmosphere.

Hochosterwitz Castle

The last stop on our Carinthia trip and one of the most impressive highlights was Hochosterwitz Castle. This beautiful castle is one of Austria's best-preserved fortresses and should definitely be visited.

The thick walls, towers, and moats show that this place served as a fortress centuries ago to protect its inhabitants from marauding invaders.

Today, you can take a tour, visit medieval Christmas markets and festivals, and also participate in educational guided tours.

Which campervan is suitable for a Carinthia holiday?

Every campervan has its pros and cons. A trip to Carinthia is possible with both a compact campervan like the VW Beach and a fully equipped campervan like the VW Grand California.

You'll find spacious parking lots everywhere in the towns and villages, such as the exhibition center parking lot in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee. Spontaneous stops at lakes for a quick dip are also possible with roadside parking.

Where can I find campsites in Carinthia?

There are many campsites in Carinthia. Most are located directly on a lake. But there are also campsites on farms and vineyards. You can easily find these using the Schau-aufs-Land app.

On the home screen, you'll see a map with many small listings. If you click on a listing for a sustainable business, you'll get all the necessary information: contact details, general information, pictures, visitor comments, and a rating.

Our Top 3 Campsites in Carinthia are:

1. Schluga in Hermagor
2. Camping Ronacher at Lake Weissensee
3. Camping Wörthersee

Conclusion: Carinthia Holiday

Carinthia is a diverse and varied region in Austria, offering many different outdoor activities and relaxation oases for all seasons. You can choose between hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering, fishing, golfing, or even winter sports like skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing. The variety of campsites in this Austrian state makes it the perfect place for your next family holiday with children or for an active adventure holiday.