Day 1. Arrival Klagenfurt – City Tour
Arrive in Klagenfurt. Collect hire car. Afternoon: Klagenfurt city tour — Neuer Platz, Lindwurm Fountain, Domkirche. Evening at the Wörthersee. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
8 DAYS
Self-Drive
Carinthia
Scenic Loop
Day 2. Klagenfurt – Wörthersee Loop Drive
Drive the complete Wörthersee road — all four shores of the lake via Pörtschach, Velden and Maria Wörth. Visit the extraordinary Maria Wörth peninsula with its twin Romanesque churches reflected in the lake. Afternoon swimming at the Strandbad. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
Day 3. Klagenfurt – Grossglockner Road
Drive north to Zell am See, then the extraordinary Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße (2,571 m). Stop at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe for views of the Grossglockner and the Pasterze Glacier. Return via the Heiligenblut alpine village. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
Day 4. Klagenfurt – Hochosterwitz & Gurk Cathedral
Morning: Burg Hochosterwitz — the most spectacular castle in Austria. Afternoon: Gurk Dom — the extraordinary Romanesque cathedral of the Gurk valley (12th century), one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Austria. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
Day 5. Klagenfurt – Drautal & Spittal
Drive the beautiful Drautal — the Drava river valley west to Spittal an der Drau, home of the magnificent Porcia Palace (Renaissance, 1533) — one of the finest Renaissance palaces in Austria. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
Day 6. Klagenfurt – Weissensee
Drive to the extraordinary Weissensee — the highest lake in Carinthia (930 m), perfectly turquoise, traffic-free. Boat tour, swimming, hiking. Return to Klagenfurt. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
Day 7. Klagenfurt – Klagenfurt Lake District Loop
Final scenic drive via the Faaker See (Austria’s warmest lake), Ossiacher See, Millstätter See — four different lakes in one day through the extraordinary Carinthian lakeland. Overnight in Klagenfurt.
Day 8. Departure Klagenfurt
Final morning stroll along the Wörthersee. Transfer to Klagenfurt Airport.
Must see
ATTRACTIONS
Options
ACCOMMODATIONS
Klagenfurt
★★★★★
- Hotel Dermuth Klagenfurt
- Seepark Hotel Klagenfurt
- Hotel Sandwirth Klagenfurt
★★★★
- Arcotel Moser Verdino Klagenfurt
- NH Klagenfurt
- Palais Hotel Klagenfurt
★★★
- ibis Klagenfurt
- Hotel City Klagenfurt
- Hotel Geyer Klagenfurt
Must try
FOOD
Lake Wörthersee Fish
A traditional, classic pan-fried fish dish – lake-fresh whitefish, trout or char are seasoned with salt and pepper, then pan-fried until golden brown and basted with hot butter; the cooked fish is then garnished with freshly chopped parsley and served hot with fresh lemon wedges.
Kärntner Lax’n
A large lake trout that features delicate, tender, light pink meat with an aromatic flavour; usually gently poached or pan-seared and served with browned butter, fresh herbs, root vegetables and potatoes.
Backhendl (Styrian Fried Chicken)
A specialty of Viennese cuisine since the 18th century, it consists of prepared and spiced portions of chicken, which are breaded and crispy deep fried; often served with potato salad dressed in pumpkin seed oil and a lemon wedge on the side.
RESTAURANT
Options
Halal Certified
Klagenfurt
- Al Madina Klagenfurt – Moroccan halal restaurant near the Alter Platz, couscous and tagines
- Istanbul Klagenfurt – Turkish halal grill near the Hauptbahnhof, kebabs and pide
- Taj Mahal Klagenfurt – Indian halal restaurant near the Wörthersee, curry and biryani
- Medina Klagenfurt – North African halal cuisine in the city centre, shawarma and mezze
- Halal Food Klagenfurt – Pakistani halal kitchen near the university, popular with students
