3 DAYS

Klagenfurt
City Break

Day 1. Arrival & Lindwurm Square

Arrive in Klagenfurt — the capital of Carinthia (Kärnten), Austria’s southernmost province, a beautiful city on the western shore of the Wörthersee — one of the warmest Alpine lakes in Europe. Begin at the Neuer Platz — the main square, dominated by the extraordinary Lindwurm (Dragon Fountain, 1590) — a 7-metre-high winged stone dragon, the heraldic beast of Klagenfurt and the most famous fountain in Austria. Explore the charming Altstadt with its Renaissance arcaded courtyards (Kärntner Platz, Alter Platz) — some of the finest Italian-influenced Renaissance architecture north of the Alps. Overnight in Klagenfurt.

Day 2. Wörthersee & Hochosterwitz Castle

After breakfast, visit the Wörthersee — one of Austria’s most beautiful lakes, 19 km long and remarkably warm (up to 28°C in summer), with extraordinary clarity and the beautiful Maria Wörth peninsula jutting into the lake with its twin Romanesque churches. Take a boat cruise on the lake. Afternoon: excursion to Burg Hochosterwitz — one of Austria’s most spectacular medieval castles, dramatically perched on a 176-metre-high solitary limestone rock above the Zollfeld plain (1570–1586), approached through 14 successive fortified gates — the inspiration for Snow White’s castle. Overnight in Klagenfurt.

Day 3. Pyramidenkogel & Departure

Morning: ascend the Pyramidenkogel tower (851 m) on the Wörthersee — the world’s tallest wooden tower (100 metres, 2013), with a spectacular 360° viewing platform over the lake, Klagenfurt, the Karawanken Alps and Slovenia. Thrilling spiral slide descent (120 metres, covered) — the world’s tallest wooden-tower slide. Transfer to Klagenfurt Airport or Klagenfurt Hauptbahnhof.

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.

Reindling

A traditional sweet or savoury yeast cake; consists of a yeast dough rolled with melted butter, cinnamon, sugar and raisins, then baked in a round earthenware pot called a ‘Rein’ and enjoyed as a sweet pastry with coffee or sliced alongside savory items like eggs and horseradish.