Not sure where to swim, stay or stroll? This Wörthersee travel guide has the short answer: base yourself in Velden or Pörtschach, swim at a lido or free lake spot, and walk the promenades.
It is one chapter of the wider carinthia travel guide.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface area | 19.39 km² |
| Length | 16.5 km |
| Maximum depth | 85.2 m |
| Height above sea level | 439 m |
| Summer water temperature | Up to 27 °C |
| Circular walking trail | 58.5 km in 4 stages |
The figures come from austria.info and the University of Klagenfurt. They can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Wörthersee at a glance
Wörthersee is the largest lake in Carinthia. The University of Klagenfurt gives its area as 19.39 square kilometres and its length as 16.5 kilometres, and austria.info places it west of Klagenfurt.
The famous colour comes from the high calcium carbonate content, the depth of the lake and the scattering of light, says austria.info. Depending on the composition of the water, it ranges from pale green to turquoise blue.
Wikipedia describes the lake as divided into three basins. The northern shore is densely built up with the resort towns of Krumpendorf, Pörtschach and Velden, while the southern shore is quieter and less developed.
The Südbahn railway reached Klagenfurt in 1863 and quickly turned the lake into a summer retreat for Vienna’s nobility and wealthy bourgeoisie, according to Wikipedia. austria.info adds that this Sommerfrische tradition drew Johannes Brahms, Gustav Mahler and Alban Berg to the lake.
Where to swim: lidos and free lake access
Lidos give you lawns, jetties and facilities, and the lake has plenty. The University of Klagenfurt notes that Klagenfurt has three public lidos, with Strandbad Klagenfurt drawing up to 10,000 visitors on hot summer days.
- Strandbad Klagenfurt: a wide sandy beach, a 113-metre-long water slide with a timer and three jetties (austria.info).
- Loretto lido, Klagenfurt: a more tranquil alternative to the big lido, according to the University of Klagenfurt.
- Water park Pörtschach: an island reached by a 100-metre-long arched bridge, around 15,000 m² of sunbathing area and a 75-metre-long water slide (austria.info).
- Bathing beach Krumpendorf: around 20,000 m² of sunbathing lawns with mature trees (austria.info).
- Strandbad Velden: a Business Beach with workspaces, Wi-Fi, power sockets, shade and lockers (austria.info).
- Strandbad Saag, Techelsberg: a beach club, lakeside restaurant and boat hire (austria.info).
Free lake access
You do not need a ticket for every swim. woerthersee.com lists free spots, including the open-air bathing place at Sallach in Pörtschach, which is free of charge and has a small jetty, sanitary facilities and a small restaurant.
- Maria Wörth: a sunbathing lawn at the landing stage, with deck chairs.
- Pörtschach-Pritschitz: a narrow bathing strip that is best reached by bike or on foot.
- Edelweißbad, Pörtschach: on the main road, with almost no parking.
- Schamandra, Krumpendorf: on Strandweg, with a pedal boat rental.
The same page notes that swimming at Koschat Park in Krumpendorf is officially prohibited, so pick another spot (woerthersee.com).
Water temperature and the cold season
Wikivoyage puts average water temperatures at 21-23 °C, often reaching 25 °C in August, while austria.info quotes up to 27 °C in summer. In winter, ice swimmers meet at Klagenfurt’s lido when the lake cools to around six degrees, according to the University of Klagenfurt.
Which town should you stay in?
Each shore town has its own feel, so choose by what you want from the day.
- Velden: boutique hotels, lakeside terraces and bars along the promenade (austria.info).
- Pörtschach: a lakeside promenade, villas and spa architecture (austria.info).
- Maria Wörth: a church island with lake views, a wedding chapel and peaceful paths (austria.info).
- Krumpendorf: a large bathing beach, close to Klagenfurt (austria.info).
- Klagenfurt: lidos, plus the Pyramidenkogel observation tower and Minimundus, which austria.info says combine easily with a day by the water.
On its accommodation list, austria.info shows Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden and Hotel Schloss Seefels in Pörtschach under luxury, and EuroParcs Wörthersee in Schiefling for families. These are neutral examples from that page, not recommendations.
Wikivoyage says food and accommodation prices along the shore are very high compared with the rest of Carinthia. It adds that bargains turn up especially in June or September, and that prices drop steeply a 10-20 minute walk from the shore. As a community-edited guide, check current prices before you plan around this.
If shoreline prices put you off, the guide to millstätter see shows what another Carinthian lake offers.
Promenades, cycle paths and the circular trail
The classic stroll is Pörtschach’s 2 km lakeside promenade, which austria.info describes with magnificent villas and spa architecture. The same page says the Blumenpromenade is lined with elegant Belle Époque villas.
For longer distances, the circular trail covers 58.5 kilometres in four stages, past castles, through forests and with views of the Karawanken mountains (austria.info). The Slow Trail Brahmsweg is also among the highlights it lists.
Wikivoyage calls the bicycle the best way to explore the region, with a cycle path covering much of the shore and bikes rentable cheaply in most towns. It does not recommend the south bank for inline skaters.
Nature sits close to the promenades. Kapuziner Island has been a nature reserve since 1966, and the Lendspitz-Maiernigg Natura 2000 site in the eastern bay offers reed beds and lakeside paths for walking and cycling (austria.info).
The University of Klagenfurt mentions a car-free day: one day every year when all roads around the lake are closed to motorists, so you can ride or skate the full circuit.
Eating and drinking by the water
A typical lake day, as austria.info paints it, mixes an early swim near Kapuziner Island, freshly caught whitefish at lunchtime and an afternoon cycle past historic villas. Three restaurants stand out on that page:
- Restaurant Rosé, Velden: known for fish specialities and its lakeside setting.
- Restaurant Seespitz: fine dining served directly on the waterfront.
- Restaurant Maria Loretto, Klagenfurt: a peninsula location with a spacious terrace overlooking the lake.
The same page also names the See.Ess.Spiele festival series, where guest chefs create special dining experiences at locations around the lake (austria.info).
On a budget, Wikivoyage points to the supermarkets in all towns along the lake, where the cheese and ham counter prepares sandwiches at no extra charge.
Getting there and getting around
According to Wikivoyage, Klagenfurt airport is close to the lake and easy to reach by train, bus or motorway. Regional and international trains connect Velden, Pörtschach, Krumpendorf and Klagenfurt roughly every 45 minutes at peak times.
The same guide says lake ferries connect all major settlements in summer but are infrequent, so do not plan a tight schedule around them.
The railway was later extended to Villach along the northern shore, per Wikipedia, so the city is a natural next stop. The guide to things to do in villach covers what to see there.
Staying safe in the water
Beware of speedboats. Wikivoyage says a strict speed limit applies within 200 m of the shore and advises against swimming out further than 200 m. If you do, take a highly visible object such as an inflatable buoy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wörthersee warm enough for swimming?
Show answer
In summer, yes. Wikivoyage gives averages of 21-23 °C, and austria.info quotes up to 27 °C.
Can you swim for free?
Show answer
Yes. woerthersee.com lists free access points such as Sallach in Pörtschach and the sunbathing lawn at the landing stage in Maria Wörth.
Can you walk all the way around the lake?
Show answer
There is a circular walking route of 58.5 kilometres in four stages, according to austria.info.
What is the best way to get around?
Show answer
By bicycle, says Wikivoyage, since a cycle path covers much of the shore. Trains also run roughly every 45 minutes at peak times between the main northern towns and Klagenfurt.
