A family holiday in Carinthia appeals to young and old alike. Enjoy a relaxed picnic by the lake, try the fun attractions for children, feel the adrenaline on a via ferrata, ride a bike along perfectly maintained cycle paths… Carinthia offers excellent services, stunning nature and outstanding food. Break out of the everyday routine and set off with your children to discover the beauty of this region!

Carinthia, a lake paradise

Thanks to the warm climate, the many Carinthian lakes warm up to a pleasant temperature early in the summer and invite you to swim, take a boat or a paddleboard out and play in the water. Enjoy a dip or a picnic at Ossiacher See with its crystal-clear water. And bring your bikes too: a well-kept cycle path 28 km long runs around the water. The flat terrain is easy even for the youngest cyclists. Or let two cable cars carry you to the top of Gerlitzen, which rises directly above the lake. Besides the stunning view, several hiking trails await you up there. When you get hungry on the way, stop with your children at one of the local mountain huts for something good to eat. Kasnudeln, pockets filled with curd cheese, will have you licking your lips.

Another lake you should not miss on a visit to Carinthia is Wörthersee, the largest in the area. Enjoy a great drink in one of its well-known beach bars while your children play in the water (the gentle, shallow entry to the lake is an advantage) or build sandcastles. Klopeiner See is also worth a visit (with temperatures up to 28 °C), where you can try Kärntner Seenfitness – a free sports programme led by professional trainers. Or set off on your own for a bike ride on the well-known 6 Lakes Circuit – a 54 km route, ideal for a one-day family outing that you can always break up with a swim and some sunbathing. Pressegger See, a glacial lake with strikingly coloured water, is also a perfect place to spend an easy summer afternoon. And at Millstatter See you will find a pleasant promenade, nicely lit in the evening.

Endless fun for children

Do your children love animals, nature and adventure? Take them to the Affenberg monkey zoo, where you can walk among free-roaming Japanese macaques. Once you have had your fill of them, head to nearby Landskron Castle with the Adler Arena, where you can watch birds of prey being trained. An unusual experience also awaits you at Reptillenzoo Nockalm, with various species of snakes, lizards and insects.

You will have plenty of fun at the unusual Aussichtsturm Pyramidenkogel viewing tower. First a glass lift takes you up to 60 metres, and from there you continue on foot. The view of the beautiful Alpine peaks and forests is well worth those few steps. And you can slide back down on a slide, what a ride!

There are countless attractions for children in Carinthia. Another popular outing is the Märchenwandermeile near the village of Gmünd. Fairy-tale characters and fun climbing frames and slides liven up your walk in nature. The highlight is crossing the Drachenschlucht gorge on a suspension bridge.

Experience nature and the countryside with all your senses

Try milking a goat with your children, feeding the animals or baking your own bread! On the Carinthian farms you will feel as if you have gone back in time. Stop at the Tressdorfer Alm cheese dairy, the Lesachtal bakery, the herb village of Irschen, or sweeten your life at the annual honey festival in Hermagor.

Carinthia has something for fans of sport, exercise and adrenaline activities, young and old. Besides the hiking and cycling routes already mentioned, do not miss the adventurous via ferratas, specially adapted for little mountaineers. The Via ferrata Millnatzenklamm Klettersteig, for example, runs along a stream and waterfalls and children will love it.

And if you prefer classic hiking, take a trip to the Garnitzenklamm gorge. The striking canyon with waterfalls, 4 km long, is one of the most popular hiking destinations in this region. So are the Alpine resorts Bad Kleinkirchheim and Katchberg, around which you will find plenty of routes for easy walks, cycling and Nordic walking.