KLAGENFURT FAQ`S

Where is the town of Klagenfurt located?

Carinthia`s capital, Klagenfurt, in Southern Austria has about 90,000 inhabitants and is located right on Lake Wörthersee.

How do I get to Klagenfurt?

Austrian Airlines serves Carinthia from Vienna, arriving at the Klagenfurt Airport (for flight information visit www.klagenfurt-airport.at), northeast of the city, several times a day. Because Klagenfurt is a popular summer lakeside resort, Austrian Airlines adds summer flights from Zurich, Rome, London, Berlin, and Frankfurt.

Klagenfurt, located on the lines connecting Vienna with Venice, Italy, and Zagreb, is the most important railway junction in southern Austria. It's also the focal point for several smaller rail lines whose passengers are eventually transferred to larger lines to Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Bregenz. Trains arrive from several different directions at intervals of 30 minutes or less throughout the day. From the Klagenfurt train station, the city center can be reached in just a few minutes. For train information visit www.oebb.at or www.bahn.de.

How do I get around Klagenfurt?

Most sights of interest can be easily reached by foot. Klagenfurt offers an extensive bus network. Tickets can be bought directly at the bus and cost around €4.00 (24h ticket) or €0.90 for a single ride. The main bus hub is located at Heiligengeistplatz in the center of the city.

Renting a bicycle is recommended if you wish to travel to Klagenfurt`s beach, on the shore of the Wörthersee in the Western outskirts of the city. There is a cycle path along the Lendkanal, taking you from Heiligengeistplatz (take the underpass) to the beach and continuing along the northern shore of the Wörthersee all the way to Velden. Bikes can be hired at Neuer Platz.

How do I get around by bicycle?

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee is a great area to explore by bicycle and because it is flat with lots of bike lanes, it makes it easy and convenient to get around. The bike rental system Nextbike is user-friendly to handle, cheap and flexible. And this is how it works: The bikes can be rented via app (Nextbike), station terminal or hotline call. A total of about 60 bicycles are available at ten Nextbike rental stations throughout Klagenfurt. Simply sign up, rent and go. You can return the bike at a rental station of your choice. All information can be found on www.nextbike.at.

If you prefer a longer tour, then the bicycles of the SBK social enterprises Kärnten GmbH are the ideal choice. Around Lake Wörthersee there are 600 bikes that can be rented at 20 rental stations. And there is something for everyone here: switch bikes, trekking bikes, cross bikes, mountain bikes, women`s and children`s bikes and also e-bikes.

The most centrally located rentals: Klagenfurt am Wörthersee tourist region, Neuer Platz 5 (April - October) And Seepark Hotel in Universitätsstraße 104. Again, the rental bikes can be returned to any rental agency. The service, comfort and the optimum accessories for the wheels are taken care of - and even more - the offer of SBK - in cooperation with and supported by the AMS Carinthia - fulfills a social mission. More about the rentals and services provided by SBK, see www.sbk.or.at.

If I have a car, where can I park?

Klagenfurt has over 4,200 parking spaces within and along the ring road, around 1,720 of them close to the center. Most of the areas within the ring road belong to the short-term parking zone, where the first 30 minutes` parking is free of charge: simply provide your arrival time clearly and park for free. But after 30 minutes you have to leave the car park again.

If you need to stay longer than half an hour, you have to buy a pay and display ticket, which must be paid for from the first minute; in this case you cannot claim the 30 minutes` free parking. The tariff is about €0.50 per half hour, which is the cheapest of all the Austrian provincial capitals. The maximum parking time is three hours.

What is there to do/see in Klagenfurt?

When staying in Klagenfurt you have to spend at least one day sightseeing to find out all the things that make up Klagenfurt and its surroundings.

Alter Platz, both a broad thoroughfare and a square, is lined with many baroque mansions. It`s a pedestrian zone that`s the center of the Altstadt (Old Town), and many crooked, narrow little streets and alleys open off the square.

The Trinity Column in Alter Platz dates from 1681; it was built to commemorate those who died from the plague. One of the most interesting buildings on the square is the 17th-century Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). It has a three-story arcaded courtyard. The Haus zur Goldenen Gans (House of the Golden Goose), on Alter Platz, dates from 1599.

The Domkirche (Cathedral) of Klagenfurt lies to the southeast of Neuer Platz. The interior is ornately adorned in stucco and has ceiling paintings from the 18th century. Next door to the cathedral, Diozesanmuseum, a small, often overlooked, museum containing a significant collection of religious art from the 12th to the 18th centuries. Sculpture, tapestries, jewelry, artwork, and stained glass are on display here, including the oldest extant stained-glass window in the country, a portrait of Mary Magdalene from 1170. Some works of art in the museum are truly extraordinary. Diozesanmuseum is open June 1 to June 14 and from September 15 to October 15, Monday to Saturday 10am to noon; from June 15 to September 14, Monday to Saturday 10am to noon and 3 to 5pm.

Klagenfurt and its surroundings offer excursion destinations for young and old alike, which often provide interesting information, amaze us but are always fun. In `Minimundus - the small world at Lake Wörthersee` 156 miniature models of famous buildings from all over the world can be admired. With the Wörthersee shipping you can explore one of the most beautiful lakes in Austria and devote yourself to exquisite culinary delights. At the Klagenfurt Planetarium, the stars are within your reach and with the Museumstramway you can experience history at full speed. In the Deer Park Mageregg visitors can explore the area between red and Dammwild and on the peninsula Maria Loretto and discover the castle Loretto, which was built in the 17th century.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency of Austria is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.

Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.

ATMs are common in major cities and larger towns and this is one of the easiest ways to get cash. Credit cards are accepted in most establishments. It is a good idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel, otherwise, the credit card might be put on hold due to unusual activity. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.

When is the best time to visit? What is the weather like?

Average temperatures in Klagenfurt am Woerthersee vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. If you`re looking for the very warmest time to visit Klagenfurt am Woerthersee, the hottest months are July and August. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 87°F with temperatures rarely dropping below 63 °F at night. January is generally the coldest month.

I don`t speak German, will many people speak English?

German is the official language spoken in Klagenfurt. You will find only a minority of locals that can answer questions in English. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

What is the shopping like in Klagenfurt?

In the historic old town of Klagenfurt, which was declared a pedestrian zone, visitors can stroll between craft shops, fashion shops, luxury boutiques, perfumeries, bookstores and fine department stores.

Also directly in the city center, there is the City Arkaden a classic shopping center, a little further outside is the South Park is a second shopping temple, but in a smaller version. The weekly market, the Klagenfurt Benedictine Market, is highly recommended. On Thursdays and Saturdays, regional suppliers from Carinthia, Friuli and Slovenia offer their products - all fresh, organically grown and incomparably delicious.

What is the food like?

Klagenfurt boasts a wealth of restaurants, bars and coffeehouses that offer their guests exceptional wining and dining experiences. The pedestrian zones of the Alter Platz, Kramergasse, Wienergasse and surrounding streets are a offer an excellent choice of restaurants and cafes to choose from.

Food and drink are also a focal point of Klagenfurt`s Benedictine Market. It is open every day, but on official market days farmers from Carinthia and surrounding regions fill the stands with a marvelous selection of their home-grown and home-made products. The culinary traditions of Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli unite here to reflect Alps-Adriatic cuisine.

If you are in Carinthia you just have to sample its most famous dish, `Kasnudeln.` The warm pasta pockets stuffed with cheese, potatoes, onions, mint and chervil are especially beloved during colder months. But you can really have them all year round. The pasta is served with browned butter or crispy crackling and is so rich you will probably be full for the whole day. You can get the Kasnudeln pretty much everywhere in Klagenfurt. The most famous dessert is `Kärntner Eisreindling,` a delicious mix of ice cream, cinnamon, raisins, and rum or egg liqueur.

Sample Local Food at the Benediktiner Market: You can get just about everything here from regional fruits and vegetables to jams, cheeses and local wines. Most farmers selling are from Carinthia but you will also find Italian and Slovenian stalls. The best thing of all: There`s always samples! You can also get sandwiches and ready prepared lunch, so the market makes a perfect spot to start your sightseeing day.

The farmer`s market is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 6:30 am to noon. Go early if you want to avoid crowds.

What is the nightlife like?

If you are interested in performing arts, you`ll want to check out the Stadttheater, the lagest and most formal theater in Klagenfurt: www.stadttheater-klagenfurt.at. The theatre offers opera, classics of German theater, and chamber and orchestral music performed by visiting groups. Past presentations have included filmed concerts by Billy Joel, Liza Minnelli, Montserrat Caballé, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and the Vienna Opera`s presentation of various operas by Verdi. It is free to attend. Kiosks around the square`s perimeter offer snacks and drinks.

Throughout the year, you`ll find most of Klagenfurt`s nighlife options take place in the Pfarr-platz neighborhoods.

What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?

Euro-emergency number - 122
Police Emergency Number - 133
Ambulance / Medical Emergency - 144
Fire Department - 122

Hospital: Klinikum Klagenfurt - Central emergency, Address: Feschnigstraße 11, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria - PH +43 463 53834570.