Day 1 in Klagenfurt

Welcome to Klagenfurt, Carinthia`s capital! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Make your transfer to your destination, arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.

Klagenfurt is located right at the Lake Wörthersee which makes it a great town to visit in the summer when sunbathers and water sport enthusiasts hit the city beaches. But even in the winter months, the city and its surroundings have enough attractions to keep you busy.

Once you arrive in town we suggest you head to Neuer Platz, the main square where you`ll find the Lindwurm, the winged dragons which is the symbol of the town. Continue on to the oldest part of town, just a stone`s throw away from Neuer Platz, called Alter Platz (`Old Square`). You`ll notice that it`s more of a street than a square and a pedestrian only zone. This is also a great area to stop in one of the charming cafes for lunch. While in the Old Square, take in some of Klagenfurt`s most stunning Baroque buildings including the Old Town Hall with its three-storied arcaded courtyard and the 17th century St. Egid Church, famous for its frescos and stunning views from its tower.

Next, make your way to the Klagenfurt Cathedral. Built between 1578 and 1591, the basilica with its distinct white washed walls and green tiled roofs has served as a cathedral for the Prince-Bishop of Gurk (who lives in Klagenfurt) since 1787. The interior is pretty impressive with three large galleries, rich stucco decoration and wall and ceiling paintings from the 18th century.

Just next door is the Gurk Diocesan Museum showing church vestments and religious art dating from 1170 to today. It`s open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and admission is about €8 for adults.

As the afternoon settles into evening, you`ll want to make your way to the shore of Lake Wörthersee to admire the beautiful sunset over the calm waters. We also suggest enjoying an aperitivo (a drink/lite bite) at one of the lakeside restaurants or cafes.

Choose one of the many restaurants in town to finish off your day with delicious authentic Austrian meal. We recommend trying one of Carinthia`s most famous dish, `Kasnudln.` The warm pasta pockets stuffed with cheese, potatoes, onions, mint and chervil are especially popular in the colder months.

After dinner take a nice walk around the streets of the capital - very relaxing!

Day 2 in Klagenfurt

Wake up early today to continue your exploration of Klagenfurt. If you are in town on a Thursday or Saturday, we recommend your first stop of the day to be at the Benediktiner Market to enjoy some yummy treats. 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 is there`s always a ton to sample. You can also get sandwiches and ready prepared lunch, so the market makes a perfect spot to start your sightseeing day.

Next, we recommend enjoying the lake by taking a sightseeing cruise, it`s the best way to see the lake and all the charming little towns around it. You can choose from all different types of cruises, ranging from water ferries taking you from one place to another (i.e.nearby Velden) to guided boat trips around the lake. There`s even brunch and dinner cruises available.

If you are here in summer, make sure to bring your bathing suit and enjoy some beach time. It is just a short walk from the city center.

Another excellent area to discover is just a short 15-minute drive west from Klagenfurt (or a short train or bus ride) to Minimundus, a miniature world opened in 1958. Here you`ll discover over 150 sights from around the world. Some highlights include the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and the Taj Mahal. All models were made by hand at a scale of 1:25 and are spread around a theme park. Look out for the most expensive model, St. Peter`s Dome which took six years to complete and cost €730,000. There are many little trains between the models and a miniature space shuttle launches into the sky every hour.

For plant lovers, you`ll want to be sure to enjoy a stroll around the Botanical Gardens to enjoy the beautiful flowers and trees from Carinthia. There`s also a fabulous waterfall, several wetland biotopes and a Cactus collection. The surroundings are beautiful with views of the mountains. This is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some lunch in the afternoon hours.

Finish your day exploring some of the art of the area at Klagenfurt`s Museum of Modern Art. The gallery showcases an extensive collection of regional and international artists, but most are from Carinthia. The gallery also has a separate from available for up and coming artists presenting their projects and installations. Exhibits rotate regularly in this room.

Day 3 in Klagenfurt

Start your day with a visit to the Hochosterwitz Castle, located 13 miles to the northeast of Klagenfurt, it is the most striking in the country. The castle is perched high on top of a crag above the little town of Launsdorf, 525 ft above the valley. The fortress, first mentioned in the year 860, is famous for its 14 gates and steep winding access road called `Burgweg.` There is a little chapel on the north side with beautiful frescos from 1570 and an altar from 1729. The museum inside the castle contains weapons left by Napoleon as well as an arsenal of armory, spears, helmets and guns from various centuries. And lastly, make sure to take in the breathtaking views this vantage point provides.

Hochosterwitz Castle is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 1 to May 14 and September 15 to October 31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May 15 to September 14. Admission is around €15 for adults and €8 for kids. There`s an elevator up from Launsdorf for an additional €9 euros but you can also walk.

Also in the area and well worth a visit is the viewing tower on the summit of Pyramidenkogel, about 30-minutes from Klagenfurt. The 128-ft. wooden tower is the highest of its kind in the world and boasts fabulous views of the entire Lake Wörthersee and the Alps. You can either climb up the 441 steps or take the panoramic lift. The tower has three viewing platforms and its own `sky box` restaurant where traditional Carinthian cuisine is served. Afterwards, a 394 ft slide (the largest slide in Europe) will bring you down to the ground level. There is also a `FLY 100` panorama zip wire if you are up for some more adventure. This is open from May to September each year. Here, you can basically jump from the tower all the way down, similar to Bungee Jumping, but feet first.

Additional Days in Klagenfurt

Should you be able to spend additional days in the area we recommend taking a trip to the Excavations at Magdalensberg. This was a Celto-Roman settlement site and the oldest Roman habitation north of the Alps. The Romans built a town here when they came to trade in the final century before the birth of Christ. In 1502, a farmer made the first discovery of a settlement here when he found a bronze statue now called the Magdalensberg Youth (on display in Vienna).

It was in the 19th century that the area was excavated, where mostly collectors were just interested in discovering valuable Roman art objects. More serious archaeologist began to work the site during the Allied occupation of Austria after WWII. As you explore the ruins, you can see the foundations of a temple, as well as public baths and some mosaics. Tours are conducted here as well during the months of May to October.

Alternatively, head to the Cathedral of Gurk to discover this area located 2 miles west of Strassburg. The cathedral is the principal feature of the little market town of Gurk, and from 1072 until 1787, this area was the bishop`s see. The dom (cathedral) is a three-aisled basilica erected between the mid-12th and early 13th centuries, and it`s one of the best examples of Romanesque ecclesiastrical architecture in the country. A set of towers with onion-shaped domes rises nearly 140 ft. The cathedral is beautiful with artwork, including the Samson doorway, a fantastic example of Romanesque sculpture dating from 1180.

Another fantastic option is a visit to the Vellach Valley located southeast of Klagenfurt. The valley leads to the Slovenian border where you are likely to meet many Slovenian visitors. Eisenkappel is major stopover in the valley. This town is surrounded by centuries-old forests and mineral springs, and because of its position as a frontier town only 10 miles from Austro-Slovenian border`s Jezersko Pass, it also offers many cultural and historical attractions.

The southernmost of all Austria`s market villages, Eisenkappel, also known as Selezna Kapla, its Slovenian name, is home to a large Slovenian ethnic population. It lies at the foot of Karawanken, 24 miles from Klagenfurt (or Celovec, as you`re likely to hear it called in this valley).

From Klagenfurt, drive south along Route 91 to the junction with Route 85. Cut east until you reach the junction with Route 82, and then head south to Eisenkappel. There are many sky-blue lakes and white mountain peaks near Eisenkappel. Lake Klopeiner (below), to the north of this town, is the warmest lake in Carinthia, and 5 miles to the southwest you`ll see Trögerner Gorge.

Your Last Day In Klagenfurt

Depart your hotel for the airport or train station where you will head home or make your way to more European adventures. Savor the memories of a very special time in Klagenfurt in the Carinthia region of Austria.