8 Reasons To Visit Carinthia In The Summer, Austria’s Sunniest Region (2026)

There are a lot of reasons why everyone should visit Carinthia in the summer at least once in their lifetime. Here are a few to get you inspired to visit Austria’s sunniest region.

Carinthia is probably Austria’s best kept secret, as it’s not very well known outside of the country. But it’s the kind of destination that, once you visit, you will want to go back over and over again.

It is really popular with Austrians all year round, but particularly in the summer, with a great variety of things to do.

From thrilling outdoors adventures such as alpine roller coasters and mountain biking, to more relaxed activities such as Slow Trails and Slow Food Villages where you can enjoy the local gastronomy, there is something for everyone.

There are so many things to do in Carinthia in the summer! But if this is not enough to convince you, here are a few of the many reasons you need to visit this little known part of the world.

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1 Reasons to visit Carinthia in the summer

Reasons to visit Carinthia in the summer

Carinthia is the land of lakes

Carinthia has more than 200 lakes, all completely different from each other. But they have one thing in common. Beautifully pure water that gets above 25 degrees in the summer, making them perfect for bathing.

The south of Austria, where Carinthia is, is a lot sunnier than people realise. So between the end of May and the end of September, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beautiful havens that are the Carinthian Lakes.

Lake Wörthersee is the largest in the region, and one of the warmest in the Alps. It is well known for the idyllic towns at the edge of its waters.

Lake Millstättersee is the second largest lake in Carinthia, and a great spot to practise water sports such as stand up paddling (SUP).

There is also an extensive network of hiking and cycling routes around Lake Millstättersee from which you can get magnificent views of the valley and the water.

Carinthia is perfect for slowing down

If you are looking to slow down and switch off from the world for a few days, Carinthia is the perfect destination.

Austria’s sunniest region has eleven trails that have been designed especially to help you relax, inspire you, and reconnect with nature.

Carinthian Slow Trails are no longer than 10km and have a maximum of 300m of altitude difference, so they are not meant to be strenuous. Instead, they encourage you to take your time along the walk, while you enjoy the lake views.

All Slow Trails are either along the shores of a lake, or they offer spectacular lakeside views.

Two great examples are Slow Trail Südufer, which follows the southern shore of Lake Millstattersee for 4.4km from Seeboden, and Slow Trail Mirnock, which has a number of yoga and viewing platforms along the way from which you can enjoy breathtaking views of the lake.

Carinthia is a pioneer in sustainable cuisine

You may have heard of Slow Travel, but have you heard of Slow Food? The Slow Food movement aims to protect regional traditions, good food, gastronomic pleasure, and a slow pace of life. In fact, the concept of slow travel was inspired by this movement.

The Slow Food movement was born in Italy, but it was Carinthia that pioneered the concept of Slow Food Villages. The Slow Food Villages network aims to protect and promote villages in rural areas and preserve their gastronomic heritage.

Slow Food Villages such as Millstatt, Seeboden, and Bad Kleinkirchheim have a network of producers and food artisans making good, clean and fair food. They also offer a number of slow food experiences where you can bake your own bread or make your own mountain cheese.

Another way to enjoy Slow Food in the network is by visiting hyperlocal businesses such as Buschenchank Höfler in Millstatt, which only serves food and drink produced in their own farm or wine in the neighbour’s vineyard.

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You can enjoy the unique Carinthian hospitality

Carinthia has a very distinctively charming character. This charm is the result of its environment, with idyllic lakes and breathtaking alpine scenery. And nowhere is it more apparent than through the unique Carinthian hospitality.

A great example of warm traditional hospitality is Hotel GUT Trattlerhof in Bad Kleinkirchheim. It’s a classic Austrian inn run by the 5th generation of the same family.

Hotel GUT Trattlerhof is not an ordinary hotel. The warmth of the Forstnig family will make you feel at home from the moment you set foot in it.

The mission of the Forstnig family has been to offer the best Carinthian hospitality by taking an alpine approach to life, and retaining the hotel’s traditional character. They will go out of their way to ensure you experience traditional rural hospitality with a modern twist.

The Trattlerhof is a very romantic hotel, although it is also perfect if you are travelling on your own or with friends.

> Book Hotel GUT Trattlerhof here

Carinthia is a cyclists’ paradise

Cycling is very popular in Carinthia, and a lot of people visit the region to explore the network of endless cycling routes.

Carinthia is the southernmost region in Austria, and the temperatures are very mild and pleasant in the summer. This means that the cycling season starts a little bit earlier here than in the rest of the country.

From the end of March you can start exploring the myriad of cycling trails that criss-cross the region.

These cycling routes are guaranteed to come with three things – fantastic mountain and lake panoramic views, regional Alpe-Adria cuisine, and plenty of opportunities to cool off in one of the many Carinthian lakes.

The routes are varied too. There are routes for mountain biking fans, like the six Flow Trails, and more leisurely routes, like the cycling path around Lake Millstättersee.

And best of all, you don’t even have to bring your own bike. Carinthia has a great network of places where you can hire bikes and ebikes, so it couldn’t be easier!

You can sleep under the stars in a bivouac in Carinthia

Traditionally, a bivouac (or biwak) is an improvised and temporary mountain shelter built with natural materials that would be normally be constructed and used by soldiers, scouts, and mountain climbers.

Carinthia has taken this concept a few steps further and now offers a number of bivouacs that still stay true to the principle of simplicity but with a feel of luxury.

In this form, a bivouac is a small wooden cabin built with sustainable local materials and designed to demonstrate that luxury can come in the form of simplicity.

There are a number of bivouacs near Lake Millstättersee. They are all located in spots near the lake with views over the water, with very low light pollution at night, so they are referred to as ‘Shelters under the stars’.

You can lie on the bed and look at the starry sky through the Velux windows right above your head. A unique experience everyone should have.

Carinthia protects mountain living traditions

The Nockberge Mountains are a mecca for hikers. It has an extensive network of hikes, including one of the stages of the long distance Alpe Adria Trail, which is inaccessible in winter.

The Nockberge have been a UNESCO Biosphere since 2012, which is characterised by gentle, rounded mountain tops. The literal translation of Nock is ‘lovely hills’, so it is these rounded mountain tops that give the area its name.

The Biosphere is known for its distinctive flora and fauna, and also as a unique living space for humans with a valuable cultural landscape, traditions, and legends.

The Nockberge Mountains are characterised by country life, which has been a feature here for centuries. Sustainable farming is at the centre of life here, with numerous dairy farms and alpine pasture businesses.

With a conscious focus on sustainability, alpine pasture farming helps to preserve the biodiversity of big meadows. Husbandry of alpine pasture animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses, is very important too.

This harmony between human life and nature is key to the UNESCO Biosphere.

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Carinthia is for thrill seekers too

Carinthia has a number of alpine roller coasters that will get any thrill seeker excited. And they can be found in unexpected places.

Bad Kleinkirchheim is a small sleepy Carinthian village famous for its thermal baths. But it is also a great destination for anyone looking for exciting things to do.

At 1.4km long, Kaiserburg Bob is Austria’s most modern alpine rollercoaster. It has 26 curves and it can go as fast as 40km an hour, so if you are looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush, Carinthia has got your back.