Camping with dog in Carinthia

Many campsites in Carinthia have catered perfectly to the needs of dog owners. Enjoy a carefree hike through the green Nockberge mountains or a swim in one of the beautiful lakes and babbling rivers. The Lesach and Gailtal valleys are also ideal for a varied holiday with your four-legged friend. Along the way, you can fortify yourself in rustic huts, where water is usually available for your dog.

Top tips

• With a total of 1,270 standing bodies of water, Carinthia is the province with the most lakes in Austria. What's more, many places in the south of the Alpine republic enjoy more than 2,300 hours of sunshine per year - ideal conditions for spending wonderful holidays by the water with your pet. Four-legged friends are welcome guests at Lake Hafnersee, south of Lake Wörthersee, or at Lake Keutschach.
• Lake Weissensee, south of Spittal an der Drau, is also particularly pet-friendly and has three designated dog bathing areas. You can also swim with your dog at the Messner lido on Lake Ossiach. There are also swimming opportunities on walks along the Lieser, Gail and Sattnitz rivers.

Activities and excursions

In addition to the clear lakes, which invite you to splash around, the magnificent Carinthian mountains offer numerous other active leisure activities for people and animals. Culture lovers also get their money's worth in the towns.

Discover Carinthia while hiking with your dog

A dog-friendly campsite is an ideal starting point for hikes, as Austria's southernmost province is an Eldorado for active holidaymakers. The choice ranges from challenging mountain tours to the 750km Alpe-Adria-Trail and leisurely lake walks with your four-legged friend. The approximately 6km-long tour in the Bodental valley, which leads to the mystical Meerauge pond, is particularly romantic. Continue on to the fairytale meadow dotted with thousands of alpine flowers. Modern mountain lifts such as the Gerlitzen, Petzen and Goldeck gondola lifts ensure a comfortable ascent to the mountain. For a small surcharge, you can take your four-legged friend on the gondola.

A cultural holiday with your dog in Klagenfurt

Away from the hiking trails of Carinthia, picturesque towns beckon for a visit. The provincial capital of Klagenfurt, with its pretty old town centre, invites you to take a long stroll through the narrow streets with your four-legged friend. During a walk, you should pay a visit to famous sights such as the Lindwurmbrunnen or the Klagenfurt Landhaus. A hike up to the Pyramidenkogel, which at 100 metres is the highest wooden observation tower in the world, is also worthwhile. Dogs are also welcome guests at the Minimundus miniature park, which displays famous buildings from all over the world on a scale of 1:25.

Unique views from the water: experience Carinthia on a boat trip with your dog

Carinthia can be explored from a completely different perspective from the water. There are numerous offers for boat trips for adventurous pet owners. A round trip on the Drau with the MS Landskron from Villach is particularly worthwhile. The impressive Buglander ship takes holidaymakers through the second largest city in the province, past the imposing Wernberg Castle and all the way to the bright blue Faaker See. For a small fee, your animal companion can also join you on the boat.

Events

Visitors can immerse themselves in Carinthian culture and tradition by attending traditional events.

July - August

• Velden promenade: Dog-walking guests can admire street artists on the Velden promenade. Acrobatics, magic and comedy are on offer.

August

• Wiesenmarkt: A colourful programme of events awaits guests at the Wiesenmarkt in Bleiburg at the end of August. After the traditional mead tapping, there is a big parade, fireworks and an amusement park.

September

• Almabtrieb: When the cows return from the mountain pastures to the barn in autumn, many Carinthian towns such as Mallnitz celebrate the Almabtrieb with a lavish festival. Also in September, the largest sales fair in the province takes place in Klagenfurt, to which dogs are admitted free of charge.