Camping at Lake Ossiach

The combination of lake and mountains means that camping at Lake Ossiach offers a wide range of activities. This makes the programme entertaining even in cooler weather - perfect for families with small children! Many campsites on Lake Ossiach also welcome dogs with their own dog beach and are specially designed for them. The 11 km long lake is located in the centre of Carinthia and is also ideal for excursions to nearby Italy or Slovenia.

Special features of camping on Lake Ossiach

Around Lake Ossiach there are around 20 campsites near the lake or directly on the lake. They are easy to reach and only a few kilometres from the A10 Tauern motorway. Bathing holidays promise the best relaxation here. Due to the proximity to the mountains, the location is not only interesting for swimmers and water sports enthusiasts, hikers also feel at home here. There are also several golf courses in the immediate vicinity.

Travellers can spend their holidays in Carinthia at Seecamping Plörz, Laggner, Berghof and Hoffmann, Terrassencamping Ossiacher See or See-Camping Mentl. Travellers without their own vehicle can opt for a mobile home, which has a spacious kitchen area and living space. Several people and pets will find suitable accommodation here.

Campsites on Lake Ossiach

The region around the lake is extremely popular with campers - they can choose from a large number of campsites close to the shore.

Seecamping Laggner

Seecamping Laggner has its own lido with a large sunbathing lawn. The pitches in the shade with a view of the lake are particularly popular. The very well-kept and tranquil facilities at Seecamping Laggner are rated very highly by guests.

Terrassencamping Ossiacher See

Terrassencamping on the southern shore is a truly impressive camping site. The site is characterised by sloping, multi-terraced meadows with beautiful lawns as well as pitches and mobile homes with a view of the water. Two bathing bays and a boat landing stage provide plenty of bathing fun. The varied children's playground at Terrassencamping is a favourite with the little ones. The mobile homes here have a living room and bedrooms with single beds for several people or double beds. Bed linen can also be requested on site for just one night at Terrassencamping.

In addition to Seecamping Laggner and Terrassencamping, the campsites at Seecamping Plörz, Berghof, Mentl and Hoffmann are also worth a visit.

Journey

Even the journey to the Ossiacher See holiday region is an experience. Travellers cross the border into Austria at Salzburg and drive comfortably on the A10 Tauern motorway for around 180 km south to Carinthia as far as the Ossiacher See exit. From there, the northern or southern shore of Carinthia's third-largest lake is just a few kilometres away. Austria's motorways are subject to tolls, and there is also a charge for passing through the tunnels through the Hohe Tauern.

Destinations on Lake Ossiach

The typical Carinthian landscape in the immediate vicinity of Lake Ossiach is rural and village-like in character. The towns in the province of Carinthia are not particularly large and often exude a rustic Austrian flair.

Villach

In the immediate vicinity of Lake Ossiach is Villach, a town with a good 60,000 inhabitants, known as the transport hub and carnival capital of Austria. Carinthia's largest river, the Drau, meanders through the city and invites you to stroll along its banks. The car-free city centre with its numerous cafés, restaurants and shopping opportunities is ideal for an excursion. How about a typical regional costume or a Carinthian kilt?

Klagenfurt

The provincial capital of Carinthia is located around 40 kilometres from Lake Ossiach. Klagenfurt's landmark, the Lindwurmbrunnen fountain on Neuer Platz, symbolises the early history of the city, which was founded close to a swamp. Numerous medieval churches and secular buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries bear witness to Klagenfurt's diverse history. Museums such as the Provincial Museum, the Mining Museum and the Diocesan Museum are the first port of call for holidaymakers interested in history and culture. Climbing the parish church rewards those with a head for heights with an impressive view far beyond Klagenfurt.

Top 5 sights

• Landskron Castle: Eagles and other birds of prey perform breathtaking feats in several daily demonstrations, and the castle restaurant is a great place to quench your hunger and thirst.
• Affenberg: Visitors can get up close and personal with around 160 Japanese macaques in the outdoor enclosure.
• Ossiach Abbey: Over 1,000 years of history are brought back to life in the former Benedictine abbey.
• Gerlitzen Kanzelbahn: A ride on the cable car to the summit of the Gerlitzen opens up a wide range of hiking opportunities, magnificent panoramic views and gastronomic delights.
• Domenig Steinhaus: This work by the famous architect Günther Domenig in Steindorf am Ossiacher See provides architecture enthusiasts with inspiring insights into his art. Guided tours by the artist's students deepen your understanding.

Top 2 insider tips from Pincamp

• Knights' feast: At Landskron Castle, medieval fans have the opportunity to feast like the knights of old. All you need is a knife. Here you can savour a rustic and hearty four-course meal while the service staff stimulate your laugh muscles.
• Mushroom museum: Natural exhibits and detailed explanations turn mushroom lovers into experts in this exhibition just a few kilometres from Lake Ossiach. There is also an entertaining programme for children.

Activities and excursions

In addition to the recreational opportunities, sporting activities on Lake Ossiach are also interesting and challenging for young and old.

Sailing across the lake in a stiff breeze

Anyone who has always wanted to learn to sail will find the perfect opportunity at one of the sailing schools on Lake Ossiach. Experienced sailors can hire the boat of their choice and enjoy the wind and waves. The wind is almost always light to medium, ideal for learning or for a relaxed sailing trip. Particularly sporty holidaymakers can also try surfing. For more leisurely holidaymakers, a trip in a rowing boat is recommended. Many landing stages offer opportunities for refreshment, for example with a Carinthian snack, typically with bacon, Glundner cheese and hard (salami-like) sausages.

Cycling around the lake

Whether on your own or on a hire bike, a trip around the lake is always worthwhile. The landscape is varied and therefore also fun for children. Thanks to the flat route, even inexperienced cyclists can easily manage the 20 kilometres of the lake circuit. There are numerous places to stop for refreshments. A visit to a wine tavern is almost obligatory in summer. Ambitious, fit cyclists can venture out on one of the romantic but sweat-inducing mountain trails starting directly from the lake.

Event tips from Pincamp

Many events for all tastes take place every year at Lake Ossiach and nearby.

May

• GTI meeting: Car enthusiasts meet on the southern shore of Lake Wörthersee to live out their passion.

June

• United World Games: Young people from all over the world compete in various sports in and around Klagenfurt.

July

• Ironman: The toughest triathletes have to prove themselves in swimming, cycling and running. Start and finish are in Klagenfurt.
• Body Painting Festival: colourful art on naked bodies in Klagenfurt
• Carinthian Summer: from July to August, classical concerts with world-famous conductors are performed in and around the Ossiach collegiate church directly on Lake Ossiach
• Star night: on the eastern shore of Lake Wörthersee in Klagenfurt, pop music stars sing with television broadcasts.

August

• Villacher Kirchtag: traditional week with folk festival character at the beginning of August with gastronomic highlights September
• Harley-Davidson meeting: Thousands of fans of the cult motorbike meet up around Lake Faak. Even without your own motorbike, the accompanying celebrations are a fun event.

Gastronomy

Around Lake Ossiach, freshly caught fish from the lake, sometimes from the restaurants' own fish ponds, is served. Numerous restaurants ranging from home-style to award-winning offer international cuisine and in some cases breathtaking views of the lakes and mountains. Probably the most typical Carinthian dish is Kasnudeln. The basis for this is homemade pasta dough. This is filled with curd cheese and potatoes, mint and chervil. The icing on the cake is melted butter, which is poured over it just before serving.

Best time to visit

From May to September, the average temperature at the lake is over 20 °C with peak values of almost 26 °C. Longer periods of rain are extremely rare. On an excursion to the nearby mountains, it gets pleasantly cooler as the altitude increases. In winter, temperatures can drop well below zero and it can snow. In the summer months, the lake is ideal for water sports and swimming. Even at maximum water temperatures of 26 °C, the water is refreshing for swimmers who have overheated from sunbathing. The ideal time to go swimming is from June to September. In winter, the surrounding mountains can be used for skiing and sledging, and some campsites are also open during the cold season. In the off-season, campers can go hiking or take advantage of the many golfing opportunities.