Great Itineraries

If You Have 3 Days

Base yourself in the Austrian Riviera, the perfect balm for travelers who wish simply to sun and soak. Start off with a visit to the provincial capital Klagenfurt before heading out to the most popular lake, the Wörther See. You can make stops along the way at resorts such as Pörtschach, before spending the night and next day in chic Velden. For the next night, head to chic Maria Wörth, with its postcard-perfect spired chapel overlooking the lake. On your final day, take in the idyllic town of Maria Gail and Egg am Faaker See.

If You Have 7 Days

If you plan on a week's worth of wonders, on your third day continue west into Villach —one of Carinthia's most historic cities—for your next overnight. Start your visit in this town nestled on the banks of the Drau River by wandering through the meandering lanes of the Altstadt (Old Town). Spend the night in the city or head for the nearby spa of Warmbad Villach, where you can relax with a massage or soak in the soothing hot-spring water, and then check out the imposing ruins of Landskron Castle. Spend your fourth day enjoying the resort town of Ossiach and its 11th-century monastery, where the sounds of music waft softly through summer nights during the annual music festival. After your overnight, your fifth day is packed, so get an early start on the day's full schedule of sightseeing attractions, including the medieval city of Feldkirchen; the massive Romanesque cathedral at Gurk; and a stop in Strassburg, formerly the seat of the bishopric. On your fifth night pull into Friesach, where it's easy to imagine lords and ladies descended from the Middle Ages living in this village. On the sixth day discover St. Veit an der Glan, Carinthia's capital until the 16th century; then move on to the amazing castle-fortress of Hochosterwitz. For your last evening and day, return to Klagenfurt.