Apartment I
110 m²6-8 guestsfrom €108/night
Two separate bedrooms, a spacious living room and its own terrace. Private bathroom and separate WC, plus a fully equipped kitchen.
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Bathing lakes in Carinthia
The finest Carinthian lakes for your holiday
From Lake Klopein to the Weissensee at a good 930 metres.
The big names
The famous Carinthian bathing lakes
Lake Klopein, Lake Wörthersee, the Faaker See, the Millstätter See and the Weissensee all stand for turquoise water and consistently excellent bathing water quality.
Lake Klopein
approx. 20 min · the warmest
The only one of the five you can manage in an afternoon. The region has advertised it as the warmest bathing lake in Europe for decades, and in summer it reaches 29 °C. Twelve public lidos sit on its shore.
Lake Wörthersee
approx. 35 min · by train too
The best known lake in Carinthia, and the only one of the large ones you can comfortably reach without a car: by train to Klagenfurt West, from there a few minutes on foot to the Strandbad Klagenfurt. Minimundus and the Europapark are right beside it.
Faaker See
approx. 1 h · the turquoise one
The most striking water in this list, turquoise to green, with the Mittagskogel behind it. About an hour's drive, so a whole day and not an afternoon. In return you see Carinthia here the way it looks on the postcards.
Millstätter See
approx. 1.5 h · the day trip
The second largest lake in Carinthia, set deep between the Nockberge and the Millstätter Alpe. A day for the views and the setting, less so for a quick swim.
Weissensee
approx. 2 h · the coolest
It lies at a good 930 metres, higher than any other lake on this page, and you notice it in the water: around 24 °C when Lake Klopein has 29. In return a large part of the shore is undeveloped and reachable only on foot or by boat. Two hours' drive, worth it as a day out in its own right, not as an aside.
10 to 25 minutes away
Southern Carinthian lakes
All six lie close enough together to be ridden in a single day by bike, as the 6-lakes loop through southern Carinthia.
Pirkdorfer See
approx. 10 min
Our nearest bathing lake, at the foot of the Petzen. Gently shelving shore, a lido, pedalos. It is small enough to see the whole shoreline from your spot on the grass, and that is exactly what makes it so relaxed with small children.
Sonnegger See
approx. 15 min
The lake for days when everywhere else is too busy. Still water, a shoreline you can take in at a glance, no crowds. On the south shore there is a slide for children, a shallow entry and a clear view of the whole lake.
Lake Klopein
approx. 20 min
Up to 29 °C in summer, with a continuous lakeside promenade, several lidos and boat hire. This is where most is going on, and where there is most to do.
Kleinsee
approx. 20 min
A nature jewel and a protected area, set between woodland and meadows with the Karawanken behind it. A wide belt of reeds and water lilies encloses it, and there is no bathing operation here. From one and the same viewpoint you can see it and Lake Klopein lying side by side.
Turnersee
approx. 25 min
Reed beds, water lilies and a Slow Trail right along the shore. One of the most natural lakes in Carinthia, good for walking and looking. The bird park is right next door.
Gösselsdorfer See
approx. 25 min
Shallow, warm and rarely full. If you want nature rather than a programme, this is the one. Along the main road there are several places to get into the water between the water lilies.
Warm or cool
The warmest bathing lake in Europe: Lake Klopein
Which lake is warmer than which does not change, because it depends on how the lakes are built and not on the weather. No sizeable stream flows into Lake Klopein, so its water heats up to 29 °C in summer. The Millstätter See is over 140 metres deep and therefore slow to react, and the Weissensee sits at a good 930 metres and stays noticeably cooler.
Still warm enough to swim in September
In high summer you barely notice the difference, it is swimming weather everywhere. It gets interesting in September: at Lake Klopein you can usually swim all month, and on fine days into early October. The higher lakes such as the Weissensee are long done by then; there the bathing season usually ends in late August. So if you come in late summer or early autumn, head for Lake Klopein rather than the Millstätter See.
The full measurement series for every Carinthian lake, including the past few weeks, is kept by the province itself.
Current lake temperatures in CarinthiaAt Lake Klopein
Lidos we recommend
There are twelve public lidos at Lake Klopein. These four differ clearly enough that the choice changes the day.
Camping Nord
for toddlers and school-age children
A gently shelving shore, a sandpit area and a small water slide. For children who cannot swim yet, this is our tip at Lake Klopein. Older ones find a diving tower, a water trampoline and an iceberg out in the water, and there are pedalos. If you have children in two age groups, this one destination covers both. A pool lift on the jetty makes the lido accessible for wheelchair users too.
Camping Süd
for the sporty
With a beach volleyball court. Worth knowing: it gets deep quickly here. For small children Camping Nord is the better choice.
Strandbad Krainz
for shade and evening sun
On the east shore, with mature trees on the lawn, a wooden jetty and a shallow sandy entry. Because the lido faces west, the sun stands over the water in the evening. Day cabins and pedalos are available on site.
Zanzibeach
for an evening as a couple
Also on the east shore, with a lawn, a jetty and a beach bar serving tapas and finger food. The place for an afternoon that turns into an evening.
Entry prices and opening hours change from season to season, which is why they are deliberately not listed here. You will find the current details from the lidos themselves.
At a glance
Eleven Carinthian lakes compared
The water temperature is the most recent measured reading; the depth comes from the state's bathymetric maps. The "Who for" column points at the four groups that each get their own section further down.
| Lake | Water | Bathing season | Depth | From the house | Who for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirkdorfer See | no measuring station | May to September | 3.5 m | 10 min | FamilyQuiet |
| Sonnegger See | no measuring station | May to September | 4.5 m | 15 min | QuietFamily |
| Lake Klopein | 26,0 °C | May to early October | 48 m | 20 min | FamilyActive |
| Kleinsee | no measuring station | no bathing operation | 9 m | 20 min | Quiet |
| Turnersee | 24,9 °C | May to September | 13 m | 25 min | QuietFamily |
| Gösselsdorfer See | 23,1 °C | May to September | 3 m | 25 min | Quiet |
| Lake Wörthersee | 25,3 °C | May to September | 85 m | 35 min | FamilyActive |
| Faaker See | 24,5 °C | May to September | 30 m | 1 h | ActiveQuiet |
| Rauschelesee | 25,7 °C | May to September | 12 m | 1 h | Family |
| Millstätter See | 25,0 °C | late June to August | 141 m | 1.5 h | Quiet |
| Weissensee | 24,3 °C | late June to August | 99 m | 2 h | QuietActive |
Driving times are approximate, in minutes by car from the house. The bathing season is what we see year on year, and it depends on the weather of the particular year.
Water temperatures measured on August 24 at 04:00 PM. Temperature: Hydrographic Service of the Province of Carinthia, CC BY 4.0. Depth: bathymetric maps of the Carinthian Institute for Lake Research.
Which lake for whom
The right lake for your party
Family, quiet or active: the three groups from the "Who for" column each get a section here, with the lake and the lido to match.
With children
Pirkdorfer See · Rauschelesee · Camping Nord
Children can swim in any of these lakes. What makes the difference is the lido: Camping Nord at Lake Klopein has a gently shelving shore and a sandpit area, plus a diving tower, a water trampoline and pedalos for the older ones. If you want fewer people, head for the Pirkdorfer See, where you can see the whole shoreline from your spot on the grass. The Rauschelesee has a large playground right on the shore, and at the Turnersee the bird park is next to the lido.
Couples and those after quiet
Gösselsdorfer See · Turnersee · Millstätter See
Two lakes are usually still even in August: the Gösselsdorfer and the Sonnegger. At the Turnersee the Slow Trail runs right along the reeds. At Lake Klopein the east shore is the quieter side, with mature shade at the Strandbad Krainz and the evening sun over the water. For a whole day as a couple the Millstätter and the Faaker See are the destinations, both more for the setting than for a quick swim.
Active and watersports
Lake Klopein · Lake Wörthersee · Faaker See
Boat hire and pedalos at Lake Klopein, beach volleyball at the Camping Süd lido, watersports at the Faaker See. Then there is Lake Wörthersee, where alongside boat hire the scheduled passenger boats run too. At the Weissensee a large part of the shore is undeveloped and reachable only on foot or by boat. Rowing and paddling happen on the Völkermarkter Stausee, swimming does not: it is a dammed river.
When the playground decides it
A tip for a whole day out: there is a large children's playground right on the shore of the Rauschelesee in the Keutschach valley. The drive takes about an hour and covers 56 kilometres, so the day is planned around it. For a quick afternoon the lakes close to the house remain the better choice.
Without a car
To the lake by train and shuttle
The two best known lakes are both on the Koralm railway. From Bleiburg station, around 2.5 km from us, you reach Kühnsdorf-Klopeiner See in about ten minutes, free with the Aktiv Card. For Lake Wörthersee you ride to Klagenfurt main station, then around four minutes on to Klagenfurt West and a few minutes on foot to the Strandbad Klagenfurt.
The lake shuttle from Kühnsdorf
From Kühnsdorf-Klopeiner See station the lake shuttle (Postbus lines 763 and 764) takes you to two lakes: to the lidos at Lake Klopein and on to the Turnersee. It runs daily from 1 May to 30 September and is timed to the Koralm railway; no booking needed.
Lake shuttle timetableAnd within the villages
The Postbus Shuttle Südkärnten stops right at our house (Ferienhaus Huber stop) and runs on demand via an app to Lake Klopein without changing, as well as within Bleiburg, Feistritz ob Bleiburg, Eberndorf and St. Kanzian. Booking early is best. With a season ticket such as the KlimaTicket you pay only a 2 euro comfort surcharge per person and journey.
Back at the house
Enjoying all the lakes and our private nature pond
For days when nobody wants to get into the car, our nature pond is right by the house, with a lawn and a jetty.
The nature pond at the houseApartments for 2 to 8 guests
Apartment II
70 m²5-6 guestsfrom €81/night
Two separate bedrooms and an eat-in kitchen with dining area, plus its own balcony. Private bathroom and separate WC.
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Apartment III
50 m²2-4 guestsfrom €27/night
One bedroom and a cosy eat-in kitchen with a seating nook, plus its own balcony. Private bathroom and separate WC.
View apartmentexcl. final cleaning · minimum stay 3 nights
Frequently asked questions about the lakes
- Which lake is the warmest?
- Lake Klopein. It reaches up to 29 °C in summer and is considered one of the warmest bathing lakes in Europe. The reason is that no sizeable stream flows into it.
- Which lake is best for small children?
- The Camping Nord lido at Lake Klopein, for its small water slide and sandpit area. Quieter and easier to keep an eye on are the Pirkdorfer See and the Sonnegger See, where you can see the whole shoreline.
- How late in the year can you swim in Carinthia?
- You can swim at Lake Klopein until the end of September, and on fine days into early October. The lakes around Bleiburg are usually warm enough from May to September. At the higher Weissensee, by contrast, the bathing season ends in late August.
- Can you get to Lake Klopein without a car?
- Yes. From Bleiburg station the local train takes about ten minutes to Kühnsdorf-Klopeiner See, free with the Aktiv Card. From there the lake shuttle (Postbus 763 and 764) runs daily from 1 May to 30 September straight to the lidos. Alternatively the Postbus Shuttle Südkärnten stops right at our house and runs on demand via an app to the lake without changing.
- Can you swim in the Völkermarkt reservoir?
- No, the reservoir is not a bathing lake. It is a dammed river and is used for rowing and stand-up paddling.
- How far is the nearest lake from the house?
- The Pirkdorfer See is around 10 minutes by car, roughly 5 kilometres. That makes it our nearest bathing lake.
Ask without obligation
Tell us how old your children are and whether you want quiet or plenty going on: we will recommend the right lake in advance. Send us an enquiry without obligation and we will reply personally.