Klagenfurt is located in the south of Austria, on the Glan River, a few kilometers from Lake Wörther See, and is the capital of the federal state of Carinthia.
Klagenfurt is the birthplace of the writer Robert Musil, best known for his book The Man Without Qualities, and the German Ingeborge Bachmann Literary Competition. In addition, the composer and conductor Gustav Mahler lived and worked in Klagenfurt. Every summer, athletes and amateurs flock to the lake Wörther See for a beach volleyball tournament.
How to get there
Klagenfurt-Werther See International Airport is located 3 km north of the city. The airport has regular flights from London Stansted, cities in Austria and northern Germany, as well as from Frankfurt. See ANDYEDUCATION for education and training in Austria.
Klagenfurt is an important railway junction. Trains arrive in the city from Vienna (cost 24-55 EUR, travel time 4 hours), Salzburg (14-44 EUR, 3 hours 03 minutes) and Graz (14-42 EUR, 2 hours). Trains to western Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Germany run via Villach. From Klagenfurt to Villach can be reached by train in 30 minutes (cost 8 EUR).
Buses run to Klagenfurt from Graz and Ljubljana (Slovenia). By car you can take the motorway A2 / E66, connecting Villach with Graz.
Transportation
You can travel around the city by bus. A ticket will cost 1.60 EUR for a short trip, 2.70 EUR for an hour trip. A day pass costs 6.80 EUR. It is more profitable to buy tickets at the STW Verkehrsbetriebe office, located on Heiligengeistplatz 4 near the bus station.
A taxi ride from Klegenfurt to Lake Wörther See will cost about 12-15 EUR. In summer, tourist centers offer an additional service – bicycle rental for 15-20 EUR per day.
At Klagenfurt Airport, there are offices of leading car rental companies: Avis, Denzeldrive, Hertz, LaudaMotion.
Shopping
In the city center there are a large number of all kinds of shops and boutiques, and large shopping centers are located on Völkermarkterstrasse. Original handmade souvenirs can be purchased at Kaerntner Heimatwerk at Herrengasse 2.
Cuisine and restaurants
Traditional Carinthian cuisine can be enjoyed at the Kleeblatt restaurants on St. Veiter Ring 31, Gasthaus Pirker on Waltendorfer Str. 129 or Hirter Botschaft at Bahnhofstrasse 44.
Entertainment and attractions of Klagenfurt
Of the sights, it is worth paying attention to the Old Town with Alter Platz, where the most beautiful buildings in the Renaissance style are located; a lindworm fountain in the form of a dragon, built in 1593; the baroque Landhaus, now the seat of the state assembly, and the Cistercian abbey Stift Viktring, founded in 1142.
Lake Wörther See is considered the warmest of the Alpine lakes and attracts tourists from all over the world. Cruises are organized on the lake. The ferry is located two hundred meters north of the Strandbad beach. Motor ferry offers a journey along the Lendkanal through the central part of Klagenfurt and follows the Europapark to the banks of the Wörther See. Cruises operate twice a day from May to September. Travel time is about 50 minutes.
Klagenfurt is the birthplace of the writer Robert Musil, best known for his book The Man Without Qualities, and the German Ingeborge Bachmann Literary Competition.
Not far from Klegenfurt is the Hochosterwitz Castle (Burg Hochosterwitz), one of the most beautiful in Austria. This medieval castle is located on a dolomite rock, at an altitude of 160 m. The first mention of it dates back to 860. Some halls are open to the public from April to October.
In Virunum, in the archaeological park Archaeological Park Magdalensberg, the ruins of the city, which was once the main city of the Roman province of Noricum, have been preserved. Virunum can be reached by car on the B317 road leading to Sankt Veit. An hour’s drive from Klagenfurt is the small ski resort of Gerlitzen.
In Klagenfurt, you can visit the Minimundus park with miniature models of famous buildings from around the world and the Europapark leisure park. Also of interest are the Robert Musil Literatur Museum and the Gustav Mahler Komponierhäuschen House Museum.
In addition to the beach volleyball tournament on the Wörther See lake in Klagenfurt, the Ironman Austria triathlon competition takes place.
Weather in Klagenfurt
Typical continental climate. Heavy fogs are possible in winter and autumn. Thanks to the winds blowing from the Karavanke mountain range, there are warm days during the cold winter. The average annual temperature is +7-9 degrees.
