Family holidays in Carinthia are a summer sensation. Here in Austria’s sunny south, holidays are truly at their best because everyone is happy. Carinthia has so many family-friendly outdoor activities and experiences. This is a place where parents can have as much fun as their kids.
The exciting and varied riverscape of the Drau is perfect for paddling adventures. Following the river by canoe, kayak or paddle board is an incredible experience to share with your family. The flow of the river is gentle so you don’t need prior experience and even beginners can enjoy easy tours. Along the 210 kilometres of the Drau Paddle Path, enjoy stunning mountain landscapes, idyllic swimming spots, and unique natural environments in easy stages from Lienz to Lavamund. This is family-friendly paddling at its best.
Beside the Landskron Castle in Carinthia is a very special wildlife park. Monkey Mountain is an unforgettable animal experience, where you can observe the natural behaviours of over 160 Japanese macaques without the barrier of bars or cages. Watch them interact and play, swim and dive, and learn all about these fascinating creatures from expert guides as you walk through the park at your own pace.
Landskron Castle has another impressive family attraction - up at the castle the Eagle Show allows guests to see birds of prey in action. This 45-minute show allows visitors to get up close to a range of spectacular birds of prey, including eagles and owls, as they free fly overhead and swoop through the audience in an impressive display of skill and training. The expert bird handlers will teach you all about the behaviour and habits of these incredible creatures, many of which are endangered in the wild.
This spectacular piece of modern architecture in Carinthia is the highest wooden viewing tower in the world at 100 metres, offering spectacular views across the peaks of the Hohe Tauern National Park and across to Italy and Slovenia. Kids are often not so interested in views … but the Pyramidenkogel has another feature that makes it top of the list for family holidays. Austria is known for adrenalin activities and the 120-metre-long slide from top to bottom will make the Pyramidenkogel a big hit with your kids. Take the transparent lift up the tower and slide down before enjoying tasty treats at the cafe!
Some of the world’s most dangerous creatures, and some of its most beautiful and misunderstood, are on display at the Happ Reptile Zoo. Carinthia’s capital of Klagenfurt is a great base for your family holiday. Austrian zoos are well run and family-friendly. Learn more about pythons and piranhas, turtles and tarantulas at the Happ Reptile Zoo where over 1,000 animals present an eye-opening impression of the reptile world.
Your family will receive a warm welcome at the forest adventure world in St. Kanzian beside Lake Klopeiner. The kids will love the treetop path, the indoor playhouse, the giant labyrinth, the flying fox garden and more. This is the perfect place to play all day for kids of all ages, with trampolines, a climbing tower, the slackline forest, slide mountain, and plenty of indoor and outdoor fun over a 20,000 m² natural park.
If your kids fancy themselves as real-life Super Marios, they have come to the right place in Carinthia. The mountains here have many exciting summer toboggan runs - and none more famous than the Nocky Flitzer. Here on the Turracher Höhe, the Nocky Flitzer Alpine Coaster offers thrills but no spills as it turns, loops and speeds down the mountainside. An adrenalin rush for kids of all ages on your family holiday! Austria summer fun on the sunny side of the Alps.
Back in the 16th century, this area was the centre of a gold rush and the village of Heiligenblut on the Grossglockner preserves some of the excitement and history of those days. The open-air museum is free to visit and you can try your hand at panning for gold under the instruction of professional gold diggers. For those eager to learn, there is plenty of historical information and metallurgical science on display.
Hochosterwitz is quite simply one of Austria’s most impressive and popular medieval castles. Set on the top of a 172-metre dolomite crag near St. Veit an der Glan in Carinthia, Hochosterwitz Castle is both an impressive landmark and a fascinating place to visit. The most interesting way to enter the castle is by climbing up through the 14 castle gates but don’t worry, if you have young children or older family members there is an inclined railway to whisk you up to the ramparts.
Animal encounters are always a highlight of family trips, and Carinthia has plenty to offer including the Rosegg Animal Park near Velden. This is not a zoo but an outdoor wildlife experience, where visitors walk through beautiful parkland sighting over 300 animal species. Observe bison, lynx and deer and if you have young children make sure there’s plenty of time to enjoy the small animal petting enclosure in the playground. Combined with a visit to Rosegg Castle with its café and labyrinth, this is a fun day out for all the family.
Austria is well-known for its family-friendly hotels, where hosts make it their mission to ensure that guests take home unforgettable memories of family holidays. Austria’s gorgeous landscape provides the setting for a wide variety of comfortable hotels that specialise in fun for all the family.
The name alone raises visions of children running barefoot through wildflower-strewn alpine meadows and the Heidi Hotel Falkert is a paradise for children in the Nock mountains. In summer, families explore the Carinthian countryside while in winter the Heidi-Alm Skipark is only a few steps away. The wellness area has an indoor pool with panoramic views, as well as a children’s paddling area. Get ready to have fun seven days a week, with wrap around baby and child care and a fun kids programme.
Hotel Sonnelino has good reason to call itself a ‘baby and children’s hotel’ because this is an ideal environment for little ones. Lake Klopeiner is one of the warmest bathing lakes in Austria and here at the Hotel Sonnelino, in sunny Carinthia, holiday happiness for all generations is guaranteed. With excellent childcare and kids club activities, as well as extensive spa and wellness facilities, everyone will have a great time on family holidays. Austria’s beautiful landscapes of lake and mountain views surround you with plenty of outdoors adventures.
The family-run Smiley Hotel is nestled in the beautiful Lieser Valley, a wonderful setting for family holidays. Austria is known for ‘kinderhotels’ just like this one and in fact Trebesing was the first baby village in Europe. With highly-qualified childminders and extensive playgrounds, kids are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild, having adventures in the land of make believe. The family spa and children’s menu are only two of the many great reasons to holiday here.
The Nawu Kinderhotel goes to great lengths to ensure the perfect family holiday. Austria summer fun includes swimming in the pool, petting the farm animals, and enjoying regional food treats – Kaiserschmarnn anyone? In the winter, skiing adventures in the Nassfield ski area are on the menu – Kaiserschmarnn also included. Kids’ Club, childcare and babysitting services are of course on hand so that parents can sometimes enjoy the four-course dinner menu or a game on the tennis courts in peace.
Between the Nassfeld ski area and Lakes Weissen and Pressegger, the Ramsi Kinderhotel is a little paradise for family holidays. Austria’s beautiful lake and mountain scenery is all around you, as is the pure fresh air. The Ramsi is a family-run hotel that specialises in adventurous family holidays with hiking trails, swimming lakes, canyoning expeditions and more. Back at the hotel, kids love the animal farm, parents love the wellness area, and everyone loves the delicious Alpine-Adriatic cuisine.
For sporty family adventures the Brennseehof has everything you need. As well as endless hiking opportunities in the area, you can try 10 different sports at the Brennseehof. At the end of a fun-filled day in the great outdoors its time to relax. Enjoy some time in the spa area where warm water pools are supplied with naturally vitalised water. Then the restaurant will treat your tastebuds with delicious Alpine-Adriatic cuisine. Everything here is designed to help families create memories of fun times together.
In the midst of an idyllic alpine world, the Hinteregger family hotel is perfect for both winter and summer vacations. The Hinteregger has superior facilities with extensive wellness and spa areas for both parents and children. There is an excellent kids’ programme and the culinary delights served up in the dining room will keep everyone happy. Hike the trails and enjoy the thrill of the zipline course in summer. In winter, there are 70km of perfectly-prepared pistes to enjoy for all skill levels.
Here at Lake Millstatt, where the lake and mountains meet, is the perfect place for family holidays. Austrian hospitality at this kids and sports hotel guarantees a warm welcome. From swimming in the clear waters of the lake in summer to snowy wonderland experiences in winter, a team of qualified childcare staff ensure kids find all the fun and challenge they need. Then it’s time to relax and be spoiled after an active day in nature. The host family is devoted to creating a cosy home-away-from-home at this Carinthian family hotel.
