Beach holidays, a favourite for many, are sometimes not on the agenda for families with young children. This is because parents are reluctant to subject their children to the rigours of long flights and acclimatisation.
In fact, children have varying degrees of tolerance to sudden changes in climate, and for some people, whatever their age, resting in hot countries is contraindicated. On the other hand, a holiday by the sea can be just as good as a holiday by the lakes.
Many European countries can boast beautiful lakes, but Austria is a real lake destination — 1,270 lakes are a jewel in its crown.
Carinthia's lakes for holidays with children
Austria's ski resorts are best known to tourists with children, attracting skiers from all over the world in winter, but there's also a real surprise for lovers of warmth: the climate in southern Carinthia, one of Austria's federal states, is similar to that of the Mediterranean.
- Best family-friendly destinations in Austria
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Austria
It is a popular holiday destination, especially for families with children: Carinthia has more than 200 lakes suitable for swimming.
A trip here is recommended for those who want to avoid the heat but still enjoy relaxing by the water. Another advantage of Austria's lakes is that they can be reached by car or other means of transport.
Austria is also easily accessible by air — the flight is not long. There's also a high standard of accommodation, with hotels of all categories along the coast, many with special facilities for parents with children.
There's also a treasure trove of activities to enjoy, from hiking in the surrounding countryside to a visit to a boat cinema, from quietly gliding on a raft to canoeing down the raging Drau. Add to this the possibility of admiring the glaciers at the top of the Alps while swimming in the warm waters of the lakes, and you have the makings of a very special summer holiday experience.
An undeniable plus of Carinthia's lakes is the crystal clarity of their water (it's considered safe to drink; whether you drink it or not is up to you, but don't worry if your child swallows the lake water).
However, not all lakes are well heated and some are very cold. Kidpassage has compiled information on family-friendly resorts in Carinthia.
First and foremost is Wörthersee, Carinthia's largest lake, with an area of 20 square kilometres. It is Austria's most popular lake resort, especially attractive for holidays with children, as the water in Wörthersee warms up to +27°C.
The lake is surrounded by beautiful beaches, landscaped paths for roller skating and skateboarding, beach volleyball and tennis courts.
There are also a range of water activities, including banana boat rides, water skiing, windsurfing and motorboat rides. There are several health resorts near the lake: Felden, Perchach, Maria Wörth, Krumpendorf.
In Perchach there is a barefoot path, which is a great way to give children a hardening effect and a heel massage. And in Felden there is a children's water playground.
Carinthia's capital, Klagenfurt, is only a few kilometres from Wörthersee, but the sights are well worth the trip. Klagenfurt can be reached by boat.
There are many sights in the city, but the Minimundus Museum, with its reconstructions of world architecture in miniature, is worth a visit for children.
Carinthia's second largest lake, Millstätter See, has a very special microclimate with sunny and warm summers.
Although it is one of the deepest lakes in the world, it can reach +26ºC in summer. On the shores of the lake are the tranquil spa towns of Seeboden, Debrich and Millstatt.
But that doesn't mean you'll be bored: there are surfing and diving schools, a sailing school and water-ski and boat hire.
It's also great for walking and cycling. There are no beaches as such on the lakeside: picnic areas are set up on grassy areas, and wooden bridges have been built to get down to the water.
The real children's paradise, however, is Klopeiner See. The water here is the warmest (up to +28°C), and thanks to the many sunny days and the lack of cold mountain rivers flowing into the lake, there's a thick layer of warm water that doesn't get cold even on cooler days.
Holidaymakers also appreciate the shallow, gently sloping shores and shallow waters, which are ideal for children.
In the northern part of the lake, where Klopin is located, there are children's bathing bays and playgrounds. Although there aren't any sandy beaches on the shore, the soft grass is perfect for children to play and run around on. It is a nice place for a child to rest and recover in peace.
The towns of Seelach and Unterburg, which also overlook Klopainer See, are ideal for solitary strolls. Surfing, diving, golf, crazy golf and fishing are also available.
The area around the lake is ideal for active recreation, with hiking and cycling routes through the beautiful Carinthian countryside.
A trip to the Wildenstein Waterfall or a visit to the bird world at the Völkermarkt Reservoir are good ways to diversify your holiday. The lake is also home to the Bad Eisenkappel spa.
The lakes of the Salzkammergut
Wolfgangsee, in the Salzkammergut spa region on the border of Upper Austria and Salzburg, is a worthy rival to the lakes of Carinthia. This mountain lake is often visited by families with children due to its gentle, wooded slopes.
One reason for this is the large number of mini-hotels, which are family-run and therefore very welcoming to visitors with children.
The grassy beaches with wooden jetties are ideal for sunbathing and playing. It should be noted that the water temperature in the lake depends on the weather and sometimes the water may not be suitable for baby swimming.
We recommend choosing a hotel and asking if they have a children's pool for swimming on cooler days. Otherwise, a trip here promises to be fun, as the coastal towns offer plenty of attractions suitable for children.
These include the Doll Museum in St. Wolfgang and the Schaffbergbahn, a steam-powered cog railway that has been in operation since 1893 and climbs the Schaffberg mountain.
The train climbs to an altitude of 1,190 m. The towns around the lake — St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, Strobl and Bad Ischl — often host festivals, folk music events and jousting tournaments.
Lake Mondsee, also in the Salzkammergut, is well worth a visit. With summer temperatures of up to 26ºC, Mondsee is popular with tourists and weekend visitors from Salzburg.
It is also a popular destination for water sports enthusiasts as there is a good surfing and sailing school on Mondsee.
Finally, I would like to tell you about the amazingly endangered Grüner See in the municipality of Trages in Styria. In spring and summer it is an ordinary lake, except that the water is a deep green.
Its uniqueness can only be appreciated by divers — under the surface there is a park: grass, trees and benches along the paths. In autumn, the water disappears and the paths of the park dry up, and visitors stroll along them to admire the beauty of nature.
The miracle of the Grünersee is that in spring, when the glaciers in the Alps begin to melt, streams rush down the valley and flood the park, forming a lake up to 12 metres deep.
Its water is very cold, 6-7°C, so it can only be described as a tourist attraction.
Kidpassage offers such trips to Austria and is sure that this trip will bring you new experiences and that the Carinthian lakes will become a favourite holiday destination. To help you prepare for your trip and choose a destination, we suggest you check out our collection of family-friendly resorts in Austria.
