Europe’s heatwaves are no laughing matter, and temperatures even in alpine Austria can get close to 40C on many occasions during the summer. If you want to find places to cool down and avoid the heat, there are many beautiful locations to visit all over Austria.
From aquariums to caves and stunning lakes, here are some of the spots that will not be too sweltering even in the hot summer months.
In Vienna, visit the Haus des Meeres
Vienna has many places you can visit literally to cool off, as the city has a comprehensive plan to face heat waves. There are fog showers around the city, which spray a fine mist into the air to cool down passers-by; water features in its parks and drinking water fountains all over the city.
However, if you want more of an attraction for your summer months, a good call would be the Viennese aquarium, also known as Haus des Meeres.
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Unless you spend some time in the “tropical” section, most of the building is climatized, and you get to see cool animals and beautiful aquariums. The Haus also has a rooftop bar with lovely views of Vienna.
In Lower Austria, venture into the Wienerwald
The Vienna Woods, which encompass the west and southwest of the city’s capital, are the forest where many great minds used to go for walks to get inspired – Mozart, Beethoven and Kafka are all closely linked to the Wienerwald.
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The region is beautiful throughout the year, and the greenery helps the area stay cooler than the cities over summer.
It’s a perfect setting for walks, picnics, and mountain biking, and several summer events take place over the hot months.
The way up – elevation gain 809m – was tough, no question. But the view up there, pure alpine romance!
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–#hiking #wandern #mountains #Berge #alpine #alps #Alpen #nationalpark #nationalparkkalkalpen #view #Panorama #Aussicht #altitude #Höhenmeter #nat… https://t.co/1vH2BZFFcz pic.twitter.com/q0fcezBHzi— Tomislav Marić (@tomislavmar1c) October 9, 2018
In Upper Austria, go to the Nationalpark Kalkalpen
Austria’s second-largest national park is within the Northern Limestone Alps mountain range, and it’s most famous for having the largest forested area in Central Europe. You can escape the summer heat under the cover of the trees, reach high panorama-view towers, climb peaks and enjoy horseback riding trails.
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The forest is a truly special thing. It’s the first World Natural Heritage forest in Austria and is home to some of the oldest trees in Europe.
The Kalkalpen is also where several rare animals can be found in Austria, including bears, the lynx and the golden eagle.
In Styria, visit the wine roads south of the state
Styria is home to what is known as Austria’s Tuscany region. The Weinstrassen are a beautiful and idyllic setting of roads full of twists and turns around vineyards.
Though the best time of the year to visit is arguably around September, to enjoy the fruits of the grape harvest, it is also a lovely (and a few degrees cooler than in city centres!) place to visit over the summer months.
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The wine roads are also a great region to cycle through, with lovely towns perfect for overnight stays, such as Ehrenhausen or Berghausen.
In Tyrol, go swimming at the Achensee
Achensee is the largest lake in the Western state of Tyrol – also known as the “Tyrolean Sea” or even “Fjord of the Alps”.
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The lake has crystal clear waters – and the quality is near drinking water, with sight up to ten meters below the surface. It’s a perfect place to cool off, especially since, being an alpine lake, water temperatures tend to be refreshing and rarely over 20C.
Achensee’s shores have sandy beaches, and visitors enjoy plenty of summer activities, including windsurfing and sailing. It is said that even Austria’s emperors liked to go there to escape the city’s heat and cool off during the hottest months.
The mount "Dachstein" ice cave – a really bizarre world @SnapYourWorld pic.twitter.com/Yg1P0Sw7Nn
— ✴ Michaela ✴ (@austria63amy) October 20, 2016
In Salzburg, explore the Dachstein Caves
There is no more effective way to cool off than literally entering an ice cave.
Salzkammergut, the lake region in Salzburg, has many beautiful places to visit over summer and lovely swimming spots to enjoy (Attersee is a must if you are in the area).
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However, those looking to really escape blistering temperatures and the blazing sun will be entirely at home at the Dachstein Caves, a world of ice and underground halls.
There are two main caves: Dachstein Eishöhle, the icy and illuminated one, and Mammuthölle, one of the deepest and longest caves in the world.
In Vorarlberg, go skinny dipping at Bodensee
If the heat is just too much, it might be time to strip down to your birthday suit and go for a swim in the lake.
Austria is very nonchalant about nudity, but be sure to keep your bathing suit on unless you are in the designated FKK (Freikörperkultur) areas. Nudity sections or not, the vast Bodensee lake (also known as Lake Constance) has beautiful shores with turquoise waters for you to cool off and enjoy the view.
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What view, you may ask? The lake borders Germany and Switzerland, the Rhine river flows to it, and Alpine mountains surround it. Heat or no heat, it’s a fantastic place to be.
In Burgenland, go for a swim at Austria’s ocean, the Neusiedler See
We know we risk being repetitive, but Austria is not known for its mountains and lakes for nothing, and Neusiedler See is undoubtedly one of the most famous ones.
The lake is one of the largest in Europe, and it straddles the Austrian-Hungarian border, covering 315 square kilometres.
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It is not even two meters deep at maximum depth, so it does warm up considerably during summer. The constant and strong winds help cool off, though, and the region is well known for its water sports and surfing possibilities.
There are lovely little towns surrounding the lake, and a visit to Rust, where you can see many stork nests on top of the houses, is a must.
In Carinthia, enjoy a resort vibe in Faaker See and Ossiacher See
If all that is missing for you is to feel like you are in a beach resort, then Carinthia has the perfect solution.
Two lakes, Faaker See and Ossiacher See, offer beautiful views, nice swimming spots, and plenty of activities close to Villach, one of the state’s largest cities.
Do you know any great spots to cool off during Austrian heat? Let us know in the comment section below or send us an email at [email protected].
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