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Water sports or family fun: What’s the perfect Austrian lake for you this summer?

Austria is known for its stunning lakes, but what many don't know is that there is a great variety to them, with some perfect for families, others great for sports enthusiasts, and some great for an Instagram picture.

Published: 30 July 2024 10:59 CEST
Updated: 3 August 2024 06:09 CEST
Water sports or family fun: What's the perfect Austrian lake for you this summer?
Lake Wörthersee, in Carinthia, Austria. (Photo by Branislav Knappek on Unsplash)

Austria’s lakes are a beloved summer destination, renowned for their crystalline waters and picturesque landscapes. But with so many options, choosing the perfect lake for your summer getaway can be a delightful challenge. 

Whether you’re seeking family-friendly fun, adrenaline-pumping water sports, or breath-taking scenery to capture on social media, Austria has a lake that’s just right for you.

Fun for all the family

Lakes with gentle shores, shallow waters, and plenty of recreational activities are ideal for families with young children. 

Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia is a popular choice. It boasts warm waters, numerous beaches with playgrounds, and boat rentals. The surrounding area offers family-friendly attractions like Minimundus, a miniature world showcasing famous landmarks.

Lake Neusiedler See is also a popular option. Although it’s only one metre deep on average, it’s one of Austria’s largest bodies of water in terms of surface area. It’s great for sports, but the vast meadows and surrounding parks are popular with families. 

Vienna airport is only about 70 km (43 miles) from Lake Neusiedl. The lake can easily be reached by car or hourly train via the A4 motorway.

A woman enjoys basking in the sun on the swimming pier in the Buchau, in Achensee, Tyrol (© Achensee Tourismus)

Sports enthusiast’s paradise

Adventure seekers will find their haven at Lake Achensee in Tyrol, a windsurfing and kitesurfing hotspot known as “Tirol’s Ocean”. 

The lake’s consistent winds and stunning mountain backdrop make it a favourite among water sports enthusiasts. Sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking are also popular activities. The average water temperature is 19C, and the maximum water depth is 133m.

The surrounding areas are also perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and even hot-air balloon rides.

Lake Achensee can be reached in just 45 minutes by car from Innsbruck. If you travel by train, get off at Jenbach station, then take a free bus, the local steam railway, or a taxi.

Photo by Iffah Suhaili on Unsplash

Instagram-Worthy Views

If you want to capture those perfect Instagram shots, head to Hallstätter See in the Salzkammergut region. This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its charming village between the lake and the mountains. The picturesque scenery, with colourful houses and traditional wooden boats, provides a stunning backdrop for your photos.

For a truly unique experience, visit Grüner See (Green Lake) in Styria. This lake is known for its emerald-green waters and beautiful surroundings. No swimming or water sports are allowed, though. However, the hikes and walking around the lake (which takes about one hour) are definitely worth it. 

A little bit of everything

Lake Weissensee in Carinthia is an excellent choice for families, sports enthusiasts or anyone looking for a perfect summer holiday. 

The fjord-like Lake Weissensee welcomes visitors with clear, emerald water, great hiking and biking trails, and activities like surfing, stand-up paddling, and fishing. There are also ships and cruise lines 

Despite its Alpine nature, Lake Weissensee’s waters can get warm, reaching up to 24C. 

The closest airport is Klagenfurt (1.5 h by car). By train, you can go as far as Greifenburg station and then take a free shuttle to Weissensee Nature Park.

Another warm lake option, also in Carinthia, is the state’s largest lake, Wörthersee, where temperatures go up to 28C. Klagenfurt is located right at the lake, so reaching the best spots—whether to go for a hike, boat ride, windsurfing, or chill at the beach bars—is easy.

What is your favourite lake for family fun, water sports and beautiful scenery in Austria? Let us know in the comments below.

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Five Vienna tourist attractions to escape the summer heat

From famous ice cream shops to crypts and interesting metro stations, here are five interesting spots around the city where the temperature is likely to be a few degrees cooler. 

Published: 31 July 2024 12:32 CEST
Five Vienna tourist attractions to escape the summer heat

Eissalon Tichy

Who wants ice cream? 

Eissalon Tichy is a beloved Viennese icon, founded in the 1920s and operating in the Favoriten district since the 1950s.

 Ice cream and desserts are the order of the day here, and Tichy is particularly known for its iced apricot dumplings—35,000 are made each week and make up a third of its revenue. 

While there’s plenty of outdoor seating and takeaway is offered, it’s good to get there early on hot summer days – a queue forms from 10am. 

READ MORE:Austria: the ice cream capital of Europe?

Imperial Crypt / Kaisergruft

Where better to escape the heat than a place of eternal rest? 

Over 400 years, 150 members of the Habsburg dynasty have had their mortal remains interred in the Imperial Crypt constructed underneath the Capuchin Church on Neuer Markt. 

True to Habsburg form, members of the imperial family are interred in extremely flamboyant and extravagant bronze and stone sarcophagi, bedecked in skulls, angels and other symbols of death. 

By far, the most impressive tomb is that of the famous Empress Maria Theresa, but the resting places of ‘Sissi’ and her son Rudolf are the most visited, with visitors leaving flowers and notes on both tombs. 

Entry costs €8.50 for an adult, and the crypt is open daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

Römermuseum / Roman Museum

People have been sweltering in the summer heat in the Vienna region for a long time – almost two thousand years, in fact. 

Back then, Vindobona was a Roman military camp on the site of the modern city – one of significant importance too, since that’s where the famous emperor Marcus Aurelius died in 180AD while on campaign. 

Today, you can step back into the deep past with a visit to the Römermuseum 

There – under the buildings of modern Vienna – you can see the foundations of the Roman camp, discover the archaeological finds and learn more about what the Roman army was trying to achieve in the far-flung province of Pannonia. 

The museum is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 9am to 5pm, and weekends from 10am to 5pm. It costs €8.00 for an adult ticket. 

Schlumberger Kellerwelten / Cellar World

Soaring temperatures mean a cold drink is always welcome. 

Sparkling wine manufacturer Schlumberger is a Vienna institution, having been in operation since the mid-19th century. 

Today, visitors can learn about how the wine is made with a visit to the Schlumberger Keller Welten, housed in a massive 300-year-old series of vaults. You can even participate in the manufacturing process, ‘riddling’ or turning the bottles on the racks. 

It barely needs to be noted that there are tastings at the end of the range of guided tours offered. 

You can learn more about those tours, and opening times here. 

Virgilkapelle

Next time you’re at the Stephansplatz Ubahn station, look for the somewhat incongruous stonework disrupting the concrete walls – this is the entrance to a real Viennese hidden gem. 

During excavations for the station in the 1970s, an underground crypt was found, dating back to the 13th century. 

It’s thought that this crypt, now known as the Virgilkapelle, was built by the ruling Babenberg dynasty to house holy relics, next to the site of the present Stefansdom. 

Later, there are indications that it was part of a family chapel constructed over the entrance of the crypt in the 14th century. 

It’s a deeply atmospheric spot, and an attached museum does a great job of explaining the site, its discovery and what it can tell us about mediaeval Viennese. 

Unfortunately, the space is currently temporarily closed for renovation work, but if you keep an eye out, there are periodically guided tours that can get you in. 

What are your favourite attractions in Vienna to escape the heat? Let us know in the comments!

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