Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
There are a number of great things to do in Velden am Wörthersee – a small town located on the western shore of Lake Wörthersee. Many of the things to do revolve around the lake, with boat trips and watersports on Lake Wörthersee some of the top activities in the area. Another of the best things to do in Velden are to explore more of the region of Carinthia, which is home to stunning viewpoints, towering mountains, hiking trails and much more. Find out the best things to do in Velden am Wörthersee, Austria, below!
Best things to do in Velden am Wörthersee
Beaches and Strandbad Velden
One of the best things to do in Velden is to visit one of the beaches along the shore of Lake Wörthersee. The beaches are a great place to relax and soak up some sun, and give you the opportunity to swim in Lake Wörthersee whilst enjoying views of the surrounding forest and mountains.
Many of the hotels in Velden have private beaches at the lakefront, which guests of the hotel are free to use during their stay. Alternatively, there is a paid beach known as Strandbad Velden which offers direct access to the lake.
It costs €7 to visit Strandbad Velden, but if you’re arriving after 2pm then it only costs €3.50. Deck chairs, sun beds and cabins are available to rent at an extra cost.
Watersports
One of the most fun things to do in Velden am Wörthersee is to have a go at some watersports. There are a variety of options available including wakeboarding, water-skiing, banana boats, stand up paddle-boarding and more.
Aussichtspunkt Villa Martha Viewpoint
Aussichtspunkt Villa Martha is a brilliant viewpoint of Lake Wörthersee, located just a short walk from Velden town centre. It’s an easy walk from the lakefront, with only a few minutes of uphill walking required to get a lovely view of the lake.
There are several hikes to enjoy near Velden if you want a more impressive viewpoint, but if you don’t fancy a long walk then this is a great alternative!
Aussichtspunkt Hohes Kreuz Velden Viewpoint
If you’re up for a bit of a hike then we recommend visiting the Aussichtspunkt Hohes Kreuz Velden Viewpoint. The start of the trail is around a 5-minute drive from Velden town centre, and there is some free parking available at the beginning of the route. Click here to see the exact location of the free roadside parking spaces.
The walk starts almost directly next to the parking area, along a small road that curves round to the right and then leads through a tunnel under the Autobahn. At this point a bridge will lead you over a small river/stream, and then you will immediately take the path to the left.
Follow this path round for a short distance and keep your eye for a path leading uphill on your right hand side. The path isn’t properly marked, but you should have reached it after a few minutes and then you can begin the hike up to the viewpoint.
It’s more strenuous from this point onwards, with the majority of the path being uphill from here. Once you do reach the top the reward is a magnificent view over Lake Wörthersee with mountains and more stunning scenery in the background. The views alone definitely make this one of the best things to do in Velden.
Boat trip on Lake Wörthersee
In the summer months it’s possible to take a boat trip on Lake Wörthersee from Velden. It’s one of the best things to do in Velden am Wörthersee if you want to see more of the lake and the surrounding areas.
Tickets for a hop-on hop-off boat trip on Lake Wörthersee are €20 per person, or just €10 if you have a Wörthersee Plus card (which your accommodation should give you if you’re staying a night or more in the area). There are several stops along the lake, with the boat running all the way from Velden at one side of the lake to Klagenfurt at the other side
Click here to find out more on the hop-on hop-off boat website!
Explore Velden am Wörthersee Town
One of the most obvious things to do in Velden am Wörthersee is to simply explore the town itself. We recommend walking along the lakefront on both sides of the lake to see different parts of the town.
As you walk along you get some lovely views Lake Wörthersee and its stunning blue water. You will also have the chance to admire some of the town’s lovely buildings, including the famous Falkensteiner Schlosshotel – which is one of the best hotels and places to stay in Velden am Wörthersee.
There are a number of lakefront restaurants and bars in the town if you would like to enjoy some food or drink with a view. If you’re feeling lucky then you may also want to visit the Velden Casino.
One of our favourite things to do in Velden was to walk along the promenade and enjoy the views.
Explore Carinthia
Due to the town’s location on the shores of Lake Wörthersee, one of the best things to do in Velden is to explore more of Carinthia. This region of Southern Austria is full of natural beauty, with stunning mountains, gorges, waterfalls, viewpoints and more.
Some of the best places to visit in Carinthia include the Pyramidenkogel Tower viewpoint, Tscheppaschlucht Gorge, Lake Millstätter See and Lake Faaker See. There are also a number of hiking trails and cable cars to some incredible mountainous viewpoints – with views of the Austrian, Slovenian and Italian Alps.
The best way to discover what Carinthia has to offer is to rent a car and drive to some of these amazing places yourself. That way you can decide what spots interest you the most and prioritise visiting them during your trip.
We recommend checking prices on the Discover Cars website as they compare between a number of operators to get you the best deal! They also can check for availability in a number of locations, which is helpful if you’re planning to drive to Velden from elsewhere.
Click here to find the best prices on the Discover Cars website!
If you’re planning to visit a number of places in Carinthia then it may be worth buying a Kärnten Card, which gives you access to a number of spots for a one-off fee. The cost varies depending on how long you want the card to last, but the longest you can get it is the 5-week card costs just €89 per person during the peak summer months.
It may seem fairly expensive, but many attractions cost around €10 or more to enter – so if you’re visiting a few places it works out as good value. It’s particularly good value if you want to take some of the cable cars, which tend to cost in excess of €20 if you don’t have a Kärnten Card. Click here to find out more on the Kärnten Card website!
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