Wörthersee

From World travel guide

The Wörthersee is a lake region in Carinthia in Austria.

1 Get in
- 1.1 By plane
- 1.2 By train
2 Get around
3 Buy
4 Eat
5 Drink
6 Sleep
7 Get out
8 External links
9 External links
10 External links

Get in

By plane

Ryanair flies from Stansted (in London)) and Rome to Klagenfurt. Return price is roughly between 60 and 240 EUR, depending on the season. However, if travelling from central London an extra 35 EUR should be added for the Stansted express. Often, flying from Southampton (1 h train ride from London) or Birmingham to Salzburg with flybe and connecting by train works out cheaper.

HLX flies from Stuttgart and Hannover for similar prices.

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By train

International sleeper trains offer direct services from Berlin or Düsseldorf to Velden and Pörtschach on weekends, or otherwise with a change over in Salzburg. Sparnacht offer available on sleeper trains if booked in advance with Deutsche Bahn. It costs EUR 60 return.

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Get around

The best way to explore the region around the lake is by bicycle. A cycle path covers much of the shore and bikes can be rented cheaply in most towns. The foothills are a good place for mountain biking and offer great views.

The cycle rental in Pörtschach is opposite the post office. No deposit or ID is required and a 5 h rental was 4 EUR in 2003.

Lake ferries connect all major settlements in summer but are infrequent.

Regional and international trains connect Velden, Pörtschach, Krumpendorf and Klagenfurt and run approximately every 45 minutes during peak times.

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Buy

Fashion and souvenir shops are overpriced and sell nothing that can't be bought elsewhere in the world. Klagenfurt is the nearest place for good shopping.

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Eat

The Bakery / Cafe Wiennerroither in Poertschach is on the main road a few hundred meters east of the train station. A very large variety of freshly baked Austrian bread is sold here from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm. Though quality suffers a bit in summer, by international standards the bread is superb.

The restaurant Joainig in Poertschach started off as a typical Austrian Gasthaus and expanded to become a large-scale operation with huge indoor and outdoor dining spaces and an industrial size kitchen supplying smaller local hostels. However, high standard food is still served at moderate prices and the service is friendly and professional. Wide choice of local specialities on menu, different theme every month. Joainig is about 1km east of the town centre. It is hard to miss if the cycle path is followed.

Half way on the main road between Velden and Poertschach, a fully Italian- staffed pizzeria serves excellent stone oven pizzas and pasta. 4 - 8 EUR for a large pizza.

For a more authentic and simple Austrian Gasthaus in Poertschach, go to the small hostel opposite the Wienerroither Bakery on the main road near the town centre. The interior is simple but local specialities are very good.

Supermarkets are located in all towns along the Woerthersee. At the cheese and ham counter sandwiches are prepared at no extra charge. This is probably the only way to buy a meal for less than a euro in Austria.

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Drink

Sleep

Though some of the posh hotels charge prices worthy of London and Paris and other specialise on ripping off tourists, some real bargains are to be had, especially in June or September. A room in a romantic lake villa can be booked for 60 EUR a night full board, most offering surprisingly high standard of cuisine and service. Just a 10-20 minute walk away from the shore prices drop steeply. A private room can be rented for as little as 10 EUR pp here.

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