Villach is the second largest city in Carinthia and is located on the Drau, along whose banks you can take wonderful summer walks. In the evening, numerous cafés and restaurants on Villach’s main square invite you to linger. Villach is a place to let your soul dangle, but also a place to experience a lot. At the beginning of August, Austria’s largest traditional festival, the Villacher Kirchtag, is held here. The city centre is transformed into a single festival area. For motorcyclists, the European Bike Week is the highlight of the year. The most extraordinary and iconic motorcycle gathering in Europe takes place around Lake Faak from 2 to 7 September 2025. You can find all the information at www.bikeweek.at! In the region around Villach, with the idyllic lakes Faaker See, Ossiacher See and Afritzer See in the border triangle of Italy, Slovenia and Austria, not only hiking enthusiasts get their money’s worth. There are also numerous opportunities for mountain bike fans to explore the breathtaking landscape. The many lake.bike trails and cycle paths along the rivers are particularly popular. The adventure hiking trails, which have been specially designed for children, are ideal for families.
For sporty guests, there are numerous possibilities, from summit tours on the Gerlitzen Alpe or in the Dobratsch Nature Park to long-distance hikes. The region is the ideal destination for a longer stay and as a starting point for day trips in the Alpe-Adria region. Discover the beauty of the three-country region and let yourself be inspired by the fascination of hiking and mountain biking! Are you looking for accommodation? At buchen.visitvillach.at you can quickly and easily find the best prices for the most beautiful accommodation in the Villach-Faaker See – Ossiacher See region.
Our insider tip: the Garnitzenklamm gorge is a natural attraction in the Carinthian Gailtal valley. Not far from Hermagor, near Möderndorf, the Garnitzenbach stream has carved a 4.5-kilometre-long gorge into the rock of the Carnic Alps over the course of history, creating a breathtaking natural jewel. Thundering waterfalls, steep rock faces, emerald green bays, colourful rock and cliff formations, spectacular climbing structures as well as rare, protected plants and whirlpool pots formed over millions of years make the gorge one of the most beautiful in the Alps.
Photos: Adobe Stock/Martin Dworschak