Pörtschach am Wörther See

Village · Carinthia, 🇦🇹 Austria

Pörtschach am Wörther See is a lakeside resort on the north shore of the Wörthersee in Carinthia, about 15 minutes from Klagenfurt. It has a long tradition as a summer resort, with a tree-lined promenade, historic villas and a warm, clear lake.

The village is elegant and relaxed rather than loud. It is known for its flower-lined lakeshore, its cafes and its swimming spots. Famous guests, including Johannes Brahms, stayed here in the 19th century.

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When to visit

June to early September is best for swimming, as the Wörthersee warms to over 25°C in summer. May and September are quieter and good for walking and cycling. Winter is calm, and many lakeside businesses close.

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

4° (feels like 0°) · extremes -12°–10°
-3° at night
8 rainy days
5 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

6° (feels like 2°) · extremes -11°–14°
-2° at night
8 rainy days
7 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

11° (feels like 8°) · extremes -6°–18°
1° at night
10 rainy days
9 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Fair

15° (feels like 13°) · extremes -1°–22°
5° at night
13 rainy days
9 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

20° (feels like 19°) · extremes 4°–26°
9° at night
16 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

25° · extremes 8°–31°
14° at night
16 rainy days
10 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

27° · extremes 10°–33°
15° at night
17 rainy days
11 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

26° (feels like 27°) · extremes 10°–34°
15° at night
16 rainy days
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Good

21° · extremes 5°–28°
11° at night
13 rainy days
9 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Good

16° (feels like 15°) · extremes 0°–23°
7° at night
11 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

10° (feels like 8°) · extremes -4°–17°
3° at night
12 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

5° (feels like 2°) · extremes -10°–11°
-2° at night
9 rainy days
3 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Burgruine LeonsteinBurgruine Leonstein is a medieval castle in Carinthia, Austria.

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Pfarrkirche Hll. Primus und Felician

Schloss Leonstain

Schloss Reifnitz

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Werzer's Badehaus (anno 1895)

Promenadenbad Pörtschach

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Sommerrodelbahn Moosburg

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Parish church Saint John Baptist

The Wörthersee promenade is the heart of the village, with views over the lake.
Schloss Leonstain is a castle on a peninsula, now a hotel.
Burgruine Leonstein is a ruin on a hill above the village.
Schloss Reifnitz is a castle on the south shore of the lake.
Werzer's Badehaus is a historic bathing house from 1895.
Primus und Felician is a church in the old village of Pörtschach, on a hill.
Pfarrkirche Johannes der Täufer is a church near the lake.
Parkhotel Freibad, Freibad Edelweiss and Promenadenbad are lakeside bathing areas.
Sommerrodelbahn Moosburg is a summer toboggan run in Moosburg.
Napoleonlinde is an old lime tree on a hill walk.
Galerie is a small art gallery.

What to experience

Swim in the lake.
Walk the promenade.
Cycle around the Wörthersee.
Take a lake boat.
Climb to the castle ruin.

Tours & Activities

Pörtschach am Wörther See — Map

Day trips

Klagenfurt is about 20 minutes away by car or train.
Velden am Wörthersee is about 15 minutes away by car.
Maria Wörth, with its church on a peninsula, is about 15 minutes away by car.
The Pyramidenkogel viewing tower is about 20 minutes away by car.
St. Kanzian is about 35 minutes away by car.
Seeboden is about 1 hour away by car.

Where to explore

Klagenfurt and St. Kanzian are the nearest preferred destinations.

Getting there

By air: Klagenfurt Airport is about 20 minutes away by car.
By train: Pörtschach has a station on the Klagenfurt–Villach line, with trains from Klagenfurt in about 15 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: The A2 motorway and the Wörthersee road reach the village.

Getting around

The village is walkable, and a path follows the shore. Lake boats and local buses link the Wörthersee villages. Cycling is easy along the lake.

Driving

A car helps for the hills and other lakes. Parking is busy in summer. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Food & drink

Carinthian food includes Kärntner Kasnudeln, filled pasta, and Reindling, a raisin yeast cake. The lake offers fresh fish such as whitefish. Lakeside cafes serve cakes and coffee.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Pörtschach is very safe. Watch the weather when swimming or sailing. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Pörtschach grew in the 19th century after the Southern Railway opened in 1864 and brought summer guests from Vienna. Villas and bathing houses lined the shore, and Brahms stayed here in 1877 and worked on his Second Symphony. The village stayed a refined lake resort.