Holiday at Pressegger See in Carinthia
Lake Pressegger See is one of our favorite summer destinations in Austrian Carinthia. It lies in the Gailtal valley near the town of Hermagor and is part of the Nassfeld–Pressegger See region, where we recommend combining swimming in the lakes with hiking and cycling in the local Alps. Thanks to the warm water, quality facilities, and plenty of family attractions, the area is ideal for a summer holiday.
Pressegger See – Nassfeld
Get inspired by our guide for a holiday at Pressegger See:
Accommodation at Pressegger See
Apartment with kitchen (mid-range)
Apartments Schluga – 30,000 m² of grounds right by the lake
- A complex with nice apartments located directly at Pressegger See
- You will find a private beach and a large recreational area here
- Dogs/cats are welcome upon request for a possible fee
- We recommend booking an apartment with a balcony or terrace overlooking the lake
- Ideal for us celiacs who want to cook for ourselves – well-equipped kitchens
Apartments Schluga
3* hotel with breakfast and excellent ratings
Berghotel Presslauer – in the mountains above the lake
- A pleasant family hotel with great reviews
- Beautiful views of the surrounding Alps and nature with an outdoor pond and swimming for children
- We appreciate the restaurant with regional cuisine and the great breakfast
- If you want a quiet hotel with breakfast and excellent service, but don’t want to spend on a luxury resort
Berghotel Presslauer
Luxury hotel with a wellness center
- The hotel is located in Tröpolach, about 10 minutes from Lake Pressegger See and right by the cable car to the Nassfeld area
- Large Wellness & SPA center – several saunas, indoor and outdoor pool, fitness ..
- We recommend the excellent restaurant even for demanding guests
- We appreciate the designer rooms with views of the Alps
Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Carinzia
Choose your accommodation at Pressegger See using the map:
Lake Pressegger See – The warmest lake in Carinthia?
Lake Pressegger See is mainly known for its pleasantly warm water, which reaches up to 28°C in summer. Thanks to this, we rank it among the warmest Alpine lakes in Austria, and the swimming season here lasts quite a long time. Every year we answer many questions about where to go in Austria for warm lakes, and Pressegger See in Carinthia is one of our favorite answers.
Another reason for its popularity is the very clean water, which reaches drinking water quality. An extensive reed belt over three meters high, which surrounds a large part of the shores, contributes significantly to the lake’s cleanliness. This natural filter protects the water and the local ecosystem.
Pressegger See – Nassfeld
The area is also known for a high number of sunny hours, which means stable summer weather and ideal conditions for swimming. The shores slope gradually, and thanks to the calm water, the lake is also very popular for families with children.
What thrilled us: While swimming, you have a view of the surrounding peaks of the Gailtal Alps, which create the typical backdrop of Carinthian lakes.
Beaches at Lake Pressegger See
There are several well-equipped lidos around the lake. Each offers grassy beaches, water access, restaurants, or sports equipment rentals.
The most famous lidos at the lake that we have personally visited:
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Strandbad Hermagor–Pressegger See
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Strandbad Presseggen
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Familien-Strandbad Süd Passriach-Samerhof
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Seebad Schluga
Seebad Schluga
The beaches are well-equipped for families. You will find playgrounds, slides, piers, and relaxation zones. Most lidos also offer pedal boat or paddleboard rentals.
You might also be interested in:
- 21 tips for the most beautiful lakes in Austria
- Wörthersee: 11 Trip Ideas + Accommodation
- Holiday in Styria: 8 tips for trips + accommodation
+CARD holiday
Guests staying in the region often receive the +CARD holiday summer card, which brings many benefits. These include, for example, free entry to the Strandbad Hermagor beach or free cable cars in summer operation.
In more than 155 partner facilities, you can use the cable cars in Nassfeld and beach entries at Lake Pressegger See for free. In addition, the card offers children’s adventure programs, guided hiking and MTB tours, and more than 80 discounts on activities in the Nassfeld-Pressegger See regions in Austria and Tarvisiano in Italy.
What to do at Lake Pressegger See – Nassfeld
Pressegger See is suitable not only for swimming, but we also recommend this place for your active holiday. Thanks to the good infrastructure, you can try various water sports here.
Our favorite activities on the lake include swimming, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), pedal boat rides, and more.
Seebad Schluga
We personally bring our own paddleboard, but you can also rent one directly on the beaches. The calm surface of the lake and its size allow you to comfortably cover most of its area during one ride.
Fun for children and families
We rank Pressegger See among the favorite destinations focused on family holidays. The surroundings of the lake offer several attractions for children. One of them is the “im Reich der Seehexe” playgrounds, themed around the fairy-tale world of the lake witch. Children will find various climbing frames, rope elements, and play zones here.
An interesting attraction is also the grass maze, located near the lake. Children and adults alike can look for a path through the tall grasses.
A big draw is the 1. Kärntner Erlebnispark, a water amusement park right by the lake. It offers slides, water attractions, children’s pools, and various play zones.
Another place for children is the Fix & Foxi Spielplatz, a popular playground with themed elements of well-known cartoon characters.
Slow Trail around Lake Pressegger See
One of the nicest trails around the lake is the Slow Trail Pressegger See. It is an easy circular trail leading partly along the shores of the lake and partly through the reed belt. The trail is ideal for family walks, easy hiking, and nature observation.
The area around the lake is a natural paradise with rich fauna and flora. It even contains the second largest reed belt in Austria. During your walk, you may come across, for example, the yellow water lily, mare’s tail, and various species of water birds. The trail offers several viewpoints.
Hiking and cycling in the Pressegger See – Nassfeld region
Pressegger See is part of the World of Mountains & Lakes tourist region, which combines mountain activities with swimming in lakes.
Hiking enthusiasts can use the Hike World area, where 25 themed hiking trails are prepared. The routes lead through mountain meadows, forests, and viewpoints in the Nassfeld area.
The region is also very popular among cyclists. We also liked the options for cross-border cycling trips from Austria to Italy, as the Italian border lies only a few kilometers from the lake. Cycling routes lead mainly through the Gailtal valley, around lakes, and over mountain passes in the Nassfeld area (for the demanding and physically fit).
Why go to Pressegger See?
Pressegger See is one of the ideal destinations for a summer holiday in Austria. It combines warm swimming with opportunities for active relaxation in the mountains. In our opinion, the main advantages of this area are:
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warm water up to 28°C
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very clean lake
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quality lidos and infrastructure
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many activities for children
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hiking and cycling in the Alps
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possibility of trips to other lakes
Thanks to this combination, we rank Pressegger See among the most pleasant places for a family holiday in Carinthia. Get inspired and let us know on Instagram (@rakouska_jezera) where you liked it most.
