Autumn holiday in Carinthia – Lake Millstätter See & Bad Kleinkirchheim

Millstätter See. Bad Kleinkirchheim. Nockberge. Official tourist portal

TIME for an autumn trip to Carinthia’s most beautiful autumn views

Carinthia in autumn shows its most tranquil side: larch forests in the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve glow golden, Lake Millstätter See often retains its warmth well into September, and the thermal spas in Bad Kleinkirchheim offer a particularly relaxing atmosphere. Anyone visiting between September and November will find space to take a deep breath — on the mountain tops, by the water and at the table.

Family TIME
TIME for two
Hiking & Cycling
Time to Indulge
A break in late autumn
Questions & Answers

TIP:

Frau und Kind flitzen im Nocky Flitzer hinunter

TIP:

My tips for an autumn holiday

Enjoy even more experiences at great value with the Sonnenschein Card, Millstätter See Inclusive Card, Butler Card and Kärnten Card. → Discover regional cards

What to do on rainy autumn days? → Plan for rainy days

For couples: Peaceful days in September and October

Wandern zur Panoramaschaukel © Gert Perauer_MBN Tourismus

Sonnenaufgang am Granattor, mit leuchtenden Farben und klarer Luft © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

A autumn holiday in Austria is active, relaxing AND romantic! How about a walk along the ‘Path of Love’ across the Millstätter Alm? Between the Alexanderhütte and the Garnet Gate, there are seven spots where you can reflect on love together.

Later on, why not take a dip in the AlmBad with its lake views or the SeeBad with its mountain panorama? Afterwards, couples can check into one of the six “Bivouacs under the stars” – cosy retreats for quality time together around Lake Millstätter See. And tomorrow?

Active in autumn: hiking, cycling and hidden spots

Enchanting veils of mist and mountain slopes, reflected in the lake in rich shades of yellow and red, are a sure sign that autumn has arrived in Carinthia.

Eine Gruppe von Wanderern erreicht den Gipfel und genießt die Aussicht auf die umliegenden Berge © Franz Gerdl_MBN Tourismus

Whilst some are already out hiking in the Nockberge Mountains, high above the fog line,

©Franz Gerdl_MBN Toursimus

… on my bike (in the Nockberge Mountains, cycling is known as ‘Nockbike’) heading for the summit …

©Martin Hofmann_MBN Tourismus_Kärnten Werbung

Gravelbike-Gruppe auf dem Millstätter Radweg mit Bergpanorama

… or have set off on a gravel ride to secret spots,

… the others start the day with breakfast by the water.

Autumn Delights:

In autumn, TIME for Indulgence means more than just a good meal: anyone spending their autumn holiday between the lake and the mountains will find warmth at the thermal spa, delicious food at the table and reasons to celebrate — often all in a single day.

Genießen Sie die vielfältigen Wellness-Angebote im Thermal Römerbad © Mathias Prägant_MBN Tourismus

Thermal spas & Wellness

It is not out of the question that walkers and cyclists might meet up later on: at a day spa, at a lakeside wellness centre, or at one of the thermal spas for an autumn sauna session.

Fancy pushing your limits? The Cold Bath Weeks in autumn 2026 offer a particularly refreshing opportunity to do just that!

IPTC „Digital Source Type:; AI generated

Kulinarische Nächte Kärnten 2026 mit regionaler Küche und Kärntner Produkten in der Region Millstätter See – Bad Kleinkirchheim – Nockberge

What does autumn taste like?

During the Culinary Nights, restaurants between the lake and the mountains open their doors to serve multi-course menus featuring regional produce, whilst the mountains also offer tempting opportunities to stop for a bite to eat.
During the Culinary Autumn Festival, wine taverns and winegrowers invite visitors to tastings on three autumn weekends, with free admission.

Autumn is also a TIME to celebrate

Nockisfest

Up to the Kaiserburg with Franz Klammer

All autumn events

Carinthia in late autumn: when the mountain cable cars close

The first mountain railways close from mid-October — but that doesn’t mean autumn in Carinthia is over. Anyone spending their autumn holiday in Bad Kleinkirchheim, in the Nockberge Mountains or on Lake Millstätter See needn’t go without warmth, even in late autumn. At Lake Millstätter See and in Bad Kleinkirchheim, the thermal spas, the Bathhouse and the SeeBad are still open to guests even when the mountain peaks are already covered in winter snow.

The most beautiful autumn colours and the best views …

2 Personen kaltbaden im Herbst im Millstätter See

When the lake temperature drops below 15 °C, cold-water swimming enthusiasts are in their element. Lake Turrachersee usually wins the race to be the first to open for cold-water swimming.

Mann hebt Frau im Außenpool des Badehauses mit Ausblick auf den Millstätter See hoch

The bathhouse, the “Drautalperle” water park and the thermal baths are sure to make for some relaxing autumn days!

Wanderer bei Sonnenuntergang auf Etappe 7 des Nockberge Trail mit Ausblick Richtung Millstätter See im UNESCO Biosphärenpark.

In the Nockberge Mountains and around Lake Millstätter See, it’s hiking season all year round.

Enjoy the TIME in autumn

Where can you capture the most beautiful autumn views in the UNESCO Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Reserve? Which views are particularly charming during an autumn holiday in Austria? There’s still space for your impressions on the region’s social media channels!

© MBN - Millstätter See / Bad Kleinkirchheim / Nockberge

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Questions about the autumn holidays

The golden autumn in Carinthia lasts from September to early November. In September, Lake Millstätter See is still pleasantly warm; in October, the larch forests in the Nockberge Mountains glow golden; and in November, the region reveals its tranquil side — ideal for anyone seeking peace and quiet.

Even without the mountain railway, an autumn holiday in Carinthia offers plenty to do: the thermal baths and sauna in Bad Kleinkirchheim, as well as the Millstätter See bathhouse, are open regardless of the ski lift opening hours. In addition, the SeeBad is available to book in November — an outdoor bathing experience for two right on the shores of Lake Millstätter See, which must be booked in advance.

Yes. In September, Lake Millstätter See often still reaches temperatures of around 20 °C, making it ideal for a warm swim. In October, it’s the turn of the cold-water swimming enthusiasts: with water temperatures below 15 °C, the cold-water swimming season begins, reaching its peak during the Cold-Water Swimming Weeks in autumn.

Two events define the culinary autumn in Carinthia: during the ‘Culinary Nights’, restaurants nestled between the lake and the mountains open their doors to serve multi-course menus featuring regional produce, whilst during the ‘Culinary Autumn Festival’, wine taverns and winegrowers invite visitors to enjoy tastings on several autumn weekends, with free admission.

Yes, the autumn half-term holidays are among the most family-friendly times to travel: theme parks such as Granatium, Sagamundo and Heidi Park are open, and there are also gentle autumn walks and spa days for the whole family.

With the Kärnten Card, many of the region’s attractions — from mountain railway rides to day-trip destinations — are included in the ticket price. Particularly on a multi-day autumn holiday with several excursions, the card often pays for itself after just a few uses.

Autumn holiday in Carinthia ⇿ Lake Millstätter See and the Nockberge Mountains Golden peaks, warm water and moments of pure enjoyment from September to November