When the temperature rises, Carinthia has the answer: cooling off the natural way. At officially signposted ‘Cool Down Places’ – from shady gorges to mountain lakes at over 1,000 metres above sea level – the temperature drops noticeably. No gimmicks, no swimming pools. Just nature.
Officially recognised places with a natural cooling effect – free to visit and perfect for hot summer days.
Why wander into the distance ...? There are destinations in the north, but above all there are destinations in Austria that invite you to cool down. The name may be "very young", but the relaxing and refreshing effect of the places on the southern side of the Alps is proven. It was well-heeled citizens who travelled to the Carinthian lakes for summer holidays over 100 years ago. They had magnificent villas built on the shores of the lakes, many of which now serve as cool holiday residences themselves thanks to the thick nature stone walls.
As early as 1900, people were swimming in the lakes and taking walks across the Millstätter Alm. And today? Even before the ‘Coolcation’ trend took off, the ‘most beautiful spots for hot days’ in Carinthia were identified and designated as ‘Cool Down Places’.
Free to access, with seating and a focus on sustainability.
20 Cool Down Places in Carinthia –
12 of them in the Millstätter See – Bad Kleinkirchheim – Nockberge region.
Feet in the cool water, shade beneath the canopy of leaves, or your very own favourite spot – show us your favourite summer moment between the lake and the mountains. Just post, tag and win.
Cool day-out destinations and holiday ideas
A dip in the AlmBad at the AlexanderAlm, a picnic by the Moorsee, or simply taking a moment to pause at one of the ZEITplätze between the lake and the mountain – sometimes cooling off isn’t a question of temperature, but of speed.
Fresh mountain air, the aroma of Swiss pine and a starry sky instead of the heat – in addition to five high-altitude resorts, insider tips such as the Himmel-cielo bivouac on the Goldeck sports mountain and hut holidays on the Millstätter Alpe or in the Langalmtal valley invite individual travelers to cool retreats.
Officially designated, freely accessible locations with a natural cooling effect – signposted and assessed according to sustainability criteria. There are 12 such locations in the Millstätter See – Bad Kleinkirchheim – Nockberge region.
KLAR regions and tourism destinations in Carinthia, together with the local community, identified potential wellness spots, examined them, and evaluated them according to SDG criteria. This participatory selection resulted in the Cool Down Places, which are now officially signposted and presented in detail in every tour description.
‘Coolcation’ refers to the travel trend of deliberately visiting regions with a cool climate in summer – as an alternative to hot destinations in the Mediterranean. The Millstätter See – Bad Kleinkirchheim – Nockberge region is one of Austria’s best-known ‘coolcation’ destinations – with officially designated ‘Cool Down Places’, altitudes of over 1,000 m and cool mountain lakes.
In the Carinthian Nockberge Mountains and around Lake Millstatt, gorges, mountain lakes, high valleys and areas at altitudes of over 1,000 m remain pleasantly cool even during heatwaves in the valley.
Döbriacher Bay, the Millstatt Gorge Trail and the Kaningbach stream in Radenthein are among the official ‘Cool Down Places’ around Lake Millstatt – free of charge, signposted and easily accessible.
There are 20 Cool Down Places in Carinthia. More than half of these ‘Coolcation’ spots are located between Lake Millstätter See, Bad Kleinkirchheim and the Nockberge Mountains!
Show us your coolest summer moment between the lake and the mountains! Whether it’s your feet in the cool water, relaxing in the shade beneath the canopy of leaves, or a smile by the water’s edge – we can’t wait to see your very own ‘Cool Down TIME’.
Post a photo or video. Tag it with #CoolDownNockregion. Win some fantastic experiences in the region.
Please note: If you take part, the username of your social media account will be displayed on the Social Wall via Flocker. By using the hashtag in connection with the competition, you agree to these terms and conditions.
There are no rules – just ideas to get you started:
