Austria is not only a very popular vacation destination in winter, in summer it is also a great country to visit. Mountains, lakes and fantastic nature are all ingredients for a wonderful vacation. You can go on fantastic hikes, with plenty of trails suitable for the whole family. In addition, it is a country par excellence for mountain biking and cycling, swimming and in Kaprun you can even ski in the summer.
For a campsite in Austria by a lake, you quickly end up in the region of Carinthia, home to Austria’s largest lakes. Other lakeside campsites in Austria can be found in Tyrol and Salzburgerland.
Popular campsites in Austria by a lake
If you go on vacation to Austria in the summer, a lakeside campsite is a must. Because Austria’s lakes are beautiful. They have clear blue waters, sandy beaches and are surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks. And you can play great sports on it like swimming, fishing, canoeing, diving, surfing or taking a relaxing ride on your SUP.
We have listed the all campsites in Austria by a lake for you.
Camping Ossiacher See (Carinthia)
Directly on the lake of the same name is 5-star Camping Ossiacher See. This is a real family campground and focused on children. They will have fun on the lakeside beach, on the slide or with the activities organized for them by the entertainment team. The campground has several playgrounds as well as a miniature golf course. Rent a boat for a trip on the lake or take a surf lesson at the surf school. If you like fishing, this campground has a fishing pond where you can cast your rod. You don’t have to leave the campsite, as there is a supermarket available and a restaurant, if you don’t feel like cooking for yourself. Carinthia offers beautiful (family) hikes and many mountain bike trails. Look here for more information.
Sonnenresort Maltschacher See (Carinthia)
Sonnenresort Maltschacher is a very child- and family-friendly campsite in the heart of Carinthia, directly on the Maltschacher See lake. The campground has an extensive entertainment program, an indoor pool, bowling alley, wellness with sauna and there are several sports fields. In addition, there is the large children’s paradise “Ben’s Kids World. If you want to fish, that is also possible here. From the campground you overlook the Nockberge National Park. The area is very nice for hiking or biking. Go tobogganing on the toboggan run in Moosburg or visit the climbing park at the Ossiachersee. And visiting neighboring Slovenia and Italy is also possible from this campground. VacanceSelect and Suncamp offer this campsite.
Sportcamp Woferlgut (Salzburg)
Ideal for sporty vacationers, Camping Woferlgut is a fine family campground. This 5-star campground is near Lake Zeller See, one of the cleanest lakes in Europe. At the campsite you can practice numerous sports, but you can also relax in the Turkish steam bath or sauna of the wellness center. Children have fun in the pool or with the climbing course. The petting zoo, the pirate ship with children’s cinema and the Indoor Kinderland will also delight. Nearby is the pleasant town of Zell am See, and you can also visit the Hohe Tauern National Park, with Austria’s highest mountain, the Großglockner. Of course, if you want to drive a little further, a visit to Salzburg is also an option. Click here for all providers.
Vacation park Pressegger See (Carinthia)
Camping Pressegger See is located right next to the lake of the same name in beautiful Carinthia. The lake has warm water and the campground has a private beach there. A water slide and a small playground are available. Of course, you can also paddle and canoe there, or bring your SUP and enjoy the view. This quiet campground also has an outdoor swimming pool as well as a number of playgrounds, a petting zoo and a restaurant. Carinthia is known for its lakes and mountains, so you can enjoy hiking, biking and swimming here. With the gondola you will be at the top of the Großglockner in no time, at 3798 meters it is the highest mountain in Austria! Look here for more information.
Camping Natterer See (Tyrol)
Camping Burgstaller (Carinthia)
Right on the Millstätter See is the child-friendly Burgstaller campground. They have a private sandy beach on the lake with plenty of room to relax. The children will enjoy the water slide, trampoline and playground. There is also a heated bathtub. If you want to learn to sail, you can do so at the sailing school. The sanitary at this campground is of a high standard and features a jungle theme and a pirate ship. There are two restaurants where you can eat good food and all kinds of activities are organized by the animation team. Think Nordic walking, a Kids Adventure Trail, tournaments and much more. The campground is located in Carinthia where you can take many trips. For more information, click here.
Sonnenplateau Camping Gerhardhof (Tyrol)
As many as 5 stars has Sonnenplateau Camping Gerhardhof. Here you can camp comfortably in the middle of nature. The campground has a swimming pond with water from its own spring. From the campground you look out onto the peaks of the Mieminger Plateau. Here you are one with nature and come to rest naturally. But there is also plenty to do, such as the playground, the children’s forest or the riding school. There is also a yoga forest for ultimate relaxation. In the evening, eat delicious inn dishes at the Guest House. Within 10 km you have two more lakes where you can swim: the recreational lake of Untermieming is ideal for children with play equipment, the Telfer Bad has several saunas. There are plenty of cute mountain villages you can visit or visit Innsbruck. By cable car, you are among the Alpine peaks within 20 minutes. Book this campsite here.
Europarcs Hermagor (Carinthia)
Camping Holiday Park Hermagor is not located directly on a lake, but 4 km away is Alpine Lake Pressegger See. Because this campground is a special place to camp, we still name it in our review. There is an outdoor pool with stunning views of the Carnic Alps and a separate children’s pool for the smallest camping guests. This campground is ideal if you are looking for a relaxing vacation: as there is a wellness area with a sauna, whirlpool and zen room. If you want to be sporty, there are opportunities to play tennis, soccer and fitness. For children, there is a petting zoo and a separate play area. But most of all, get out and about: hiking in the mountains (including family-friendly options), mountain biking on one of the many trails, and the lovely warm waters of Lake Pressegger nearby. Since the campground is near the Italian border, visiting Italy is also possible. Book this campground through Allcamps and Suncamp.
Camping Poglitsch (Carinthia)
Camping Poglitsch in southern Carinthia is a child-friendly campsite right on Lake Faaker See. The lake has a slide and a beach to play on. You can rent canoes for free to take a trip on Lake Faaker See. There is a separate paddling pool for the little ones. There are several playgrounds in the campground and the entertainment team also organizes a variety of activities, such as the children’s Olympics. Should the weather be a little less nice, the children will have fun in the indoor children’s play paradise. If you don’t feel like cooking for yourself, there are several options at this campground, such as a grill restaurant and a pizzeria. A fishing pond is also available. You book this campground here.
Austria as a vacation destination
As mentioned earlier, Austria is a wonderful vacation destination. The regions where you can find the most campsites by a lake are Carinthia, Tyrol and Salzburg. Below we tell you a little more about each region.
Carinthia
The Carinthia region is known for having the most hours of sunshine in Austria. The area is located on the southern side of the Alps, giving it a sunny and warmer climate. Austria’s highest mountain, the Großglockner, is also located in this region. You can climb the mountain or take the cable car up to enjoy the beautiful view. In addition, the area is known for its many (mountain) lakes, some of which are as warm as 28 degrees. If you want to visit a city, the cities of Klagenfurt and Villach are the most famous. You will also find many cute villages. Another thing worth visiting is the three-country point of Austria, Italy and Slovenia. The three-country point is located at 1,600 meters and offers great views.
Tyrol
Tyrol is probably the most popular destination in Austria. It is also not very far from the Netherlands, making it an attractive region for a car vacation. You’ll find great ski resorts, but in the summer you can enjoy fantastic waterfalls, wooded valleys, many lakes and quaint towns and villages. You can also do great hiking, biking, swimming and mountain biking here. The capital of Tyrol is the bustling city of Innsbruck, which is surrounded by high mountains.
Salzburg
The Salzburg region is known for its capital, Salzburg. This beautiful city is a must see if you are vacationing in the area. Salzburg’s most famous resident is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The old part of town even looks the same as it did then and has a beautiful Baroque architectural style. In addition, the region is known for its high mountains, lakes, glaciers and, of course, the Krimml waterfalls. These are the highest waterfalls in Austria, at 380 meters high. You can take a scenic 4-kilometer hike there to see how the waterfall falls down in three stages. The river gorge Liechtensteinklamm is also recommended. You hike about 4 kilometers through the gorge via footpaths and bridges. The perpendicular walls will amaze you! The hike is good for the whole family. In summer, it can be very crowded. Of course, this area also offers fantastic hiking and mountain biking. Afterwards, you rest comfortably at your campsite.