Klagenfurt am Wörthersee

Klagenfurt sits at the eastern end of the Wörthersee, a long turquoise lake ringed by mountains, in Austria's southernmost state near the Slovenian and Italian borders. The city itself is compact and easygoing, built around a Renaissance-era old town with the Lindwurm fountain, a dragon statue tied to local legend, as its centerpiece.

Summer is the main draw: the lake warms up more than most Alpine lakes, and towns along its shore — Pörtschach, Velden, Maria Wörth — have lidos, promenades, and a slightly old-fashioned resort feel that Austrians have favored for generations. Klagenfurt's own lakeside area, Europapark, has swimming spots and a minimundus park with miniature world landmarks that's popular with families.

The pace here is slower than Vienna or Salzburg, and the city works better as a base for the lake and surrounding region than as a destination for dense sightseeing. Carinthian cuisine leans on lake fish, dumplings, and hearty Alpine dishes. Italian influence is noticeable, in food and in the general relaxed temperament.

Winter empties out the lake scene considerably, so this is really a place suited to late spring through early autumn visits.