After the Graz Marathon: Klagenfurt and the Wörthersee

The Route: Graz → Klagenfurt → Wörthersee → Klagenfurt Airport (or back to Graz) Logistics: Koralm railway, 41 minutes. Flat walking between the station, old town and the lake. Marathon Month: October Duration: 2 nights

Graz Hbf ──(41 mins Koralmbahn)──> Klagenfurt Hbf ──(walk or bus)──> Old town ──(Lend canal path)──> Wörthersee
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                    Klagenfurt Airport (KLU) ◄──(bus 4)────────────────────────────────┘

Until December 2025 there was no direct rail link between Graz and Klagenfurt. The Koralm railway, with its 33 km Koralm tunnel, opened that month and now links the two cities in 41 minutes, with 29 direct trains a day. For a runner on the Monday after the Graz Marathon, it is the lowest-effort long-distance trip in this part of Austria: one train, one seat, no changes.

October in Klagenfurt: the Wörthersee is too cold for most swimmers by mid-October, and the lakeside restaurants and boats move onto reduced autumn schedules. The reward is clear weather on many days, empty paths and cheaper rooms than in July. September's 1991–2020 mean daily maximum at Klagenfurt is 20.8°C, and October runs cooler than that, so pack a jacket for the lake path. Check the boat timetable and each attraction's autumn hours before you commit to an outing.

Getting there

Take a Railjet or regional service from Graz Hauptbahnhof to Klagenfurt Hbf. A Sparschiene fare from Klagenfurt to Graz has been sold at €9.90 (approximately £8.50) in advance; book through oebb.at, since the cheapest fares are limited. The new trains run 29 times a day each way. Klagenfurt Hbf is roughly 1 km from the old town, a flat walk or a short bus ride.

Nights one and two: Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee sits at the eastern end of the Wörthersee. The old town is compact and flat, and the Lend canal runs from the centre to the lake. The canal path is level and surfaced, and the walk from the old town to the lake is a manageable recovery stroll at a pace that suits sore legs. The lake itself is at the end, with no steps to speak of.

At the lake, Minimundus is a miniature-landmark park near the lakeside approach. It was open 09:00 to 19:00 in September, with the ticket office closing an hour earlier. October hours may be shorter, so check minimundus.at. The paths are flat and wide, and the visit is mostly standing and slow walking.

The Pyramidenkogel tower, on the hill south-west of the lake, has a viewing platform. The tower's September hours were 09:00 to 19:00 with last admission at 18:30; check pyramidenkogel.info for the October schedule, and confirm how you will get to the tower, as it is a short drive or bus ride from the lake and not a walk. The tower is a lift ride, which saves the legs.

In the city centre, the Wappensaal in the Landhaus is a heraldic hall that opens for weekday visits. Check the current opening hours with the city tourist office before you go.

Klagenfurt is also the birthplace of Ingeborg Bachmann, and her collection Das dreißigste Jahr (The Thirtieth Year) is a good train read in German.

Where to stay

The Hotel Plattenwirt is in the Klagenfurt lake area and suits a stay closer to the water. The Hotel Dermuth at Kohldorferstraße 52 is on the west side of the city with an on-site restaurant, Giovanni. For a rail-based stay, the ibis Styles at Viktringer Ring 28 is an economy option with accessible room types, a short distance from the station. Check availability for the dates and confirm breakfast hours directly. The Seepark Wörthersee Resort is by the Lend canal about 500 m from the lake and has more resort facilities.

Where to eat

Villa Lido at Friedelstrand 1 is a lakeside pizzeria and trattoria with continuous hot food from 11:30 to 21:30. The kitchen hours and the closing hours listed on its site differ slightly, so confirm Sunday and autumn opening before you book. The restaurant at Hotel Dermuth is another option within the hotel. Der Sandwirth in the old town serves lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, not Sunday, so use it on a weekday.

Getting home