Excursion destinations & sights
in and around Villach
Discover the most beautiful places around Villach
There is plenty to experience around Villach. Whether Japanese macaques on the Affenberg, birds of prey in free flight over the Landskron castle ruins, a treasure hunt in the Terra Mystica show mines or a view from the highest church tower in Carinthia – there is something for young and old alike.
We have summarized the most important sights in Villach city centre and the most popular excursion destinations in the surrounding area for you.
Affenberg, Adlerarena & Landskron Castle
Around six kilometers from Villach city center, the Landskron castle ruins tower over Lake Ossiach, which was voted the most beautiful place in Austria in 2023. Its grounds combine two excursion destinations that are particularly suitable for families with children.
- Monkey Mountain adventure: Around 180 Japanese macaques live on Monkey Mountain as if they were in the wild. The visit is possible as part of a guided tour, which lasts around 45 minutes. As the animals are not tamed, you get to observe their natural behavior up close.
- Eagle arena: In the eagle arena, numerous birds of prey and owls demonstrate their skills in free flight every day. The approximately 40-minute demonstrations take place from April to October and, in addition to the experience, provide interesting facts about the animals’ way of life and protection.
The castle itself offers a wide panoramic view over Carinthia and Lake Ossiach. If required, the on-site restaurant can also turn the excursion into a leisurely half-day or full-day trip.
KärntenTherme
Just a few minutes from the city center, the KärntenTherme offers a modern combination of relaxation, exercise and wellness. The spacious thermal landscape includes indoor and outdoor pools, sauna areas and relaxation zones and is ideal for a relaxing break, regardless of the weather or season.
In addition to classic thermal offers, there are also sports and activity areas available, including a fitness club and various water attractions. This makes the thermal spa a suitable addition to a stay in Villach for those seeking relaxation as well as for active guests.
Terra Mystica & Terra Montana
The Terra Mystica and Terra Montana show mines in Bad Bleiberg, around 15 kilometers from Villach, take you on a journey underground. The entrance is Europe’s longest miner’s slide at 68 meters, which takes you directly inside the mountain. Alternatively, you can take the stairs or the lift.
Once at the bottom, the experience is divided into two areas. Terra Mystica takes you 600 meters down through seven mystically designed mines with multimedia shows and mine train rides. Terra Montana has 14 stations where visitors can learn about the history of mining, from the manual labor of earlier centuries to modern mining methods. The temperature in the mine is a constant 8 to 9 degrees Celsius all year round, so warm clothing is recommended.
For children between the ages of four and twelve, there is a treasure hunt for semi-precious stones in the Terra Mystica, which they can take home with them at the end. The entrance fee also includes the Montanmuseum with 700 years of mining history and the Terra Humoristika caricature museum. As the visit is completely independent of the weather, the show mines are particularly suitable for rainy days.
Family forest & climbing forest on Lake Ossiach
The Familywald is located around 15 minutes by car from Villach, directly on Lake Ossiach. The nature leisure park extends over 30,000 square meters and is perfect for families with children of all ages.
Highlights include Austria’s first forest roller coaster “Fly-Line”, the first TREENETS adventure in Central Europe with slides and discovery trails directly in the treetops and a treetop path with suspension bridges and tree platforms.
On the same site is the Ossiacher See climbing forest with over 150 exercises in four difficulty levels, which is particularly suitable for children and young people from the age of six.
Climbing hall Villach
If you are planning a sporting excursion regardless of the weather, the Villach climbing hall is a good option. The hall is located close to the city center in Italiener Straße and is one of the largest of its kind in the Alpe-Adria region with around 2,000 square meters of climbing space.
Both beginners and experienced climbers will find suitable challenges on around 200 climbing routes and 80 bouldering routes at heights of 4 to 16.5 meters. Courses for children and adults are also offered. On-site catering rounds off the visit.
Organic citrus orchard
If you are looking for a truly unusual excursion destination, you will find it in Faak am See, around 10 kilometers from Villach city centre. The organic citrus garden is Austria’s first and only certified organic citrus farm and is home to over 280 different types of citrus on around 4,000 square meters. These include ancient varieties from the Medici collections of the 16th century, rare special plants from Asia and Australia as well as rarities such as Buddha’s hand and lemon caviar.
The garden can be visited all year round. Guided tours with tastings of homemade products such as organic lemon iced tea, jams and liqueurs can be booked on request and last around one and a half hours.
Sights in Villach city center
The most important sights of Villach’s old town are all within easy walking distance of each other. A stroll from the main square to the Drau is enough to get to know the city’s central historical sites.
- Holy Trinity Column : The Holy Trinity Column from 1739 stands in the middle of the main square. The marble monument is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and is considered a central meeting point.
- Hans Gasser Monument: A monument on Hans Gasser Square commemorates the Carinthian sculptor Hans Gasser, who was one of the most important Austrian sculptors of his time.
- Old city wall: Remains of the medieval city wall can still be seen behind the buildings on Hans-Gasser-Platz.
- Bamberg City Gate: The Bamberg City Gate, also known as the Bamberg City Castle, is one of the oldest buildings in Villach and is a reminder of the 700-year rule of the Bamberg bishops over the city. In the inner courtyard there is a free showroom with archaeological finds.
Your ideal starting point in Villach
If you want to explore the sights of Villach city center, the Boutique Hotel Goldenes Lamm is the perfect place to stay. The hotel is located right in the old town, so the parish church, the main square and the historic monuments of the city center are within easy walking distance.
At the same time, the central location is ideal as a starting point for excursions throughout the region. Landskron Castle, the show mines in Bad Bleiberg, the Familywald forest on Lake Ossiach and many other excursion destinations are just a few minutes’ drive away.