Klagenfurt lido sets visitor record as Carinthia’s bathing season ends

More than 650,000 people visited public baths in Klagenfurt, Loretto and Maiernigg during the 2026 bathing season, a record for the three venues, ORF reported. The Strandbad Klagenfurt, the city’s lido, welcomed about 452,000 visitors.

The season officially ended on Sunday, and operators across Carinthia said they were pleased with the results. Alexander Thoma, a spokesperson for the operators, said the weather had been favourable through much of the season, including July, August and into September and October.

The Koralmbahn railway may also have contributed to the strong figures, as it operated for a complete bathing season for the first time. Thoma said lakeside leisure destinations such as Lake Klopein and Lake Wörthersee had seen the effect in visitor numbers. He said he hoped the train’s service frequency would be extended to Spittal an der Drau, which could help bring more visitors from Styria to Lake Millstatt.

In Klagenfurt, work on a new central section of the lido will begin during the winter break. The existing section will be demolished and rebuilt at a cost of 5.6 million euros. The work is expected to take about seven months, with completion planned before the 2027 bathing season.