The Gurktaler Alps are one of Austria's best-kept secrets — a broad, gently rolling mountain region in the heart of the Eastern Alps, stretching between the Mur River to the north and the Gurk River to the south. Less dramatic than their western neighbours but overflowing with character, these mountains offer wide open skies, lush alpine meadows and an unhurried pace that is increasingly rare in the Alps.

What strikes visitors most is the softness of the landscape. The Nockberge — the region's most iconic subrange — are a series of rounded, dome-shaped summits covered in green pastures that glow golden in late summer. Hikers here move through flower-filled meadows, past grazing cattle and along ridges with 360-degree views stretching deep into Carinthia and Styria. Forests of spruce and larch fill the valleys, and on clear days the distant silhouette of the Hohe Tauern is visible on the horizon. To the west, the sparkling Millstätter See offers a perfect cool-down after a long day on the trail.

• Eisenhut (2441 m) — the highest summit in the region, a rewarding ridge walk with sweeping panoramic views over Styria and Carinthia.
• Goldachnock (2171 m) — the crown of the Metnitz Mountains, a full-day hike with outstanding views.
• Nockberge Landscape Park — gentle trails, alpine huts and year-round outdoor activities including cross-country skiing and mountain biking.
• Millstätter See — one of the warmest and most beautiful alpine lakes in Austria, perfect for swimming after a hike.

• Best time to visit: June–September — trails are fully open, wildflowers are at their peak in July.
• Base towns: Gmünd in Kärnten, Bad Kleinkirchheim, Murau — all offer good accommodation and trail access.
• Trail difficulty: mostly easy to moderate — terrain is gentler than the western Alps, well suited to families and beginners.
• Getting there: by car from Klagenfurt around 1 hour; by train to Gmünd or Spittal an der Drau, then regional bus connections.

The name of the highest peak — Eisenhut, meaning 'iron hat' — is a nod to the region's long history of iron mining, and the mountain's shape does indeed resemble a medieval knight's helmet. Remnants of old iron-smelting sites can still be found scattered through the valleys.