Stretching 120 kilometres along the border of Slovenia and Austria, the Karawanks are one of Europe's longest mountain chains — and one of its most underrated. Here you get dramatic rocky ridges, a superb network of mountain huts, and views that swing between the Klagenfurt Basin to the north and the Ljubljana Basin to the south.

The Austrian side of the range is steep and rocky, with exposed ridgelines that reward confident hikers with sweeping Alpine panoramas. Cross to the Slovenian side and the mood shifts entirely — dense spruce forests give way to dwarf pine scrub and open grassy slopes, all surprisingly peaceful even in high season. The range is long enough to offer weeks of exploration, yet compact enough that a weekend trip feels genuinely satisfying.

Highlights:

• Hochstuhl / Stol (2236 m) — the highest peak in the Karawanks, with a breathtaking 360-degree view across the Julian Alps and Karawanks ridge
• Dreiländereck (1509 m) — the unique tripoint where Austria, Slovenia and Italy meet on a single summit
• Loibl Pass / Ljubelj — a historic trade route crossing with scenic valley walks suitable for all abilities
• Košuta Massif — a broad, rolling ridgeline on the Slovenian side, ideal for long, unhurried traverses

Practical info:

• Best time to visit: June–October — trails are fully accessible in summer; September brings autumn colours and quieter paths
• Base towns: Villach (Austria) from the north; Jesenice or Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) from the south
• Trail difficulty: ranges from easy family walks to demanding technical ridge routes — well suited to mixed-ability groups
• Getting there: by car via the A11 Karawanken Autobahn from Villach, with a road tunnel and a parallel railway tunnel connecting Austria and Slovenia; direct trains serve both Villach and Jesenice

The name Karawanks likely traces back to the Celtic word karv, meaning deer — a connection that lives on in the Slovene name of the Košuta massif, which translates simply as 'hind'.