Austria Villach

Campervan and motorhome hire in Villach

Camper vans and motorhomes between Carinthia's lakes, Italy and Slovenia

Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies in Villach to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.

per day, from (observed prices)
€206
rental partner
1
branch
1
  • 1 partner company: Anywhere Campers
  • Graz 131 km and Salzburg 146 km as the crow flies
  • Four large lakes less than an hour's drive away
  • Italian and Slovenian borders close by
  • Most pleasant climate from May to September

Hiring a campervan in Villach puts your starting point at the heart of Carinthia, the lake district of southern Austria, where the Drava leaves the Alps and where Italy and Slovenia begin less than half an hour's drive away. Lake Faak, Lake Ossiach and the western shore of Lake Wörthersee are about a quarter of an hour away, Lake Millstatt and the Nock Mountains less than an hour, and the Dobratsch towers over the town with its limestone cliffs. Our partner company, Anywhere Campers, hands over its vehicles here.

Carinthia's second city, Villach is also a motorway hub: the A2 to Vienna, the A10 Tauern motorway and the A11 Karawanks motorway all meet here.

1 rental partner

Where to pick up your vehicle in Villach?

Observed prices

Rental prices observed in Villach

Vehicle Winter January Spring April Summer July Autumn October
Campervan from €206/day median €209/day from €228/day median €231/day from €274/day median €277/day from €214/day median €217/day
Low-profile motorhome from €217/day median €235/day from €234/day median €250/day from €286/day median €297/day from €225/day median €236/day
Large motorhome from €223/day median €226/day from €239/day median €242/day from €286/day median €288/day from €231/day median €234/day

Daily prices observed on October 28, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €1,500.

Road trip ideas

Road trips from Villach

1 The lakes tour, from Lake Faak to Lake Wörthersee 3 to 4 days about 140 km
  1. Villach
  2. Lake Faak
  3. Velden
  4. Pörtschach
  5. Maria Wörth
  6. Pyramidenkogel
  7. Klagenfurt
  8. Lake Ossiach
  9. Villach

South-east of town, Lake Faak and its turquoise water spread out at the foot of the Mittagskogel, a peak of the Karawanks. You then reach Lake Wörthersee via Velden and its lakeside villas, Pörtschach on its peninsula, then Maria Wörth, whose church stands on a promontory above the lake.

The Pyramidenkogel observation tower takes in the whole of Lake Wörthersee before Klagenfurt, capital of Carinthia, with its stone dragon. The return trip follows Lake Ossiach, its former abbey and the ruins of Landskron Castle, a stone's throw from Villach.

Distance
about 140 km
Recommended vehicle
All types of motorhomes
2 Lake Millstatt and the Nock Mountains road 3 to 4 days about 200 km
  1. Villach
  2. Millstatt
  3. Bad Kleinkirchheim
  4. Nockalm Road
  5. Innerkrems
  6. Gmünd
  7. Spittal an der Drau
  8. Villach

To the north, the Drava valley leads to Lake Millstatt, the deepest of Carinthia's lakes, lined by the Romanesque abbey of Millstatt. After the spa of Bad Kleinkirchheim, the Nockalm Road winds through the Nock Mountains biosphere park, rounded peaks covered with alpine pastures, as far as Innerkrems. You come back down to Gmünd, a small artists' town where the first Porsches were assembled, then Spittal an der Drau and its Renaissance Porcia palace.

The Nockalm Road is a toll road open only in the warmer months: check its opening dates before setting off.

Distance
about 200 km
Recommended vehicle
Campervan or low-profile motorhome
3 Three countries via Tarvisio, Bled and the Loibl Pass 3 days about 200 km
  1. Villach
  2. Arnoldstein
  3. Tarvisio
  4. Fusine Lakes
  5. Kranjska Gora
  6. Bled
  7. Tržič
  8. Loibl Pass
  9. Ferlach
  10. Villach

Via Arnoldstein, you cross into Italy as far as Tarvisio and its border market, then to the two Fusine Lakes beneath the rock walls of Mount Mangart. Slovenia begins a few kilometres further on: Kranjska Gora, then the upper Sava valley down to Lake Bled. The way back to Austria goes through Tržič, a former shoemakers' town, and the Loibl Pass, pierced by a tunnel at its top, before Ferlach, the gunsmiths' town, and the Drava valley.

Distance
about 200 km
Recommended vehicle
Campervan or camper van
Weather and seasons

When to go in Villach?

Best time

May, June and September

May to June, September
highs 19 to 25 °C, lows 9 to 15 °C

The best months to leave from Villach: high-altitude roads generally open, lakeside campsites still quiet and long days. Yet May and September are the wettest months of the year: keep a fallback activity for rainy days, such as the thermal baths of Warmbad Villach, south of town.

High season

July and August

July to August
highs 26 °C, lows 16 °C

Peak season on Carinthia's lakes: water pleasant for swimming, campsites at Lake Faak and Lake Wörthersee fully booked and shores crowded at weekends. Late-afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains. In early August, the Villacher Kirchtag, a big folk festival in traditional dress, fills the town for a week.

March, April and October

March to April, October
highs 11 to 16 °C, lows 1 to 8 °C

A season of contrasts: the Drava valley turns green from April and the larches of the Nock Mountains turn golden in October, but high-altitude roads may stay closed and some lakeside campsites only open from Easter to autumn. Nights are cool: a heated vehicle is welcome.

Winter

November to February

November to February
highs 5 to 9 °C, lows -3 to 3 °C

The Carinthian winter is cold, with frequent night frosts, but ski areas are close by: the Gerlitzen, above Lake Ossiach, or the Dreiländereck at Arnoldstein, straddling three countries. Open campsites become scarce, and Advent markets liven up Villach and Klagenfurt in December.

Climate in Villach, month by month

Month High Low Rain Sun
Jan 5 °C -3 °C 63 mm 6 h/day
Feb 7 °C -2 °C 83 mm 7 h/day
Mar 11 °C 1 °C 72 mm 8 h/day
Apr 15 °C 5 °C 87 mm 10 h/day
May 19 °C 9 °C 135 mm 10 h/day
Jun 25 °C 15 °C 105 mm 12 h/day
Jul 26 °C 16 °C 107 mm 12 h/day
Aug 26 °C 16 °C 121 mm 11 h/day
Sep 21 °C 12 °C 130 mm 9 h/day
Oct 16 °C 8 °C 105 mm 7 h/day
Nov 9 °C 3 °C 121 mm 5 h/day
Dec 5 °C -1 °C 85 mm 5 h/day

Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).

Practical tips

Everything to know before hitting the road

Vignette, Karawanks and Tauern

Austrian motorways and expressways require a vignette for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes: ask the rental company whether one comes with the motorhome. The Karawanks tunnel, on the A11 towards Slovenia, and the Tauern motorway, on the A10 towards Salzburg, are charged on top. The Slovenian motorway, on the other side of the tunnel, requires its own electronic vignette: check the rules in force.

The Wurzen and Loibl border passes

To avoid the motorway, two passes link the Villach area with Slovenia: the Wurzen, towards Kranjska Gora, and the Loibl, towards Tržič. Both have very steep ramps and tight bends, and caravans are banned from the Wurzen. With a large motorhome, prefer the Karawanks tunnel or the Tarvisio road, and check pass conditions outside the summer season.

Villacher Alpenstraße and the Dobratsch

Just above the town, the Villacher Alpenstraße, a toll road, climbs in hairpins into the Dobratsch nature park, with viewpoints over the Drava valley, the Karawanks and the Julian Alps. From the upper car parks, trails lead to the summit and to the alpine garden, open in summer. A motorhome gets up without difficulty; check opening hours and snow conditions outside the season.

Visiting the old town

Villach's centre, around the Hauptplatz and the bell tower of St. James's church, is largely pedestrian, and its on-street parking is paid and time-limited. Leave the motorhome in a car park on the outskirts or at the campsite, then finish on foot across the bridges over the Drava, which separates the old town from the station.

No wild camping by the lakes

Wild camping is not allowed in Carinthia, and overnight parking is checked along the lakes, in protected areas and in beach car parks. Campsites, on the other hand, are plentiful around Lake Faak, Lake Ossiach and Lake Millstatt, often with direct access to the water. Follow local signs and book your pitch in summer.

What travellers ask

Your questions about a road trip in Villach

Where can I pick up a campervan in Villach?

Pick-up is with Anywhere Campers, our partner company, whose depot is in Villach. The exact handover location and appointment time are given in your booking confirmation. If you arrive by train, Villach main station, a rail hub between Austria, Italy and Slovenia, is convenient: let the rental company know your arrival time.

How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Villach?

The price depends first on the period, July and August being the most sought-after months on Carinthia's lakes, then on the length of hire and the model chosen. Run a search with your dates: offers departing from Villach are shown with their real price, mandatory fees included, and can be booked straight away. Budget extra for the vignette, tolls and campsites.

Can I do a one-way trip from Villach?

Yes: Graz, Weiz, Salzburg, Steyr, Linz and Innsbruck are also departure cities of our partners. Salzburg is a few hours away via the Tauern motorway, Innsbruck via the Drava valley, Italy's Puster Valley and the Brenner Pass. Enter your return city when searching: only compatible offers are shown, one-way fees included.

Can I drive to Italy and Slovenia with a campervan hired in Villach?

Tarvisio, in Italy, and Kranjska Gora, in Slovenia, are about half an hour's drive away; Udine and Ljubljana can be reached in just over an hour, Trieste and the Adriatic in about two hours. Each rental company, however, sets the list of countries covered by the insurance and may charge a supplement: check it in the offer conditions before booking.

Can I drive up to the Grossglockner from Villach?

Yes, from the south: the A10 to Möllbrücke, then the Möll valley lead to Heiligenblut, from where the Grossglockner High Alpine Road climbs to the viewpoint facing Austria's highest peak, about two and a half hours from Villach. This high-mountain road is tolled and only opens in the warmer months, in daytime: check dates, opening hours and the weather.

Verified customer reviews

They rented in Villach with CoolDrive Nomad

4.3
818 reviews

Everything is going online. You can clearly see how far along your applications are. The company handles changes and/or adjustments smoothly. Communication via email is easy, everything can be in your own language, and responses are quick and friendly, and solutions are found, even when KLM reported that they would no longer fly from our starting point. Everything was moved to another city. We are very positive about Cooldrive. We had a request for 3 campers for a total of 11 people.

W.
Austria · Jun 2024
Trustpilot

I asked for a booking reservation for a motorhome that was available on the website and it was discounted on my debit card, and one day later I was informed that the motorhome wasn't available. It was 5 days ago and I still haven't received my refund on my card yet. 2280 EUR.

T.
Austria · May 2024
Trustpilot

First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!

Alain L.
Canada · Oct 2025
Avis Vérifiés
Frequently asked questions

FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Villach

What licence do I need to drive a motorhome in Austria?

For a campervan or motorhome up to 3.5 tonnes, a category B licence is enough in Austria, as in neighbouring Italy and Slovenia. If your licence was issued outside the European Union, bring an international driving permit, often requested and useful during a roadside check. The minimum age and years of driving required are shown in the conditions of each offer.

Are winter tyres compulsory in Carinthia?

In Austria, from 1 November to 15 April, winter equipment is required whenever the road is snowy, icy or slippery. Around Villach, the Villacher Alpenstraße, the Wurzen and Loibl passes or the climb to Bad Kleinkirchheim can be white early in the season, and Italy and Slovenia have their own rules. Check the vehicle's equipment with the rental company.

How do I get to Villach from the airport?

The nearest airport is Klagenfurt, about fifty kilometres to the east: buses and regional trains reach Villach via Klagenfurt station. Ljubljana airport, about 80 km away through the Karawanks tunnel, offers more flights. From Venice, Graz or Salzburg, the train is a good option. Let the rental company know your arrival time.

Can I swim in the lakes around Villach?

Yes, from June to September: Carinthia's lakes are among the warmest in the Alps, and Lake Faak, Lake Ossiach or Lake Wörthersee are very pleasant in midsummer. Many lake beaches are paid lidos, the Strandbäder, with lawns and jetties, alongside a few free access points. At weekends, arrive early, as their car parks fill up quickly.

Can I combine a motorhome and cycling around Villach?

Yes: the Alpe-Adria cycle route, which links Salzburg to Grado, runs through Villach before crossing into Italy via Arnoldstein and Tarvisio, and the Drava cycle path follows the river across Carinthia. Ask the rental company whether a bike rack can be fitted to the vehicle; otherwise, many bike and e-bike hire shops are found along the lakes.

When should I book a campervan in Villach?

With a single partner company in Villach, the available fleet is limited: for July and August, book several months ahead, especially as lakeside campsites are full during central European school holidays. For May, June or September, a few weeks are often enough. If your dates are taken, widen your search to Graz or Salzburg.

About us

Why start a motorhome trip from Villach

Within an hour's radius, Villach brings together what other starting points make you travel far for: four large lakes for summer swimming, high-altitude roads such as the Nockalm Road or the Villacher Alpenstraße, and three cultures, Austrian, Italian and Slovenian, which meet on the town's doorstep. The town itself, with its lively Hauptplatz and colourful facades, makes an easy first stop on the banks of the Drava.

Anywhere Campers, our partner company, hands over its vehicles at the crossroads of the motorways to Vienna, Salzburg and Ljubljana. Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Linz, Steyr and Weiz, other departure cities of our partners, make one-way trips across Austria possible, while Friuli and the Julian Alps are within a day's drive. From May to September, the climate is best suited to this journey between lakes and mountains.

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