Luxury Properties by the Lake in Austria
LIVING BY THE WATER
Buying Lake Properties in Austria
Austria is one of the most extraordinary destinations for lake properties in the entire German-speaking region. The combination of alpine landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and the highest quality of life makes lakeside locations such as Lake Wörthersee, Lake Attersee, or Lake Wolfgangsee some of the most sought-after addresses for discerning buyers from around the world.
What makes these properties so special: New building land at Austrian lakes is hardly ever allocated. The number of plots with direct lake access has been declining for decades. Anyone purchasing a lake property with private bathing rights in Austria today secures an asset that is nearly unmatched in its rarity and value stability.
The Finest of the Finest
At PREMIUM LIVING, you will find a handpicked selection of lake properties for sale in the most desirable locations in Austria, from exclusive villas and houses by the lake with private lake access to penthouses with lake views. As these properties are rare and quickly taken, we recommend an early, non-binding inquiry.
Buy an Apartment by the Lake
Luxury by the LAKE
This makes lakeside properties in Austria a rarity
- Private lake access: Practically impossible to develop new access to most Austrian lakes, hence existing lakeside plots are in high demand.
- Own boat docks and berths: Subject to approval and rare, a clear advantage for lakeside properties with a dock.
- Unobstructed lake panoramas: Secured permanently through distance regulations and nature reserves.
- International buyer segment: Buyers from Germany, Switzerland, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East ensure stable demand for luxury properties by the lake.
- Year-round usability: As a primary residence or holiday property by the lake, depending on zoning and infrastructure.
- Value stability: Decades of value increase due to supply scarcity, ideal as a investment property by the lake.
Buying lakeside properties
Our expert tip
Austria's lakes have around 4,000 kilometres of shoreline, but only a small portion is designated as building land, particularly scarce around the Carinthian lakes and in the Salzkammergut region. Existing lakeside plots with lake access rarely change hands and remain stable in value. If you are interested, it is advisable to make an early inquiry, as many properties are sold before they are publicly listed.
01
Wörthersee
Carinthia
Austria's most sought-after lakeside location. The Wörthersee combines Mediterranean flair with alpine elegance and has attracted an international clientele for decades. Velden, Pörtschach, Krumpendorf, and Maria Wörth represent the most exclusive locations. Water temperatures of up to 27 degrees, crystal-clear water, and excellent infrastructure with connections to Vienna and Venice make the Wörthersee the prime address. Buying a house on the Wörthersee means entering a market where properties often change hands quietly and discreetly.
- Size
- 19.4 km²
- Water temperature
- up to 27 °C
- Boat traffic
- Motorboats with limited license, the quota is capped. Sailing & small electric boats allowed year-round.
- Infrastructure & transport connections
- Klagenfurt & Velden directly on the lake, approx. 10-20 km to Klagenfurt Airport, A2 Southern Motorway
- Attractions
- Pyramidenkogel, Schloss Maria Loretto, Kirche Maria Wörth
02
Attersee
Upper Austria / Salzkammergut
The largest lake entirely located in Austria has been a place for people with exceptional taste since Klimt and Mahler. Extraordinary water clarity, deep blue, and a tranquility rarely found elsewhere in the Alps. The towns of Nußdorf, Weyregg, and Seewalchen offer a distinguished lifestyle away from mass tourism. Those who buy a house or apartment at Attersee are investing in a location that is becoming increasingly scarce over time.
- Size
- 46.2 km²
- Water temperature
- up to 24 °C
- Boat traffic
- Motorboat summer ban from July 1 to August 31, sailing and electric boats allowed year-round
- Infrastructure & transport connections
- Salzburg approx. 60 km, Linz approx. 50 km away, direct access to A1 Western Motorway
- Attractions
- Gustav Klimt Centre, Pile dwellings at Attersee (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
03
Mondsee
Upper Austria / Salzkammergut
Mondsee captivates with turquoise blue water, a picturesque market town, and short distances to Salzburg (approx. 30 km) and Munich (approx. 165 km). The segment for lakeside houses and apartments at Mondsee is developing dynamically with growing demand and strictly limited supply. For buyers from southern Germany, it is one of the most attractive locations in Austria.
- Size
- 14.2 km²
- Water temperature
- up to 24 °C
- Boat traffic
- Motorboats prohibited year-round, sailing and electric boats allowed year-round
- Infrastructure & transport connections
- Salzburg approx. 30 km, Munich approx. 165 km away, own A1 motorway exit directly at Mondsee
- Attractions
- Basilica St. Michael Mondsee, Mondseeland Museum, Drachenwand
04
Wolfgangsee
Salzburg
Wolfgangsee is set in one of the most picturesque backdrops in Austria — framed by Schafberg, Sparber, and the baroque St. Wolfgang. Its proximity to Salzburg (approx. 50 km) and direct motorway access make it the preferred choice for international buyers who want to combine urban accessibility with absolute nature. Lakeside properties here achieve excellent value developments due to their extraordinary scarcity and constant demand.
- Size
- 13.0 km²
- Water temperature
- up to 23 °C
- Boat traffic
- Motorboats prohibited year-round on the Salzburg part, summer ban only on the Upper Austrian part near St. Wolfgang. Sailing allowed year-round, electric boats limited depending on the shore side.
- Infrastructure & transport connections
- Salzburg approx. 30 to 45 km away depending on the shore side, A1 Western Motorway accessible via the Thalgau or Mondsee exits
- Attractions
- Schafbergbahn, Zwölferhorn cable car, Weiße Rössl
05
Millstätter See
Carinthia
Millstätter See is one of the warmest lakes in the Alps, with water temperatures of up to 26°C. It offers a noble tranquility that buyers appreciate, who shy away from the summer hustle at Wörthersee. The historic monastery town of Millstatt and the peninsula of Seeboden are preferred locations for exclusive residences. The luxury property segment at Millstätter See is growing — with price increases reflecting the increased attention this region is receiving.
- Size
- 13.3 km²
- Water temperature
- up to 26°C
- Boat traffic
- Motorboats prohibited year-round, sailing and electric boats allowed year-round
- Infrastructure & transport connections
- approx. 10 km to Spittal an der Drau, direct access to the A10 Tauern Motorway
- Attractions
- Stift Millstatt, Burg Sommeregg, Biosphere Park Nockberge
06
Faaker See
Carinthia
The small, heart-shaped Faaker See is located near Wörthersee and offers a more intimate, family-friendly atmosphere with similar climatic advantages. With water temperatures of up to 27°C, it is one of the warmest lakes in Carinthia. Its immediate proximity to Villach and the Slovenian border makes it particularly attractive for international buyers from Southern and Eastern Europe. New construction projects in exclusive lakeside locations complement the stock of historic lakeside properties.
- Size
- 2.2 km²
- Water temperature
- up to 27°C
- Boat traffic
- Motorboats prohibited year-round, sailing and electric boats allowed year-round
- Infrastructure & transport connections
- approx. 10 km to Villach, near Italy and Slovenia (tri-border area)
- Attractions
- Ruins of Finkenstein, Taborhöhe, Baumgartnerhöhe with views of the lake
more than Living
Why PREMIUM LIVING?
PREMIUM LIVING is Austria's leading platform for luxury real estate: a high-quality presentation environment, carefully selected properties and over 20 years of market experience.
How your inquiry works
- Discover properties: Browse our handpicked lake properties.
- Inquire without obligation: Submit your inquiry directly through the respective landing page.
- Personal support: Our providers will get in touch with further information and suggestions for viewing appointments.
The most sought-after locations for luxury properties in Austria are Lake Wörthersee in Carinthia — the prime address for international buyers for generations — as well as Lake Attersee and Lake Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut. Lake Millstätter, Lake Faaker, and Lake Ossiach also offer exceptional properties in unspoiled surroundings. Each of these regions has its own character: from the cosmopolitan flair of Lake Wörthersee to the quiet nobility of Lake Attersee.
Luxury properties by the lake in Austria start in prime locations at around €750,000 for high-quality apartments. Lake houses and villas with private lake access on Lake Wörthersee fetch prices between €2.5 million and over €12 million. On Lake Attersee and Lake Wolfgang, waterfront properties typically range between €1.5 million and €8 million. Properties with their own boat mooring or private beach access regularly achieve a premium of 25–45% compared to comparable locations without direct lake access.
Direct lake access means that the property borders the lake shore directly — without public paths, lakeside trails, or other properties in between. This usually includes the right to construct a private jetty as well as to use a boat mooring, subject to official approval. Such properties are extremely rare on Austrian lakes: on lakes like Lake Wörthersee or Lake Attersee, there is practically no unmediated lake access left. This makes such properties true rarities in the absolute luxury segment.
The acquisition of lakeside properties in Austria is generally possible, but is subject to strict zoning laws. In numerous municipalities — particularly around Lake Wörthersee, Lake Attersee, and Lake Wolfgang — new lakeside plots are hardly ever designated anymore. Existing properties with private lake access are therefore of extraordinary rarity and long-term value stability. Foreign nationals require official approval for property acquisition in some federal states (e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol).
Lake Wörthersee, Lake Faaker, and Lake Klopeiner are among the warmest bathing lakes in Austria, with water temperatures of up to 28°C in high summer. In the Salzkammergut, Lake Attersee and Lake Wolfgang warm up to 22–24°C. Lake Millstätter reaches up to 26°C. These favourable temperatures make lakeside properties in Carinthia particularly attractive for extensive, year-round pleasant use.
Yes, many lakeside properties in Austria can be used as a primary residence. However, the designation as a recreational residence differs from the primary residence designation and may come with restrictions. When purchasing, the exact designation of the property should be carefully checked. Year-round habitable lakeside properties in prime locations with full infrastructure are particularly sought after and correspondingly rare.
Carinthian lakes — particularly Lake Wörthersee, Lake Faaker, and Lake Millstätter — are known for mild temperatures, long bathing seasons, and a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere with excellent gastronomy and culture. The Salzkammergut, with Lake Attersee, Lake Wolfgang, and Lake Mondsee, impresses with cooler, exceptionally clear waters and a refined, secluded, nature-oriented flair. Both regions offer properties in the absolute luxury segment — the choice is a matter of lifestyle.
The luxury segment by Austrian lakes includes: detached lake villas with private gardens and boat jetties, penthouse residences with unobstructed lake views, lakeside bungalows and classic summer houses in the front row, historic mansions and summer residences, as well as modern new-build projects in exclusive lakeside locations. For particularly discerning buyers, there are occasionally estates with private beaches, multiple boat moorings, and separate guest houses — properties that are now available in single-digit quantities in Austria.