A Couple of Men
Gay Couple Travel Blog

It will be our 4th time to visit the Pink Lake Festival in 2020 in Austria. But first things first! It was again a fantastic trip to the southern state of Austria, Carinthia for the annual International Pink Lake Festival 2019. We had so much fun celebrating the LGBTQ+ summer event at Lake Wörthersee with hundreds of gay men, lesbians and queers from all over Europe!

From beach days with games, chill out music and fun in the water to Lederhosen parties and club nights – Pink Lake Wörthersee has it all and is going to organize their 13th edition in August 2020. Get inspired with our photos, videos, and tips for the 4-day summer event Pink Lake Festival Austria for the LGBTQ+ community and make sure to bring your friends along for some Austrian summer fun in 2020 with Couple of Men.

Getting in Austrian mood in our Lederhosen at Almdudler Almrausch Party © Coupleofmen.com

7 Gay Reasons for Pink Lake Festival 2020

There is one thing the international LGBTQ+ festival is not lacking, it is the experience. Already since 2007, the turquoise blue lake Wörthersee is ‘turning pink’ every late August hosting the Pink Lake Festival, one of the best options to end a perfect summer in Austria. Why we know that? Well, we visited the LGBTQ+ event already three times and are already busy with planning our fourth time in 2020. Every time we traveled to Carinthia, we were able to see the 12 years of experience with well-organized events, beach games at the warm water of the lake, and a gay-friendly environment for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. But there are even more reasons why you should visit Lake Wörthersee in 2020, already for the 13th edition! You should visit the Pink Lake Festival 2020 because…

#1 It’s the hottest gay summer festival in Austria

Vienna for a perfect Austrian City Trip. Salzburg for the sound of music and Mozart. Carinthia in South Austria for the hottest LGBTQ+ summer festival in the Alps! Although the main season is already over by the end of August, there is this special (late) summer atmosphere in the hosting city of Pörtschach and around Lake Wörthersee that turns every day a gay summer day. The water temperature usually is above 25 degrees Celsius inviting gay guys, lesbians and queer people from all over the world to jump relax in the public baths, do some sunbathing and play in the water. Anything else to add? Oh yes, of course, reason number two!

>> Picture Gallery Pink Lake 2019 | Pictures on Pink Lake Facebook <<

Unicorn and gay men in Lake Wörthersee | Best of Pink Lake Festival 2017 Photos Videos © Coupleofmen.com

Golden Flamingos for this Lesbian Couple at SOL Beach Club | Best of Pink Lake Festival 2017 Photos Videos © Coupleofmen.com

#2 There is a Pink Island!

Be it before, during or after the Pink Lake Festival, lesbian, gay, trans and queer travelers attending the Pink Lake Festival are chilling and hanging out on the Pink Island. Relaxing lounge music, sunchairs, fun games, and the welcoming turquoise blue warm water of Lake Wörthersee – there isn’t much more you need to enjoy a perfect late summer day in Austria. Pink Lake visitors will get free entrance to the public bathing beach with the Pink Lake wristband and therefore to the Pink Island, also known as Blumen- or Schlangeninsel. And don’t worry if you are not a muscle queen or bodybuilder, the atmosphere on the Pink Island is very body positive.

#3 It’s a great mix of summer fun & parties at night

And after a day on the beach island, it’s time to get ready for the party night. The first night is all about dancing in traditional Austrian clothes at the Almdudler Almrausch Party. Party number two is held at the old factory building called Fabrik with great dragqueen performances from Vienna mixed with house music until (very) late at night. The climax of the annual party itinerary is the Boat Cruise Party on Saturday. That means three boats, three DJs and three parties with an individual music style! Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the Pink Lake Festival in Austria. And as far as we know, it is the only LGBTQ+ lake boat party in the world where three boats link up in the middle of a lake playing music surrounded by the Austrian Alps. Since it is one of the last opportunities to party with old and new friends, the atmosphere on board the boats couldn’t be heartier with several polonaises and a loud singing crowd. What will be your party boat of choice?

Wondering how the Boat Cruise Party looks like? Watch our video:

#4 It’s on ‘the sunny side of the Alps’

The south Austrian state of Carinthia is promoting itself as the Austrian destination on the sunny side of the Alps. That counts for the summer and winter weather, which we can only confirm, of course, besides some thunderstorms. But even then, the temperatures in late August are still very summerish mostly above 25 degrees Celsius. Perfect conditions either for hiking around the Carinthian alps, for example to the viewpoint on top of the Pyramidenkogel or for summer days swimming in the turquoise blue lake. Looking for an extra adrenalin adventure in Carinthia? We recommend the Kletterwald Ossiacher See with its Zipline Forest-Rollercoaster Fly Line and an unparalleled view of the Lake Ossiacher See. And if the weather really should be bad during the festival, just spend a day in one of the thermae like the Kärntentherme Warmbad-Villach and the Thermal Römerbad Bad Kleinkirchheim. For the LGBTQ+ city explorers, we recommend the two biggest cities of Carinthia, Klagenfurt and Villach with museums and shopping opportunities. Our tip: Add some extra days after the festival and extend your gaycation time.

Karl & Daan in Lederhosen hiking the Kathreinkogel | Best of Pink Lake Festival 2017 Photos Videos © Coupleofmen.com

Observation Tower Pyramidenkogel | Best of Pink Lake Festival 2017 Photos Videos © Coupleofmen.com

Daan enjoying the view over Lake Wörthersee Pyramidenkogel | Best of Pink Lake Festival 2017 Photos Videos © Coupleofmen.com

#5 It’s easy to reach from all of Europe

If you are not from Southern Germany, Austria or any of the neighboring countries like Italy or Czechia, don’t worry. The southern state of Carinthia is conveniently connected by train or by air. We always fly with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam to Graz (no, that’s not Carinthia but Styre) and rent a car for a short 1,5 hours road trip to the Lake Wörthersee. Another airport connected to Carinthia is Klagenfurt Airport. A little further away, about 4 hours by car, is Innsbruck Airport. Let us know if you need help or support when planning your trip. We gladly try to answer all the questions you might have below in the comments!

Flying with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines © Coupleofmen.com

#6 It’s a Lederhosen heaven

There is no better way to show off your Austrian Lederhosen or traditional Austrian Dirndl than to dance the night away at the opening party of the Pink Lake Festival. Therefore, the gay-friendly Schlosshotel Leonstein is turing into a pink castle of light and a queer safezone for every kind of Lederhosen. The annual Almdudler Almrausch party with live music from the Austrian Party Band ‘die Stockhiatla’, Drag Queen Performances from Mataina Awisus and DJ sets from Drag Queen Tamara Mascara give you the opportunity to experience a real Alpine Austrian Lederhosen heaven. For us, it is one of the reason to come back in 2020 for the fourth time. Good to know: If you are coming from Austria, a Lederhose is nothing special and part of your daily life. But for us and everyone else coming from abroad, we need a special occasion to wear Lederhosen. Enjoy the real Austria!

#7 Austria ranks among the top gay-friendly countries

Yes, Austria is generally speaking a very gay-friendly country. It currently ranks among the top four LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the world according to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2019. Supporting this opinion and public reception of Austria, the Alpine country introduces marriage equality in 2019. Additional to that, Austria’s capital city Vienna hosted Euro Pride 2019 and was just elected as the most liveable city in the world for the 10th year in a row. We visited Austria in the past years five times as an openly gay couple and never experienced any problems especially in bigger cities. Just the perfect reason to visit the Pink Lake Festival in Austria in 2020.

A proud kiss next to the statue of the (gay) Prinz Eugen – equestrian statue | Gay-friendly Design Hotel Le Méridien Vienna © Coupleofmen.com