WHAT'S NEW?! #57 - VILLACH IN DECEMBER 2025

The welcome2villach team collects the most important news from around Villach in a compact, monthly “News Story”, with links to more information. In December, Villach residents can expect changes to public transport due to the launch of the Koralm Railway, updates on a planned new attraction at the main square, the K3 Film Festival, funding initiatives like the fine dust bonus, and festive Christmas vibes at the Advent market and concerts.

• New top attraction planned for Villach’s main square: At Hauptplatz 14, in the currently vacant former Billa building, a spectacular play and adventure world called “Erlebnis:Reich: Villach” is under development. Visitors can look forward to both analog and digital experiences, including an indoor castle playground, a digital library, and a multidimensional “flying theater” with moving seats. The exciting project is aimed not only at local families but also at tourists and is the result of a joint initiative by the Villach Tourism Association, the City of Villach, and the property developer and owner August de Roode. The opening is scheduled for spring 2027.

• Christmas spirit high above Villach’s rooftops: At the Villach Advent, visitors will find around 50 festively decorated huts offering thoughtful gift ideas, homemade crafts, and culinary delights. Families can enjoy the Children’s Cookie Paradise, the kids’ train, the carousel, numerous concerts, and the ice-skating rink, just like in previous years. New this year: the city parish tower will be open for the first time during Advent. Until December 21st, visitors can climb the tower from Thursday to Sunday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., enjoying a unique view over the festively decorated city.
   
• Koralmbahn brings changes to Villach public transport: On December 14th, the Koralmbahn, the new rail connection between Styria and Carinthia, will begin operations. Travel time between Graz and Villach will be reduced to under 66 minutes – a historic milestone for the region. However, the launch will lead to extensive adjustments in all bus and train schedules in Carinthia. Villach has also adjusted its bus timetables to ensure seamless connections to the new train services. In addition to changed schedules, there will be an extra bus, new route names for services to Fellach, and the renaming of some lines. All details and current timetables can be found here.
   
• 250 new trees for Villach: The City Green Department has set a new personal record in recent weeks by planting 250 new trees – the largest number ever planted in Villach at once. The trees, including over 100 avenue trees, 25 fruit trees, and 21 shade trees at playgrounds, enhance the city’s green axis and contribute to making the city center even more livable and inviting.
   
• Cash back for winter public transport tickets: Villach continues its annual fine dust bonus to encourage public transport use during the colder months. Residents can get reimbursed for monthly, yearly, or student semester tickets valid from December to February. Tickets must be submitted by March 15th at villach.at/feinstaub. A total of 35,000 Euros is available in funding.
   
• Cultural award for Villach Carnival and Kirchtag: This year, the City of Villach awarded the Villach Carnival Guild and the Villach Kirchtag Association with the Cultural Prize. Both volunteer institutions celebrated milestone anniversaries (the Villach Carnival its 70th, the Kirchtag its 80th) and are important ambassadors for tradition and joie de vivre in Villach.

• Cinema between longing and new beginnings: The K3 Film Festival takes place from December 3rd–7th at the Villach Film Studio. This year, the festival focuses on the fleeting – the longing to hold on and the liberating act of letting go – and presents cross-border filmmaking from the region. Six exciting productions from Carinthia, Slovenia, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia will be shown – including, for the first time, a horror film.
   
• Events: On December 1st, the comedy Jesus Loves Me, based on the bestseller by David Safier, will be staged at the Congress Center Villach (CCV). A week later, on December 8th, Villach’s cultural prize winner, the Alpen Adria Choir, invites visitors to the Advent concert Heading North (Nach Norden) at St. Jakob Parish Church. As part of the “16 Days Against Violence Against Women and Girls,” the film night Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power will be shown on December 10th at the Stadtkino. Another highlight is the Education Fair at the CCV on December 16th, running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering young people information on further education opportunities after compulsory school.