Spittal an der Drau is located in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia and the administrative centre of the federal state's second largest district Spittal an der Drau. It lies between the Lurnfeld area and the Lower Drava Valley. The city consists of the seven Katastralgemeinden Amlach Edling Großegg Molzbichl Olsach Spittal and St. Peter-Edling. It formally received town privileges in 1930.