Is Graz value visiting? Completely. Austria’s second-largest metropolis is laid-back, welcoming, and straightforward to discover on foot or by bike, making it really feel extra like a soul-soothing vacation than a fast-paced metropolis break. It’s each a World Heritage Web site for its swoon-worthy historic core and a celestial-designed fortress, and a UNESCO Metropolis of Design, fusing traditional and modern tradition all through town. However there’s so much more to Graz.
Whereas most articles highlighting why it is best to go to Graz give attention to the primary and fourteenth districts – and the first-class farm-to-fork meals scene – this student-heavy metropolis has surprises and prizes unfurling throughout all its seventeen neighbourhoods. Having visited Graz 4 occasions – together with a current two-month slow-travel stint – I’ve been acquainted with each district and a few of the “hidden gems” which can be usually missed on a whirlwind tour of the previous city.
Enterprise off the overwhelmed path, stay a little longer, and also you’ll quickly be sipping in city vineyards, strolling with alpacas, or having fun with dinner in a rooftop transformed airplane bar. Listed below are my favorite causes to go to Graz – one for every district.
1. The UNESCO Outdated City is beautiful, courtyard-crammed and surveyed by the lofty Schlossberg
District I: Innere Stadt
Beautiful, calm and largely pedestrianised, Graz’s palace-dotted, courtyard-crammed Innere Stadt is undoubtedly town’s foremost calling card. It is perhaps compact, however there’s a lot to fill a long weekend in Graz when you begin poking round. Detour into each Italian Renaissance-influenced courtyard, just like the good-looking Landhaus – subsequent to the largest medieval armoury in the world – Klapotetz wine bar, or the pastel-pink espresso terrace tucked behind Schubertkino, and also you’ll quickly realise there’s greater than meets the attention.
The town’s palaces, lots of which have been transformed, maintain comparable surprises inside. Two of my favourites are the Graz Museum, housed inside Palais Herberstein, with its grand, frescoed staircase and the ornate Corridor of Mirrors, and Palais Attems, the headquarters of the Styriaarte competition, which is visitable by becoming a member of one of many performances that contain transferring between every elegant corridor. Standing above all of it is the Schlossberg, Graz’s central inexperienced lung as soon as defended by town’s fortress. Whereas a lot of the previous structure was destroyed by Napoleon, there’s nonetheless a lot to expertise, together with the world’s longest inner slide, live shows in each the underground WWII bunkers and the open-air previous fortress partitions up prime, and the beautiful gardens carpeting the hill, most recognisable for Uhrturm clock tower, town’s image.
2. Farmers’ markets and first-class eating come as commonplace
District II: St. Leonhard
Austria total wouldn’t characteristic on my listing of Europe’s best food destinations, however Graz is one other story. The town is the nation’s GenussHauptstadt, or Capital of Culinary Delight, evident even on the easiest of eating spots. This sluggish meals, farm-to-fork focus is without doubt one of the foremost causes to go to Graz, bolstered by the fertile farmlands of the Steiermark area, of which Graz is the capital. You’ll discover top-notch eating places, passionate cooks and native supplier-listing menus in each nook of town, but it surely’s within the St. Leonhard district the place you’ll discover my favorite of all Graz’s farmers’ markets. Go to within the morning to satisfy the merchants, get pleasure from a market-to-meal lunch at Genießerei am Markt, the place elements are sourced solely from the stands out entrance, and return for a night spritz when the stands overflow with life, particularly on the primary Saturday of the month, when dwell music provides to the environment.
3. Graz is a youthful, energetic college metropolis with a lot occurring
District III: Geidorf
Roughly 20% of Graz’s inhabitants consists of scholars, preserving this grand previous metropolis surprisingly youthful. In time period time, town feels particularly alive, with loads of underground occasions and events. A lot of that is targeted across the Geidorf district, residence to the College of Graz, the place you’ll discover some cool bars (I’m an enormous fan of Churchill for cocktails, Geek’s Cafe for video games and occasional on the terrace, and Parkhouse, within the close by Stadtpark, for late nights). Components of the spectacular campus, which blends grand Nineteenth-century structure with fashionable glass building, may be walked round, together with the library.
4. This UNESCO Metropolis of Design is as fashionable as it’s timeless
District IV: Lend (My Favorite)
As a UNESCO City of Design, Graz has no scarcity of socially impactful design shops, cutting-edge structure – together with works by famend architects equivalent to Zaha Hadid – and inventive city-wide occasions all year long. But it’s in vibrant, characterful Lend the place you’ll discover a lot of this artistic soul. Arriving from the Innere Stadt, the primary style of a extra fashionable Graz comes as you cross the Murinsel, a floating island-bridge with a restaurant and picture gallery, earlier than recognizing the Kunsthaus, generally known as the Pleasant Alien because of the tentacle-like roof home windows. Each had been inaugurated when Graz was European Capital of Tradition in 2003, including much more causes to go to town.
Past, in Lend’s vibrant streets, market squares, and unbiased shops, you’ll discover creativity at each flip. As soon as town’s crimson mild district, it has undergone profound change in recent times – and admittedly, been considerably gentrified – but it surely’s arguably essentially the most liberal and welcoming neighbourhood, internet hosting Graz’s Satisfaction park celebration, open-minded bars, and glorious vegan eating spots. Are available May, and also you’ll expertise one of the best of it on the community-powered LENDWIRBEL competition to begin the month, adopted by Graz’s Design Month, of which many occasions and companies concerned are primarily based in Lend.
5. Church buildings in and round Graz are removed from boring
District V: Gries
Assume all European church buildings are the identical? Assume once more. It won’t be the principle cause you’ll go to Graz, however a few of the extra distinctive spiritual buildings in and across the metropolis are value a cease. A kind of is the St. Andrä Artwork Church within the Gries, a district with loads of international meals and various nightlife spots, like Postgarage. St. Andrä, a still-operating church with companies in a number of languages, together with Nigerian Pidgin, is adorned with artwork. From the phrases “science” and “fiction” painted in lime inexperienced above the skin crucifix to a mirror-ball-like altar and facet chapels sprayed in blood-red graffiti, it’s fairly distinctive. A bit of additional afield, Thal’s Ernst Fuchs designed church is without doubt one of the most whimsical and out-there you’ll ever see, as is the Hundertwasserkirche in Bärnbach.
6. You’ll be able to raft down the Mur River or chill on the metropolis seashore with a cocktail
District VI: Jakomini
Austria is perhaps landlocked, however its refreshing lakes, rivers, and falls present ample compensation. For many guests to Graz, the Jakomini district is finest generally known as the central transport station, but it surely’s additionally the place you’ll discover riverside Augarten, arguably town’s nicest park, and the Metropolis Seashore, with deckchairs, summertime DJs and a container-like bar. For a sustainable, electric-powered river expertise, get pleasure from a two-hour raft down the River Mur – spritz in hand – with Die Flößerei, who function a bigger raft constructed utilizing a few of the conventional tree trunk strategies.
7. Graz is football-mad and Austria’s present soccer champions
District VII: Liebenau
Wherever you go in Graz, you’ll see graffiti and stickers selling Graz’s two native groups: SK Sturm Graz – the present Austrian champions – and Grazer AK. Whereas identified for his or her fierce rivalry, they each share the Merkur Area as their residence floor. Purchase a ticket to catch a recreation on the town to absorb the football-obsessed environment.
8. Graz is oh so inexperienced – there are forests, woodlands and loads of parks throughout the metropolis limits
District VIII: St. Peter
Graz is inexperienced gold. Round 60% of town is designated inexperienced house, making it a pleasant place to spend a spring, summer season or autumn break. Getting out into nature isn’t exhausting, and it isn’t restricted to public areas. Grazer Urwald, within the St. Peter district, is a non-public forest with public entry within the city space.
9. Rustic eating, pastures and farmlands are only a bus experience away
District IX: Waltendorf
It’s simply half-hour by public transport to the sting of the Waltendorf district, the place town offers solution to verdant hills and farmland. This proximity to nature is without doubt one of the foremost causes to go to Graz, as a metropolis break can shortly turn into a nature-filled escape. My favorite spot within the neighbourhood is round Schloss Lustbühel – a palace turned kindergarten – the place there are simple trails by means of fields of sheep, goats, cows and horses. Take all of it from the flower-decorated terrace of Genussplatz Lustbühel, a usually Styrian Buschenschank the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from native chilly cuts, cheeses and homegrown wines.
10. You’ll be able to meet cute Alpacas in Graz
District X: Ries
Simply throughout within the sparsely populated Ries district, or reasonably, barely past it, is another excuse to go to Graz, particularly for households: Schöcklblick Alpakas. On this lovely, family-run farm, with views of mountains within the distance, it’s attainable to stroll with, pet, and hang around with some 120 alpacas, making it the biggest alpaca farm in Austria. All visits have to be pre-booked.
11. There’s a fairly Basilica pilgrimage that results in town’s laid-back lake
District XI: Mariatrost
Considered one of Graz’s most splendid buildings is discovered within the hills of the Mariatrost neighbourhood: the Basilika Mariatrost. The 300-year-old Baroque basilica is actually divine, that includes intricate frescoes and a serene environment. It’s lengthy been the area’s most well-known pilgrimage route, however I’d recommend taking Tram 1 to the top of the road – the place you’ll discover the Tram Museum – after which climbing up the 200-odd steps to succeed in the basilica for some beautiful views after which strolling again to town. There’s a lovely trail through squirrel-populated woodlands that leads again to the Hilmtech Lake, with a restaurant, tree-strung hammocks, and little boats.
12. The Mur River Seashore and Cycle Path delivers summer season enjoyable and scenic bike rides
District XII: Andritz
To the east of the centre, the Andritz district presents a number of surprising causes to go to Graz, together with palace restaurants, a golf course, and a Buddhist stupa. The lengthy, giant neighbourhood additionally hugs the Mur River and is the launching level for the northern part of the Mur Cycle Path, which results in picturesque medieval hamlets like Frohnleiten. For a closer-to-the-city river summer experience, chill out on the Mur Beach the place beers stream freely and volleyball gamers profit from the sand.
13. You’ll be able to get pleasure from elevated cocktails in a transformed rooftop airplane or from town’s highest level
District XIII: Gösting
Throughout the river from Andritz, the Gösting district for me is all about elevated views, in addition to being the bus switch level to close by Thal, a cute, countryside city the place Arnold Schwarzenegger was born. Between Gösting and Thal is without doubt one of the metropolis’s most interesting strolling trails as much as the Fürstenstand, Graz’s highest city-centre restaurant and viewing platform. Come again down at evening and also you’ll even spot fireflies. One other implausible rooftop expertise is discovered on the Nova-Air hotel. Two planes, a Boeing 727-200 and an Ilyushin Il-62M, are set on prime of the constructing, with one being a restaurant and the opposite an 80s-themed cocktail bar – get a desk on the city-facing facet and also you’ll see the Schlossberg out of the portholes.
14. The UNESCO-listed Eggenberg Palace will transport you thru 4 centuries of historical past
District XIV: Eggenberg
Visiting a palace is without doubt one of the most typical things to do in Austria, and Graz is not any exception. Nonetheless, Schloss Eggenberg – positioned within the fourteenth district and the second half of Graz’s UNESCO itemizing – is not like lots of the Imperial Habsburg palaces you’ll discover in Vienna or Innsbruck, because it had totally different historic house owners. The palace and its grounds, that includes free-roaming peacocks, in addition to town’s archaeological museum, are fascinating.
Significantly fascinating is the design of the palace, which was constructed with celestial inspiration. There are 365 exterior home windows for the times of the yr; 52 state room home windows for the weeks, plus eight towers that mix into 60 seconds; 24 state rooms for the hours, and 31 rooms on every ground representing the longest months of the yr. It’s elegant, beautiful and layered in 4 centuries of historical past. 2025 marks the palace’s four-hundredth birthday, being celebrated with a particular exhibition, “Exhibiting Styria,” which chronicles the historical past and members of the family of the palace.
15. Countryside trails start only a bus experience away…
District XV: Wetzelsdorf
In case you’ve not already gathered, nature-filled walks are plentiful in Graz’s metropolis limits. Maybe my favorite spans the 2 southwestern districts of Wetzelsdorf and Straßgang, the place the forested, elevated trails are sheltered from the sounds of vehicles and metropolis life. The path begins in Wetzelsdorf, climbing as much as the St. Johann and Paul Church for views and a typical lunch on the adjoining bar, earlier than crossing the border within the sixteenth district, the place butterflies and vines await.
16. …and result in the good-looking city vineyard, Falter Ego
District XVI: Straßgang
Whether or not you arrive on the hike from Wetzelsdorf or make your means immediately right here, Straßgang is the spot to return to satisfy Graz’s winemaker. One of many few locations on this planet the place grapes are cultivated in metropolis limits, the slopes of the Kehlberg have had vines rising on them since no less than 1665. Though winemaking pale out in Graz, famend vintner Hannes Sabathi has just lately revived it with the opening of Falter Ego. Being a busy, acclaimed winemaker with enterprise in southern Styria and Slovenia, you’ll want to rearrange any excursions and tastings effectively upfront, however sipping the crisp Sauvignon Blanc from the glass-fronted eating room overlooking Graz is effectively value it. In any other case, absorb the beautiful views on the path that passes alongside the views – the panorama of Schloss St. Martin (closed to the general public) on a hill with the vines snaking down the slopes is one in all Graz’s most picturesque.
17. You’ll be able to style beers from town’s prized Puntigamer brewery on a classic tram experience
District XVII: Puntigam
Rounding off this listing of causes to go to Graz, we arrive at Puntigam, the ultimate metropolis district earlier than getting into the Graz Region. Every time you end up in Graz, you’ll immediately recognise the title, because the locally-loved Puntigamer beer is offered in every single place. Be part of a tour for a behind-the-scenes take a look at almost two centuries of beer making, and naturally, a tasting. Or, for one thing particular, guide onto the Bier Bim, a classic tram that trundles across the metropolis for 90 minutes with snacks and beer tastings onboard. Is Graz value visiting? You wager – and make sure you see past the massive hitters.
This text was written throughout a running a blog residency in Graz hosted by Graz Travel Deeper. As all the time, all opinions and phrases are my very own.
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