5 reasons to visit Graz this festive period

Graz is wonderful to visit at any time of year, but gains an extra layer of magic during the run-up to Christmas, with Advent markets galore. Vibrant, beautiful, with stacks of culture, Graz is big on history but small enough to explore on foot – and while it might be Austria’s second city, it’s the culinary capital of Austria. Just 2 ½ hours from Vienna by train, and with BA offering a new direct flight between London and Graz, it’s now easier than ever to reach this captivating city in the green heart of Styria. Come to Graz this festive period, and experience the best of Austrian Lebensgefühl.

Graz is home to no fewer than 14 Christmas markets. So whether you plan to shop for festive souvenirs, buy delicious local produce, indulge in some tasty street food, sip a warming cup of mulled wine, unleash the kids on a Christmas carousel, or simply wander among the colourful stalls – Graz has you well covered.

There’s a Christmas market on Schlossberg, the city’s unmistakable hill with its landmark clocktower. Part of the Aufsteirern Festival, you’ll find loads of excellent Styrian produce up here, from pumpkinseed oil, jams and honey, to handmade chocolates, wine and spirits, as well as snug woollen goods and other local handicrafts, all set against the best views of the city. And along with the large market on Hauptplatz, there are plenty of smaller markets such as Nikolaiplatz with its sustainably produced local gifts, and Kleine Neutorgasse with its children’s market. Stroll between the markets on foot – they’re within easy walking distance, and in any case it’s a good excuse to explore more of Graz’s beautiful old town, all decked out in Christmas lights – or jump on the Advent Train.

Graz’s green credentials go well beyond its markets, with many of its shops being firmly anchored in principles of sustainability and community. PANE, a small shop run by third generation artisan baker Martin Auer, sells the previous day’s bread at half price to combat waste, with the money from sales going to local charities – and tag.werk makes cool designer handbags and courier bags, using old tarpaulins from trucks and advertising boards.

Graz has its own, icy twist on the traditional Christmas nativity scene. During Advent, the 16th century Renaissance courtyard in Graz’s historic Landhaushof is home to a large-scale ice nativity scene, carved from over 35 tons of shimmeringly clear ice. After dark, this stunningly detailed and elaborate ice sculpture is backlit with coloured lights – but in any case, get in quick and see it before it gradually begins to melt!

Set below the northern slopes of the Schlossberg, Winter World Graz (Grazer Winterwelt) has been going for 20 years, and includes a colossal ice skating rink which covers an area of 3,000m2, making it one of the largest in Austria. It’s a fantastic place for families, and younger kids still learning to skate will appreciate the ‘penguin’-shaped skating aids. And if all that skating leaves you feeling peckish (or in need of a warming fruit punch), there’s Advent Paradise – an area of street food stalls right next to the skating rink, and accessible while wearing ice skates.

The Office for Christmas Carols on Sporgasse has been running for over 30 years. Founded by the Styrian Centre for Folk Music in order to support and encourage people who wanted to start singing, its register of information on Christmas music and texts now runs to some 30,000 entries – ranging from Christmas songs and sheet music to stories, poems, Alpine and other folk music, spirituals, pastoral and nativity plays, and foreign-language songs. A source of information on singing and music, and on Christmas traditions more broadly, it has become a popular meeting point, with open singing sessions, and is a familiar and much-loved part of Advent in Graz.

Further ideas for festive fun in Graz, include taking a ride on the Advent Bim – an old tram, almost entirely decked out in Christmas lights, which runs between Jakominiplatz and Laudongasse. Rides on the Advent Bim are free, and the journey takes around half an hour. Afterwards, wander the Unesco-listed old town including the cathedral, the Landhaushof and elegant Stempfergasse, and check out the enormous Christmas tree on Hauptplatz, decorated with 25,000 lights.

With its wealth of local produce from over 300 urban farmers, Graz is a foodie’s dream – and you should definitely make a point of eating at some of the many excellent restaurants in the old town, which run from cosy traditional taverns to elegant fine dining, and standout plant-based restaurants. Highlights of dining out in Graz include Mohrenwirt, with its traditional dishes reinvented and emphasis on organic, seasonal ingredients; Der Steirer, with its Styrian twist on tapas; the traditional, tavern-like setting of Altsteirische Schmankerlstube; and Ginko, one of the city’s best vegan spots.

Two final highlights to look forward to are the New Year’s Eve Spectacle on Hauptplatz, and the New Year’s Concert at the Graz Opera House. Set against a grand backdrop of the late 19th century Town Hall, and surrounded by beautiful old merchant’s houses, the New Year’s Eve Spectacle brings Graz’s main square to life in a dazzling show involving colourful lights, music, fire and lasers, along with a video projection on a moving screen of water.

Held on New Year’s Day, the New Year’s Concert (Neujahrskonzert) at the Graz Opera House features the Graz Symphony Orchestra along with soloists from the Graz Opera Ensemble in rousingly good form, led by conductor Marius Burkert. Each year these atmospheric concerts follow a specific theme – and on 1 January 2026, this will be ‘La Bella Italia’. Expect top-notch performances of timeless classics such as Wo die Zitronen blühn by Johann Strauss II, Leoncavallo’s La Mattinata, and Nino Rota’s film music for Fellini’s 1963 masterpiece Otto e Mezzo.