7 reasons to visit Graz, Austria

A treasure trove of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture, it’s no wonder the old town along with Schloss Eggenberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Feast your eyes on the grand Habsburg residences along with the magnificent Landhaus Courtyard, cathedral, monastery, old university and castle. Beyond the Baroque opulence, you’ll find cosy back streets and medieval plazas. Head up to Schlossberg to get a bird’s eye view of the red roofs, domes and spires. The highlight of this lofty park is the Clock Tower with its back-to-front hands, a symbol of the city’s chilled vibe and its resilience in the face of invasions and wars.

Despite the city’s lovingly preserved historic centre, Graz isn’t stuck in the past. Love it or hate it, the avant-garde Kunsthaus packs a punch. The balloon-like blob floats among more conventional buildings like a UFO, known locally as the ‘friendly alien’. The same sense of playfulness is found on the Murinsel floating island, the knot-like glass and steel structure a fun space to enjoy a cocktail or coffee on the River Mur. At night the atmospheric Murinsel is lit up with electric colours. The mix of old and new in Graz, where medieval streets cosy up with futuristic art spaces, makes Austria’s second city a dynamic, diverse and forward-looking destination.

From urban gardens and community allotments to the surrounding meadows, orchards and vineyards of family-owned farms, Styria is known as the ‘Garden of Austria’ and Graz ‘ Capital of Culinary Delights’. Sample fresh fruit and vegetables, spicy pumpkin seeds and the ‘green gold’ nutty pumpkin seed oil that adds delicious flavour to regional dishes. Local honey, organic breads, mouth-watering cured ‘volcano’ ham, pungent truffles and wines full of character are perfect for a picnic or self-catering meal. Sample local produce in the city’s vibrant and colourful markets, such as the Kaiser-Josef-Markt, or from charming delis, street cafes and farm-to-table restaurants. Don’t leave without tasting Styria’s signature dishes: Backhendl, fried chicken, or Kürbiskernsuppe, pumpkin soup topped with roasted pumpkin seeds.

The annual Graz Truffle Festival offers up an incredible seven varieties of truffles from the city’s forests in October. Check out the international truffle market at Paradeishof, the courtyard surrounded by elegant buildings and lined with truffle stalls. Order from the diverse truffle menu, settle down at a courtyard table and enjoy a burst of pungent flavour. For more truffle fun, join a guided truffle hike in the woods of Leechwald or sample the delectable truffle menu at a partner restaurant.  Bi-annually, the ‘Long Table of Graz’ is set up in the historic centre of Graz, a mouth-watering multi-course feast prepared by top local chefs and accompanied by the finest regional wines.

Head into the surrounding Styrian hills, a tranquil landscape of forest, flower meadows and vineyards. Join a vineyard tour and wine-tasting session. Look out for the Buschenschank sign, the branch of the juniper bush found outside vineyards, inviting you in to taste delicious in-house wines with a Brettljause –  the Austrian smorgasbord. In these welcoming, family-run vineyards, enjoy flavoursome homegrown produce with a crisp white or full-bodied red wine. Tuck into a platter of cold meats, freshly baked farmhouse bread, crisp salad ingredients and creamy cheeses. Feel the sunshine on your skin as you sit in a peaceful garden, rustic courtyard or terrace. It’s an unmissable experience.

A beacon of sustainable tourism, the city’s ‘Graz Card’ offers free public transport that includes the environmentally-friendly hydrogen buses along with free or reduced museum entry. Get away from noise and air pollution in the car-free old town, many attractions within walking distance. Rent a bike and enjoy the network of cycle paths across the city. Explore historic streets, parks and riverside paths at a leisurely pace. Feeling hungry? The town’s chic restaurants and Bohemian cafes are proud of their ‘buy local’  ethos, sourcing fresh, seasonal food with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. You can also take advantage of the zero-waste stores, organic markets and eco-festivals and events.

Graz is packed with relaxing parks and city gardens. From the wooded hillside of Schlossberg to the funky Kunstgarden, laid out with intimate garden rooms and art installations, enjoy the city’s many green spaces. The historic Eggenberg Palace is surrounded by semi-wild parkland and its more formal Planet and Rose gardens. Over in the University district, the Botanical Garden shows off exotic planting in its futuristic greenhouses and outdoor spaces. Don’t miss the popular Stadtpark or the green lung along the river. With drinking fountains scattered throughout the city, there’s no need for plastic bottles. The sustainability ethos is also seen in the grow-your-own social gardens in a city proud of its environmental credentials and community spirit.