Holiday in Graz

What makes Graz special as a destination?

Graz, Austria's second-largest city and the capital of Styria, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and captivates with a fascinating mix of medieval old town, avant-garde architecture, and Mediterranean flair. The historic city center, with its Renaissance courtyards, Baroque facades, and winding alleys, is among the best-preserved old town ensembles in Central Europe. The Schlossberg, the city's landmark, rises 123 meters above the center and features the famous clock tower, whose hands are unusually swapped — the large hand indicates the hours, while the small hand shows the minutes. You can reach the summit with panoramic views over the red rooftops to the Styrian vineyards via the Schlossberg funicular, an elevator through the rock, or by climbing the 260 steps of the War Path. Right on the banks of the Mur floats the Kunsthaus, affectionately called the "Friendly Alien" by the locals — a biomorphic building by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, which was created as a landmark of the European Capital of Culture in 2003. Graz is Austria's capital of enjoyment: The South Styrian region outside the city provides excellent wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling) and pumpkin seed oil is culinary gold. The market life pulses at Kaiser-Josef-Markt and Lendplatz, and the student scene (six universities with 60,000 students) ensures vibrant bars, cafes, and cultural initiatives. The Zeughaus with its collection of 32,000 weapons, Schloss Eggenberg (UNESCO World Heritage), and the Joanneum, the oldest public museum in the world, round off the cultural offerings.