Грац

April to October is the best time. Summers are warm and sunny, and outdoor cafes fill the old town. Autumn brings local pumpkin dishes and wine in the surrounding hills. Winters are cold and foggy, but the Advent markets are popular. Rain is possible all year.

• Altstadt is the historic centre with tight lanes, courtyards and arcades.
• Uhrturm is the clock tower on the Schlossberg and the city's symbol. The hands are switched: the long one shows hours.
• Schloßberg is the hill above the old town. Walk, take the funicular or use the lift for views and cafes.
• Schloss Eggenberg is a large baroque palace on the western side with a state room and park.
• Styrian Armoury is the world's largest historic armoury, with thousands of original weapons.
• Modern Art Museum Graz is a blue organic museum building known as the Friendly Alien.
• Murinsel is a steel island in the Mur that holds a cafe and a small stage.
• Doppelwendeltreppe is a rare double spiral staircase in the Burg.
• Basilika Mariatrost is a pilgrimage church in the hills outside town, with a tram link.
• Kasematten are the casemates under the Schlossberg, used for events and open-air concerts.

• Take the Schlossberg funicular and walk down through the park.
• Walk to the Murinsel and have coffee on the river.
• Sample pumpkin seed oil and Styrian wines at a local restaurant.
• Visit the Eggenberg palace state rooms and gardens.
• Join the farmers' market at Kaiser-Josef-Platz in the morning.

• Mariazell is a pilgrimage town in the mountains, about 2 hours away by car or bus.
• Schladming is a ski and hiking town, about 2 hours by car.
• The Styrian wine road to the south has vineyards and wine taverns, about 45 minutes by car.
• Vienna is about 2 hours 30 minutes away by train.
• Ljubljana in Slovenia is about 2 hours 30 minutes by car.

• Mariazell and Schladming are the closest preferred destinations in the region.

• By air: Graz Airport is about 10 km south of the centre. The S5 train and buses reach the city in 15 to 25 minutes.
• By train: Graz is on the line between Vienna and Klagenfurt. Vienna takes about 2 hours 30 minutes and Salzburg about 4 hours. Check times on ÖBB.
• By car: The A9 and A2 motorways meet near the city.

The old town is small and best seen on foot. Trams and buses cover the rest of the city. A single ticket works across all lines. The main station is about 15 minutes' walk from the old town. Cycling is very easy, with rental bikes available.

A car is not needed in the city. It helps for the wine roads and the mountains in Styria. The city centre has a low-traffic zone, so use a garage on the edge. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Styria is known as Austria's green heart. Look for pumpkin seed oil, used on salads and desserts. Backhendl, fried chicken, and Käferbohnen beans are local dishes. The region produces white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, and Schilcher, a pink wine. Graz has a strong cafe and market culture.

Graz is very safe. Take normal care with belongings in crowded areas. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112.

Graz was a seat of the Habsburgs in the 16th century and later a provincial capital. The Schlossberg fortress held out against Napoleon until 1809, when it was largely demolished. The old town was listed by UNESCO in 1999. Graz was European Capital of Culture in 2003.

Quick practical facts for Austria at a glance: