My husband and I are traveling to Austria in a few weeks, and we'll be staying in Graz. We're looking for fun things to do in Graz and in nearby towns. Does anyone suggest day trips outside the city or things we should do nearby? It's the only place in Austria we are going, so we're wanting to get an "Austrian experience". Thanks everyone!
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5513 posts
Will you have a car? How many days?
Have a look at the Zotter Chocolate Factory.
How about the fortress in Riegersburg?
Ptuj and Maribor in Slovenia are also nearby and interesting.
Posted by
Happy Valley, PA
672 posts
Graz city and environs - among the highlights: the Altstadt, including the Landeszeughaus (armory - amazing!), mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II (only Hapsburg emperor entombed outside of Vienna) in a church designed by Graz native architect Johann Fisher von Ehrlach (designer of Schoenbrunn and Karlskirche in Vienna), museum of modern art, the doppelwendeltreppe (double spiral staircase) near the Styrian government office building, the Scholssberg with the Uhrturm, and Schloss Eggenberg. (For the Graz top ten sights). Outside of Graz: Piber - the breeding farm for the Lippizanner stallions (beautiful location and lots of horses, including stallions and foals); the Steyrishe Weinstrasse; Barnbach (church designed by Hundertwasser); Stift Rein; Styrian Open-Air Museum in Steubing; and Schloss Herberstein and animal park. Don't know how long you will be in Graz, but all of these places are worth visiting.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you Emily and Robert for your ideas. I'm going to look at all of your ideas. Originally we hadn't planned to rent a car, but the suggestions outside the city seem fabulous, so I think we might now get a car! I appreciate your time and expertise!
Posted by
Germany
868 posts
If you rent a car you can do a few nice day trips. You could see the Karawanks for instance, which are ~90min away from Graz. Or cross the Gesäuse (90min) and see Admont Abbey. The region between Graz and the Slovenian border is called "Styrian Toscana", where you can follow several Wine Routes (use Google Translate) and visit wine villages and wineries. Wörthersee, a very nice lake, is where Austrias rich and famous live.
Sadly this wonderful region is very badly covered in most travel guides. You should visit the local tourist information and get some brochures. Or buy a German travel guide with many pics when you are there.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Martin, I agree. There are so little information about this region, unfortunately, so your advice is helpful. Thank you.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
George, thank you. I had found the first site, but hadn't seen the second. I'll check them out.
Posted by
Seattle
191 posts
If you are at all into horses, the Lippizanner national stud is in Piber which is very close to Graz: http://www.piber.com/en/