We're traveling from Budapest into Austria in September and are thinking of spending some time in Graz before heading to Hallstatt and west. Any suggestions of how long to spend, and what to see?
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5389 posts
Graz has an excellent tourist website:
Posted by
Happy Valley, PA
672 posts
I have visited friends in Graz many times over the past 20 years, and they have been very kind to both show us their city and to take us to the sights that I mention below. As for the city, some of the highlights include the Uhrturm (clock tower) on the Schlossberg, the Rathaus, the amazing Landeszeughaus (the world's largest historic armory; four floors of arms and armor), the Dom (cathedral), the double spiral staircase (doppelwendeltreppe), Kunsthaus Graz (art museum), Schloss Eggenberg, and just walking around the city center and enjoying the medieval architecture of many of the buildings. As for nearby out-of-town sights that are worth a trip, I would suggest the Lipizzaner breeding farm in Piber, Thal (home of Arnold) and the amazing Parish Church of St. Jakob, Stift Rein, the open air museum in Stuebing, the St. Barbara church in Barnbach (designed by Hundertwasser), the tiergarten (zoo) at Herberstein, the hunting museum in Stainz, and Riegersburg Castle and the nearby Zotter Chocolate factory. You could easily spend a few days in Graz. One thing we have not yet done, but would like to in a future visit, is to drive the Sudsteirische Weinstrasse (the Michelin guide to Austria has a very nice description of the route and the wineries). It has been described as the "Austrian Tuscany". There are also hot springs/spas along the way, depending upon which route you take.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Thanks for your responses. We will probably spend at least 2 nights in Graz.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Don't get me wrong, I liked Graz and I spent two nights there. But I could have easily only stayed for one. The city just didn't take long to explore. Like everyone else, I walked to the top of Schloßberg and enjoyed the view and beer garden. Very pleasent, but not world-beating. I also visited the nearby Austrian Freilichtmuseum. If you've never seen one of these outdoor folk museums elsewhere, it might be worth your time, but it's far from the best of these things that I've seen.
Posted by
NY, NY
500 posts
graz is gorgeous
I don't understand people saying that they exhausted a town like this in a day - I could spend a couple weeks here, taking my time and exploring.
take the tram to the last station at "Mariatrost" and visit the Tramway Museum. Then the basilica. Then have dinner at the incomparable Kirchenwirt. Is it Epcot Center? no. Is it better? I think so.
http://www.kirchenwirtgraz.com