Graz Graz Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

Austria's second city unfolds along the Mur River, its Renaissance courtyards and Baroque facades earning UNESCO recognition for the Altstadt. The Schlossberg rises above terracotta rooftops, accessible by funicular or the tunneled Schlossbergstiege carved through rock. Herrengasse and Sporgasse form the commercial spine, their ground-floor arcades sheltering independent shops beneath centuries-old residential quarters. Beyond the historic center, the Lend district has emerged as the creative quarter, its converted warehouses hosting galleries and design studios.

The dining scene reflects Styria's agricultural identity. Local menus feature Kürbiskernöl — the region's dark pumpkin seed oil — drizzled over salads and soups. Wine bars pour Schilcher rosé from western Styrian slopes and Sauvignon Blanc from the southern hills. The Kunsthaus, Graz's biomorphic blue museum, anchors the Mur's left bank, while farmers' markets at Kaiser-Josef-Platz offer Styrian apples, aged cheeses, and cured Verhackert spread each morning. Evening drinks migrate to rooftop terraces overlooking the illuminated clocktower.