I’ve heard many times from Austrians that Graz, a city about 200 km southwest of Vienna, is the best city in the country. Having visited it a while ago, I have understood why this opinion is so popular. Although I wouldn’t compare Graz and Vienna, I absolutely think that a trip to this city is among the best ones that you can do while in Austria.

Graz and Vienna are so, so, so different. That’s why I think it’s a bit unfair to compare those two and decide on one’s superiority. Graz is small and quiet; its streets are narrow, buildings are not that colossal and churches are very modest. But all of this makes the atmosphere so incredibly warming, comforting and welcoming. Even people are somehow different here: you won’t see a big city rush in Graz, but rather a chilled and relaxed mindset and vibe.

One of the highlights of Graz is Schloßberg (see the picture above), a hill with a fortress right in the heart of Graz. You’ll have to manage many steps on the long staircase, but the view is absolutely rewarding and pays off all the effort. It’s a wonderful area to walk around, enjoy nature and fantastic scenery.

One more thing that I absolutely recommend to visit in Graz is Kunsthaus, a contemporary art museum. It is named „a friendly alien“ by its creators, but you’ll have to see it for yourself to understand the origin of this name 🙂

Other than that, I would simply recommend to stroll around the city and make sudden discoveries on your own. I feel like Graz is perfect for this.