Styria Graz
3
Day Itinerary •
Austria
Three days in Styria and Graz take you to the most extraordinary and underrated city in Austria, the extraordinary capital of a region that produces the finest white wines and pumpkin seed oil in the country. From Graz's extraordinary UNESCO old town with its clock tower above the roofline to the extraordinary Murinsel floating island cafe on the Mur river and the spectacular South Styrian Wine Road through the rolling wine hills to Slovenia. This route covers the essential Styria. Graz's extraordinary Renaissance old town and the Schlossberg fortress hill, the Kunsthaus Graz alien spaceship, the extraordinary Eggenberg Palace with its 365 windows, the South Styrian Wine Road through the finest wine landscape in Austria, and the extraordinary Lipizzaner stud farm at Lipica just across the Slovenian border.
Best Time To Visit
April to October
Getting There
Fly into Graz or Vienna, train 2.5 hours from Vienna
Getting Around
Graz Card for city. Car recommended for South Styrian Wine Road
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 150 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, walking and driving
DAY 1
GRAZ OLD TOWN
MORNING
GRAZ OLD TOWN AND THE HAUPTPLATZ
Graz is the most extraordinary and underrated city in Austria, its extraordinary UNESCO old town the finest Renaissance city north of the Alps with the largest intact ensemble of Renaissance and Baroque buildings in Central Europe. The Hauptplatz is the finest medieval market square in Austria, its extraordinary Erzherzog-Johann fountain and the extraordinary Rathaus facade giving the finest single view in Graz. The Herrengasse with its extraordinary arcaded facades leads to the Landhaus, the finest Renaissance building in Austria. Landhaus courtyard free. Travel: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
THE LANDHAUS AND THE KUNSTHAUS GRAZ
The Landhaus courtyard in Graz is the most extraordinary Renaissance architecture in Austria, its three-storey arcaded courtyard built between 1557 and 1565 the finest of its kind north of the Alps. The Kunsthaus Graz beside it, built by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier in 2003, is the most extraordinary contemporary building in Austria, its extraordinary biomorphic blue skin bulging over the Mur river like a friendly alien. The extraordinary nozzles on the roof serve as skylights and speakers. Entry approx 10 euros. Travel: 20 min walk to Mur
AFTERNOON
THE MURINSEL AND THE MUR RIVER
The Murinsel is the most extraordinary public building in Graz, a floating stainless steel island in the middle of the Mur river built by Vito Acconci for the 2003 European Capital of Culture and still in operation as a cafe and amphitheatre. The island connects both banks by floating bridges and gives extraordinary views up and down the Mur. The Schlossberg rises directly above on the right bank. The Mur riverside promenade is the finest urban walk in Graz.
đź’Ž HIDDEN GEM
The Graz Farmers Market on the Kaiser-Josef-Platz on Saturday morning is the finest farmers market in Austria, local Styrian farmers selling extraordinary pumpkin seed oil, fresh Steirerkase cheese, local wine and the finest seasonal Styrian produce from 8am to 1pm. Entirely free to browse. The finest introduction to Styrian food culture.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Sacher Graz Outstanding coffee house on the Herrengasse. Coffee and extraordinary Styrian pastries. | Lunch: Gasthaus zur Goldenen Pastete The most extraordinary traditional Graz restaurant. Local Verhackertes and Steirischer Wein. | Dinner: Restaurant Landhauskeller, Graz Outstanding Styrian cuisine in the extraordinary Renaissance courtyard. Local pumpkin dishes.
DAY 2
SCHLOSSBERG AND EGGENBERG
MORNING
THE SCHLOSSBERG AND THE CLOCK TOWER
The Schlossberg is the extraordinary wooded hill rising 123 metres above Graz old town, its extraordinary clock tower the symbol of the city, the only part of the medieval fortress that Napoleon was unable to demolish in 1809 because the citizens of Graz paid a ransom to preserve it. The funicular to the top takes 2 minutes. The extraordinary panorama from the clock tower terrace over the red-tiled old town roofline and the Styrian hills beyond is the finest in the city. Funicular approx 3 euros. Travel: 30 min tram to Eggenberg
MIDDAY
SCHLOSS EGGENBERG, THE PALACE OF 365 WINDOWS
Schloss Eggenberg west of Graz is the most extraordinary Baroque palace in Styria, its extraordinary courtyard with 365 windows, one for each day of the year, built between 1625 and 1673 for Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg. The extraordinary Planetary Room cycle depicts the cosmos in magnificent fresco. The palace museum contains the finest collection of Styrian medieval and Baroque art. The extraordinary peacock garden is outstanding. Entry approx 15 euros. Travel: 30 min tram back to Graz
AFTERNOON
THE OLD TOWN MUSEUMS AND THE ARMOURY
The Landeszeughaus in Graz is the most extraordinary historical armoury in the world, its four floors containing 32,000 pieces of weapons and armour from the 16th and 17th centuries in their original arrangement, the finest surviving arsenal from the age of the Turkish wars. The extraordinary collection of full suits of armour, crossbows, muskets and cannons is outstanding. The Styrian Provincial Museum Joanneum in the Neutorgasse has an extraordinary natural history collection. Armoury entry approx 10 euros.
đź’Ž HIDDEN GEM
The Graz Opera House, built in 1899 and the second largest in Austria, has an extraordinary programme and standing room tickets available from 30 minutes before curtain for just a few euros. The extraordinary Neo-Baroque facade on the Opernring is one of the finest opera houses in Central Europe. The Standing Room tickets are the finest value in classical music in Austria.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Promenade, Schlossberg Outstanding café at the summit of the Schlossberg. Coffee with the finest city panorama. | Lunch: Restaurant Aiola Upstairs Outstanding modern Styrian on the Schlossberg terrace. Local wine and extraordinary views. | Dinner: Steirerstube, Graz The finest traditional Styrian restaurant. Local Backhendl, pumpkin soup and Schilcher rose wine.
DAY 3
SOUTH STYRIAN WINE ROAD
MORNING
THE SOUTH STYRIAN WINE ROAD
The South Styrian Wine Road between Ehrenhausen and the Slovenian border is the most extraordinary wine landscape in Austria, its extraordinary rolling hills of vineyards giving a panorama often compared to Tuscany. The extraordinary Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Muskateller produced here are the finest white wines in Austria. The road passes through the extraordinary villages of Gamlitz, Kitzeck and Sulztal, each with Buschenschank wine taverns serving the current year's wine direct from the barrel. Travel: 30 min drive to cellar
MIDDAY
WINE CELLAR TASTINGS IN GAMLITZ
Gamlitz is the most extraordinary wine village in South Styria, its extraordinary south-facing slopes producing the finest Sauvignon Blanc in Austria. Several wine estates along the main road offer extraordinary cellar tastings including Weingut Sattler, one of the finest producers in the region. The extraordinary view from the Gamlitz hill over the rolling vine landscape to the Slovenian hills beyond is the finest in the region. Most cellar tastings are free or a few euros. Travel: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
EHRENHAUSEN AND THE MUR VALLEY
Ehrenhausen is the most extraordinary small town in South Styria, its extraordinary Renaissance mausoleum on the hill above the Mur the finest funerary architecture in the region. The mausoleum of Ruprecht von Eggenberg, built in 1615, contains extraordinary ceiling frescoes by Hans Adam Weissenkircher. The Mur valley between Ehrenhausen and Graz contains the finest collection of wine estates in Styria, each offering extraordinary tastings of local Schilcher rose and Welschriesling.
đź’Ž HIDDEN GEM
The Kitzeck im Sausal above Gamlitz at 564 metres is the highest wine village in Central Europe, its extraordinary panorama over the entire South Styrian wine landscape to Slovenia the finest in the region. The tiny village has three extraordinary Buschenschank wine taverns serving local Welschriesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Entirely free to drive to. The finest hidden viewpoint on the South Styrian Wine Road.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Gasthof in South Styria Coffee in a Buschenschank wine tavern before the morning drive through the vineyards. | Lunch: Weingut Sattler, Gamlitz Outstanding winery restaurant. Local Sauvignon Blanc and Styrian cold buffet in the vineyard. | Dinner: Restaurant Steirerwirt, Graz Outstanding farewell Styrian dinner. Local pumpkin soup, Backhendl and the finest Schilcher.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
đź’Ž HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
đź’Ž HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Graz Old Town Hotel Wiesler or Hotel Daniel. Walking distance to everything. Approx 90 to 220 euros per night. Budget Option A&O Graz or Jufa Hotel. Excellent value with good transport. Approx 50 to 100 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Climb the Schlossberg at 7am before the funicular opens. The clock tower and city panorama with nobody present is extraordinary.
2. The South Styrian Wine Road in October during the harvest is the finest time. The Buschenschank taverns open for the new wine.
3. Graz is Austria's most underrated city. The old town is entirely intact and far less crowded than Salzburg or Vienna.
4. Styrian pumpkin seed oil is the finest in the world. Buy it directly from a farm south of Graz. Dark green and extraordinary.
5. The Kunsthaus Graz alien spaceship building by Cook and Fournier is the finest contemporary building in Austria. Free exterior.
6. The Graz Farmers Market on the Kaiser-Josef-Platz every Saturday morning has the finest Styrian produce in Austria.
Total Budget
80 to 150 euros/day