Graz has been one of my favorite destinations on duty ever since. Find out why here.
Graz has been one of my favorite destinations on duty ever since. Graz is quite a large city by Austrian standards, but for me as a Berliner it is small and tranquil. Nevertheless, there is a little bit of everything: Nature (the Mur river is wonderful to stroll along), a pretty good selection of large and small stores (in case you get the shopping urge), lots of nice cafés and restaurants and even great art exhibitions!
It’s just a shame that it was Monday and my favorite museum, the Kunsthaus Graz, was closed. A pity really, because no matter what exhibition is on, I always enjoy going there and marvel at the unusual architecture, so organically shaped and whimsical. It doesn’t fit in at all with the traditional old town around it and yet is interesting precisely because of the contrast.
Up the Schlossberg in Graz
By the way, you can always go up the Schlossberg and take a look at Graz from above. The view over the city and the mountains in the background is uniquely beautiful – and luckily the weather rewarded us with a golden November day.
There are three ways to get up there: On foot (not an option for me after several days of early work with little sleep), with the Schloßbergbahn or the Schloßberg lift. The Schloßbergbahn is a funicular and a single ticket costs just €2.40. Practical: tickets from local public transport are also valid here! The Schloßberg lift costs just €1.60 for a one-way trip and doesn’t have the beautiful view on the way. Rushing through the massive rock in the glass lift is quite something, though. The Grazer Linien tickets are not valid here.
Hey, I’m Tatiana and I’m the blogger behind The Happy Jetlagger. Since 2014, I’ve been sharing my personal travel stories on this blog. I don’t have a big team behind me, so I’m pretty much a one-person show: All recommendations are fully researched by just me!
➜ By the way, you can find all tips on Austria here
Once at the top, you can stop off at various restaurants: At the very top is the Schlossberg restaurant with an adjoining beer garden, right next to the Schlossberg lift is the stylish Aiola upstairs and my absolute favorite, the Starcke Weinhaus, which offers the very best view over Graz with its enchanted terraces on several levels. I could have enjoyed this view for hours!
Accommodation tips for Graz
Two hotel tips for Graz at this point:
Hotel Daniel* – The location next to the main train station may take some getting used to, but it is impressive what has been created from this rather ugly post-war concrete block: a damn cool, young hotel with a great design.
Grand Hôtel Wiesler* In the middle of the old town, on the Mur, an old hotel with tradition, which shines in modern splendor after a complete renovation years ago. Great atmosphere and a successful combination of old and new.
***
More beautiful destinations in Austria:
