'Heart-stealer' city is a quirky foodie capital — with new direct UK flights

Metro

2 days ago

The world's tallest underground slide, a friendly alien, and a museum dedicated entirely to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Three attractions that won't exactly be on your hit-list when planning your perfect city break — but you've got to admit, they do sound pretty fun.
This is Graz, Austria's second largest city. While it often gets overlooked by more popular counterparts, such as Vienna and Salzburg, it's quietly beloved by those in the know.
Lonely Planet described Graz as an 'instant heart-stealer', while The Times said it's Austria's 'best-kept secret'.
Well, the jig is up. British Airways announced the launch this week of the first direct flights from the UK to Graz, starting 25 November 2025.
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Flights will run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from London Gatwick.
The new route means trips to Graz just got a whole lot easier for British tourists. So, if you're thinking of booking your flights, here's everything you need to know.
Perhaps the most iconic landmark in the city in the clock tower — it sits on top of the Schlossberg, essentially a cliff face that was once the site of a fortress. You can opt to climb the steep zig-zagging stairs, take the lift or hop on the funicular, built in 1894, for just €3.20.
Once you've scaled the 473m to the top, you can sit back and enjoy the view. There are cafés and restaurants, as well as a garden just below the clock tower.
Don't forget to take a look at the clock face — although you might have trouble telling the time, as the two hands are the wrong way around. The longer hand points to to hours, and the short hand points to minutes.
And, how do you get back down? Well, that's the best part. You can fling yourself down the tallest underground slide in the world, which at 175m long can reach speeds of up to 18mph.
Once back down, take one of the pedestrian bridges over the River Mur toMur Island. Designed in 2003, the artificial island was a partly built in honour of the city being named Capital of Culture in 2003.
It's sort of a floating leisure complex, with a café, shop and an auditorium which is used for concerts and cinema screenings.
If being at one with nature is what you're after, there's lots of green spaces in Graz too. The largest is Stadtpark, right in the city centre. With its manicured lawns, you can take a gentle stroll around, and quench your thirst in one of the cafés.
For something a little more adventurous, head to Stadstrand Graz, a city beach on the banks of the river. You can hire boats, kayaks and SUPs, and there's even a weekly community paddle. It's also a good spot to enjoy cocktails sound tracked by a schedule of DJs.
In Graz, you'll come across Renaissance and Baroque architecture, as well as shiny, modern buildings. The so-called 'friendly alien' was another structure opened in 2003, and was actually designed by two British architects. It's officially the Kunsthaus, a contemporary art museum which is pretty cheap to enter, at just €12.
Located in the Lend district of Graz, the former red light district is now a creative hub, and where you'll come across some of the coolest bars and shops. Auenbrugger is popular wine bar with more than 150 wines to choose from, while Scherbe is a cosy restaurant.
And, while in Lend, make sure you head to Delikatessen Frankowitsch, a local institution which has been serving open-face sandwiches for more than 80 years.
Back in the city, make sure you take a wonder around the city's Old Town, or Altstadt. Be sure to stop by the six-storey Kastner & Öhler department store, a 19th-century building that was renovated in 2010. You can also take a walk through the main square, Hauptplaz— it's surrounded by beautiful buildings, and weekly markets are hosted here too.
There's also plenty of museums for culture vultures. The Joanneum Quarter is home to several art museums, as well as the Natural History Museum. There's also the world's largest armory, which has a whopping 32,000 objects on display. You can get a guided tour, and admission costs just €12 for adults.
And last but not least, Graz's most famous son, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has a museum dedicated to his life. For just €14.90, you can learn everything there is to know about the famous bodybuilder turned governor. You might even bump into the man himself, as he's been known to visit.
Graz is Austria's culinary center, known as the 'Capital of Delights', so there's plenty of options for foodies.
The city is actually surrounded by countryside dotted with small farms, who produce speciality products. The most famous is pumpkin seed oil, dubbed 'green gold', which you can sample at one of the many food markets around the city.
You'll also want to try Styrian apples (Graz is the capital of the Styria region, which is known as the 'green heart' of the country) and other fresh produce, including runner bean salad. Although make sure you're up early, as stalls sell out quick. Two of the most popular are Lendplatz Market and Kaiser-Josef-Market, which are both open from 6am to 1pm, Monday to Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, farm-to-table cuisine is a big deal here, and if you're looking for traditional Austrian food, look for backhendl on the menu — a kind of breaded chicken.
Foodies should also try to visit during some of the food-based festivals. The annual Graz Truffle festival is held every year in October, and twice a year, the city plays hosts the 'Long Table of Graz'. A table is set up in the centre, and local chefs prepare a feast — be be warned, tickets sell out within minutes.
And, for an excursion outside of Graz, head to the Styrian Wine Road. There's plenty of vineyards here, and you can spend some time hopping from one family-owned winery to another, spotting some windmills along the way.
During the summer, Graz reaches highs of around 26C, meaning you'll still be able to sight-see without getting too exhausted.
In the winter, things turn chillier, with highs of 3C in January. Snow is common, but it's unlikely to be heavy. More Trending
As Graz is in the south, it's influenced by the Mediterranean climate, and is usually slightly warmer than the likes of Vienna or Salzburg.
According to Budget My Trip, you can expect to spend about £135 (£166) per day in Graz, covering food, drink and activities.
Based on experiences from other travellers, you'll likely spend €56 on meals and €18 on transport.
Glöckl Bräu, a popular Austrian restaurants, serves up hearty food, with a lunch time meal offer for €10.50.
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