![\"Graz](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1496153955.jpg\")
\n\t\tThere\u2019s lots of fun to be had in Graz (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThere\u2019s lots of fun to be had in Graz (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s tallest underground slide, a friendly alien<\/a>, and a museum dedicated entirely to Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a>.<\/p>\n Three attractions that won\u2019t exactly be on your hit-list when planning your perfect city break<\/a> \u2014 but you\u2019ve got to admit, they do sound pretty fun.<\/p>\n This is Graz, Austria<\/a>\u2019s second largest city. While it often gets overlooked by more popular counterparts, such as Vienna and Salzburg, it\u2019s quietly beloved by those in the know.<\/p>\n Lonely Planet<\/a> described Graz as an \u2018instant heart-stealer\u2019, while The Times<\/a> said it\u2019s Austria\u2019s \u2018best-kept secret\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t Well, the jig is up. British Airways announced the launch this week of the first direct flights<\/a> from the UK to Graz, starting 25 November 2025.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Flights will run three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from London Gatwick.<\/p>\n The new route means trips to Graz just got a whole lot easier for British tourists. So, if you\u2019re thinking of booking your flights, here\u2019s everything you need to know.<\/p>\n Things to do in Graz, Austria<\/p>\n Perhaps the most iconic landmark in the city in the clock tower \u2014 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 \u20ac3.20.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve scaled the 473m to the top, you can sit back and enjoy the view. There are caf\u00e9s and restaurants, as well as a garden just below the clock tower.<\/p>\n \t\t Don\u2019t forget to take a look at the clock face \u2014 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.<\/p>\n And, how do you get back down? Well, that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \t\t It\u2019s sort of a floating leisure complex, with a caf\u00e9, shop and an auditorium which is used for concerts and cinema screenings.<\/p>\n If being at one with nature is what you\u2019re after, there\u2019s 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 caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s even a weekly community paddle. It\u2019s also a good spot to enjoy cocktails sound tracked by a schedule of DJs.<\/p>\n \t\t In Graz, you\u2019ll come across Renaissance and Baroque architecture, as well as shiny, modern buildings. The so-called \u2018friendly alien\u2019 was another structure opened in 2003, and was actually designed by two British architects. It\u2019s officially the Kunsthaus, a contemporary art museum which is pretty cheap to enter, at just \u20ac12. <\/p>\n Located in the Lend district of Graz, the former red light district is now a creative hub, and where you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n \t\t And, while in Lend, make sure you head to\u00a0Delikatessen Frankowitsch, a local institution which has been serving open-face sandwiches for more than 80 years. <\/p>\n Back in the city, make sure you take a wonder around the city\u2019s Old Town, or Altstadt. Be sure to stop by the six-storey Kastner & \u00d6hler department store, a 19th-century building that was renovated in 2010. You can also take a walk through the main square, Hauptplaz\u2014 it\u2019s surrounded by beautiful buildings, and weekly markets are hosted here too.<\/p>\n \t\t There\u2019s also plenty of museums for culture vultures. The Joanneum Quarter is home to several art museums, as well as the Natural History Museum. There\u2019s also the world\u2019s largest armory, which has a whopping 32,000 objects on display. You can get a guided tour, and admission costs just \u20ac12 for adults.<\/p>\n And last but not least, Graz\u2019s most famous son, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has a museum dedicated to his life. For just \u20ac14.90, you can learn everything there is to know about the famous bodybuilder turned governor. You might even bump into the man himself, as he\u2019s been known to visit.<\/p>\n \t\t Graz is Austria\u2019s culinary center, known as the \u2018Capital of Delights\u2019, so there\u2019s plenty of options for foodies.<\/p>\n The city is actually surrounded by countryside dotted with small farms, who produce speciality products. The most famous is pumpkin seed oil, dubbed \u2018green gold\u2019, which you can sample at one of the many food markets around the city.<\/p>\n \t\t You\u2019ll also want to try Styrian apples (Graz is the capital of the Styria region, which is known as the \u2018green heart\u2019 of the country) and other fresh produce, including runner bean salad. Although make sure you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, farm-to-table cuisine is a big deal here, and if you\u2019re looking for traditional Austrian food, look for backhendl on the menu \u2014 a kind of breaded chicken.<\/p>\n 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 \u2018Long Table of Graz\u2019. A table is set up in the centre, and local chefs prepare a feast \u2014 be be warned, tickets sell out within minutes.<\/p>\n And, for an excursion outside of Graz, head to the Styrian Wine Road. There\u2019s plenty of vineyards here, and you can spend some time hopping from one family-owned winery to another, spotting some windmills along the way.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the weather like in Graz?<\/p>\n During the summer, Graz reaches highs of around 26C, meaning you\u2019ll still be able to sight-see without getting too exhausted.<\/p>\n In the winter, things turn chillier, with highs of 3C in January. Snow is common, but it\u2019s unlikely to be heavy.<\/p>\n As Graz is in the south, it\u2019s influenced by the Mediterranean climate, and is usually slightly warmer than the likes of Vienna or Salzburg.<\/p>\n \t\t According to Budget My Trip<\/a>, you can expect to spend about \u00a3135 (\u00a3166) per day in Graz, covering food, drink and activities.<\/p>\n Based on experiences from other travellers, you\u2019ll likely spend \u20ac56 on meals and \u20ac18 on transport.<\/p>\n Gl\u00f6ckl Br\u00e4u, a popular Austrian restaurants, serves up hearty food, with a lunch time meal offer for\u00a0\u20ac10.50.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow![\"Graz,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_258648385-d426.jpg\")
\n\t\tGraz is in the southeast of Austria (Picture: Created with Datawrapper)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_258647446-ee7f.jpg\")
\n\t\tYou might have trouble telling the time (Picture: Shutterstock \/pymata)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_258647436-7cc8.jpg\")
\n\t\tMur Island was built in 2003 (Picture: Shutterstock\/Evgeni Fabisuk)<\/p>\n![\"Austria,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1459381482.jpg\")
\n\t\tDon\u2019t miss the friendly alien (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Classic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_258647483-b30a.jpg\")
\n\t\tAdmire the town square (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Arnold](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-128403088.jpg\")
\n\t\tTake a trip to Arnie\u2019s museum (Picture: Mathias Kniepeiss\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"graz,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_258648420-b38a.jpg\")
\n\t\tNew flights will start in November (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Simlinger)
\nWhat to eat in Graz, Austria<\/p>\n![\"Vineyards](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1043855346.jpg\")
\n\t\tSample the local wines (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n![\"Graz,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_258647334-fd14.jpg\")
\n\t\tWonder through the pretty streets (Picture: Shutterstock\/Aron M)
\nHow expensive is Graz?<\/p>\n
\nMORE: A new high-speed train is set to link three of Europe\u2019s coolest capital cities<\/a><\/p>\n