It is hard to imagine that Graz is the second largest city in Austria when I felt that I had seen more crowd in Salzburg than Graz. In comparison Graz felt like a small city to me. We stayed in a boutique hotel in the old town, near the Cathedral so we spent most of our time exploring Graz on foot. The Altstadt or old town is quite compact. On the main road such as Herrengasse you will see big blocks of magnificent grand buildings. But as you wander into the alleyways you will see little shops, bakeries, cafes, restaurants all with charm and character. A good place to start will be Mariensaule am Eisernen Tor (Maria Column at Iron Gate) or Hauptplatz (the main square). It is best to give yourself plenty of time so you could have surprises or small discoveries at an unhurried pace. Highly recommended if you are in Graz.

Our first time in Graz and Aldstadt was definitely one of the highlights. Every where we explored in old town took us to pieces of amazing history or beautiful bars and restaurants. The Styrian people are certainly at the heart of everything Aldstadt and we could not have been made feel more welcome

What a beautiful town! The old town is very much worth a visit, it’s only about 170 km from the Austrian capital Vienna. Graz is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Old Town Centre and the Castle in Eggenberg. In 2003 Graz was European Capital of Culture. Just wander through the Old Town and enjoy the atmosphere, the many beautiful buildings, the friendly people and the many restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Don’t forget your camera!