Graz

For me, Austria starts with Graz, not with Vienna. Not only it’s a gorgeous city with an excellently preserved medieval core, largest still standing in Europe (did you know that?). But also, I have a very personal connection with it. One of my oldest and closest friends is from Graz and she still lives in the area. We met in 1993, two years later I spent Christmas with her and her family in Graz, and ever since then, every trip to Austria for me includes visiting Graz as a matter of course. Even when I visit other parts of Europe close enough to make a side trip to Graz, I do my darndest to drop by and say Hello! After having visited Graz a bunch of times by now, I feel very disappointed when I meet people, even those who travel to Europe often, who don’t really consider this city a viable destination. As opposed to, say, Salzburg. Not trying to disparage Salzburg or anything, but, trust me, Graz is so much more beautiful, and so much more fun!