This Underrated City In Austria Is Full Of History, Art, And Storybook Charm

Tucked away in the southeast corner of Austria is a city that embodies the personality of a fairytale village: Graz. It's out of the way in a mountainous region, yet it still remains the second-largest city in the country. Graz is a cultural haven of art and history but also a beautifully scenic city that is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Austria, one of the safest vacation destinations in the world, is a landlocked country that attracts tourists from all over the globe. However, Graz is often overlooked, with Vienna and Salzburg getting most of the media attention. While Graz is considered the culinary capital of Austria, one of its most notable landmarks has nothing to do with food. Its ancient clocktower, dating back to at least 1560, has functioning mechanisms from the 1700s. Adding to the whimsical storybook feel of the city, the hands on the clock tower are reversed: The small hand points to minutes while the large hand points to the hour. That's because, originally, the long hands were the only ones present and needed their increased size to make viewing the hour easier from a distance.

But Graz is about more than storybook charm. It's a city that celebrates its past while looking into the future. Its city center and Eggenberg Palace are UNESCO World Heritage sites showing how architectural styles of different eras have been combined to work together. And if the name "Graz" sounds familiar yet unplaceable, it may be because you've heard it mentioned as the birthplace of some famous people, including bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Many may think of Austria and only picture old-world charm and ancient ruins. While that is a part of what tourists will find in Graz, they will also be surprised to find a thriving arts and museum community. Kunsthaus Graz, the museum of contemporary art, is housed in a uniquely designed building lovingly called the "Friendly Alien" by its creators. Inside, the museum has both rotating and permanent exhibitions, ensuring each visit will have something new to offer.

For visitors more interested in history, there's the Styrian Armoury. This museum has an amazing 32,000 pieces of historic armor and weapons exhibited across four floors. Often considered the world's largest and most significant armory, the museum offers self-guided and guided tours.

If architecture is of interest, Graz has plenty to explore. A double spiral staircase, which is free to see, dates back to 1438 and is now housed within the Burg in Graz, the city's official government building. Also free to explore is the Graz Cathedral, a royal-imperial church that also houses historic relics.

A literal pinnacle of Graz is the nearby Schlossberg. With a summit at a comfortable 1,551 feet, this castle hill is in the heart of Graz's city center. Ascending it can be done in four different ways. For those looking to add in some exercise to their visit, take the 260 steps to climb directly to the top of the hill or a longer, shaded walkway. For a more relaxed experience, the glass elevator within the hill itself offers a fast, 30-second ride to the top. And the slightly longer 90-second ride on a funicular has transported guests up and down the 60% gradient since 1894. All these options are available to descend the hill as well. But for the more adventurous, there's The Slide Graz, which, at nearly 558 feet long, wraps around the glass elevator and claims to be the tallest indoor slide in the world.

Keep in mind, the ease with which you get to the top of the mountain could depend on the season, since Austria is considered the country that's most overcrowded with tourists. Summers see the most tourists, with low season stretching from November to March. So, it's important to plan accordingly. Many international visitors fly to Vienna International Airport (VIE), which is about a two-hour drive from Graz. That airport, along with most airports in the region, are connected to the country's rapid transit system, the S-Bahn. This train system provides a three-hour ride directly from VIE to a station in Graz.