Graz

Austria's second-largest city, Graz is known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, where Gothic, Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture blend together. The historic centre is best explored on foot, around the Hauptplatz and St Giles' Cathedral, while the Schlossberg hill overlooking the city offers a popular viewpoint and its landmark clock tower, reachable by funicular or a purpose-built staircase. The River Mur runs through the city and is home to the Murinsel, a striking artificial island connected to both banks by footbridges. Graz is also recognised for its lively university scene, with several higher education institutions shaping local life, as well as for its regional culinary heritage, particularly Styrian cuisine and pumpkin seed oil, a local speciality. The Kunsthaus museum, with its futuristic design nicknamed the 'friendly alien' by locals, adds to a varied cultural offering alongside the Armoury, one of the largest collections of historic armour in the world. The city enjoys a temperate continental climate, with mild summers ideal for outdoor terraces and walks along the Mur.