Alte Münze, Graz

Advantages: Small yet lively, a variety of things to do and a great place to be based
Disadvantages: none

...Graz is Austria’s second city, with around 260,000 population, as well as 100,000 students which boost the population in term time. For a second city, that is not exactly massive, but nevertheless Graz has a certain je ne sais quoi. Having lived in Vienna for four and a half years, I have often headed down to Graz and have friends there, to revisit the city I first discovered in 1997-8 when I lived in Judenburg. Getting there: Graz is 2:30 direct by train (fahrplan.oebb.at has an online timetable) from Vienna (leaving from the Südbahnhof), with hourly trains, although every second hour you have to change in Brück an der Mur. The journey itself, over the Semmering pass, in particular the stretch between Semmering and Gloggnitz is well worth it. Unfortunately, when the Semmering tunnel is completed, some of this breathtaking journey... Read review

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Advantages: attractive scenery, nice people, lots to see
Disadvantages: no direct flights from the UK

...I have been to Graz for several days earlier this year and I can tell you that this town has much more to offer than just the famous Clock Tower (Uhrturm) for which it is known. Graz is the third-largest town in Austria, it is located about 200 km south of Vienna, it is the capital of Styria (one of the nine provinces of the Republic of Austria), and there is also a univeristy in Graz. Football fans might remember that one of the teams based here (Sturm Graz) played (and lost) against Manchester United in the Champions League. Other than that, Graz is not very well known in the UK. But it is certainly worth to spend a few days here to explore the attractions, to do some shopping or simply to enjoy the scenery and relax. If you drive to Graz by car, please bear in mind that - unlike in other Austrian towns - there is a very strict... Read review

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Advantages: Great high-mileage skiing with Amade liftpass
Disadvantages: Quiet nightlife on non world-cup weeks

...We went to Schladming twice already, once in 2001 and again in 2003. The town is in upper Styria (Obersteiermark), but is actually nearer to the well-known resorts of Salzburg (Zell Am See, Abtenau, etc.) than the provincial capital of Steiermark which is Graz in the south. Schlamding (or Schladders as my friends now call it) is about a.5 hours from Salazburg airport, and you can make this journey by train or car, but the best option is the planaibus, which is a coach transfer that runs weekends from the airport direct to the town. This town really has a life outside skiing, ther eis some industry, and numerous businesses unrelated to tourism, so you don't get the contrived feeling that you can in some ski resorts. It's not a typical Austrian village though, it's definitely a town in terms of size and character, although it... Read review

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