Cathedral (Domkirche), Graz

Advantages: People wear traditional dress, lots to see and do, very pretty
Disadvantages: Steep cobbled streets, smoking allowed in public places

...For the benefit of anyone who still doesn't know, my partner and I bought a little flat in Maribor in Slovenia at the end of last year. Over our last few visits we have been furnishing the flat and given the abundance of retail parks in the area you might be forgiven for thinking that this would be easy. The trouble is that although there are lots of retail parks in Slovenia they all have the same limited stores and so people tend to head over the border to shop. Depending on where they live, this might be to Italy (very stylish and very pricey), Hungary (cheap but not so stylish), Croatia (so-so, good quality but not much choice) or Austria (reasonable prices, good quality and lots of choice). People in Maribor tend to go to Austria and head for Graz, just fifty or so kilometres away. There's even a song that goes something like... Read review

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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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