Graz Old Town (Grazer Altstadt)

The basics

Despite its size, Graz tends to be overshadowed by smaller Salzburg and Alpine Innsbruck, which means the Old Town is less crowded than other UNESCO-listed old cities. Much of the Old Town is closed to powered traffic, so look for alternatives. Horse and carriage rides make an atmospheric option, or you can explore on foot, or make your way to and from the Schlossberg hill park by stairs, paths, a funicular, an elevator, or the 575-foot (175-meter) slide.

Things to know before you go

• Between the parks and the Old Town streets, expect a lot of walking; wear comfortable shoes.

• Graz Old Town is manageable with a stroller, but cobbled streets can be an issue. Kids need to be at least 4 feet 3 inches (1.3 meters) to ride the slide.

• Parts of Graz Old Town are wheelchair accessible. In other areas, cobbles may prove problematic. Some, but not all, sights have adaptations such as ramps and elevators.

How to get there

Graz Old Town is in the heart of Graz, a city about a 125-mile (200-kilometer) drive south of Vienna. It’s less than a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk east from the main train station (Hauptbahnhof), which has direct trains to cities across Austria, as well as international destinations including Prague, Munich, Zurich, and Ljubljana.

When to get there

Graz can be particularly charming in December, when winter markets spring up, and is generally less crowded than Salzburg and Vienna, even during the summer peak season. Spring (April to May, after the European Easter vacation) is a great time to visit, when tourist numbers are low but the weather is generally pleasant.

Graz Christmas markets

If Salzburg’s Christmas markets seem too busy, you'll find many of their charms in Graz—but with fewer crowds. Graz Old Town Christmas markets include the Advent Market in front of the Rathaus (City Hall), the Old Town Traditional Christmas Market around the Church of the Franciscans, and seasonal markets on Glockenspielplatz and Mariahilferplatz.