The pretty little city that’s one of Europe’s most underrated with hardly any tourists

Europe is full of gorgeous cities and with the vast choice, deciding which ones to visit can often be difficult. However, one destination that needs to be on every travellers bucket list this year is the beautiful city of Graz, located in the southern Austrian province of Styria. What makes a visit to Graz so great is the fact that it recieves a significantly less number of tourists than the likes of Vienna.

Despite being the country's second biggest city, in 2023, Graz only welcomed just under 1.3 million tourists, compared to Vienna which saw a huge 17.3 million. However, the lack of tourists shouldn't reflect the city, as Graz has so much to offer, and it seems as people are starting to be aware of that, as the city saw a little boost with 1.39 million visits in 2024.

Graz boasts a rich heritage and vibrant culture that can be seen throughout the city. Its no wonder that the historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is home to an incredible blend of buildings of different architectural styles from different eras acts as a testament of the city's historic and cultural evolution.

Also being a UNSECO City of Design, Graz has an abudance of landmarks including the Island in the Mur - a steel construction of a floating "island" in the middle of the river Mur, linking the two banks on both sides. The beautiful structure which shines bright blue at night, features an amphitheatre, a cafe, and playground for the little ones to enjoy.

When it comes to finding out more about city, that shouldn't be too difficult as visitors get to choose from the many museums that can be found in the city, including the Armoury one which is the world's largest historical armoury.

The museum which is rated 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor has been described as "sensational" and recommended by a number of visitors. One person said: "An absolute must-see - I've never seen anything like it. Even if you have an ambivalent relationship with guns: the presentation on four floors is sensational."

Another added: "For military history fans, this is a must do for anyone in Graz. The depth of the collection is quite amazing. Inside you will find rows and rows of everything from guns to swords to armor. You don't have to know anything about the mechanics of how they work or the conflicts in which they were used or prepared. The look and display are impressive."

The remarkable site is home to over 32,00 weapons, armour, and war equipment from the 15th to 18th centuries. Other museums include Kunsthaus Graz, renowned for its architecture and contemporary art, and its Natural History Museum, which offers amazing exhibitions on geology, botany, and zoology.

With there being so much to do, there are a number of tours that travellers can join to ensure they do not miss out on anything Graz has to offer. Whether you're up for a walking tour, or get in all the view through an open-top bus tour, there is something that caters to everyone.