Discover Austria's sun-drenched south via the UNESCO Semmering Alpine Railway and new Koralmbahn high-speed line: Renaissance Graz, Styrian Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, and 27°C turquoise Lake Wörthersee.
Route overview
- Day 1 — UNESCO Semmering Railway from Vienna to Graz: UNESCO Semmering Railway from Vienna to Graz
- Day 2 — Graz: Styrian Armory, Kunsthaus, Eggenberg Palace & Farmers' Market
- Day 3 — South Styrian Wine Road (Südsteirische Weinstraße) Excursion: South Styrian Wine Road (Südsteirische Weinstraße) Excursion
- Day 4 — High-Speed Rail to Klagenfurt & Wörthersee East Bay: High-Speed Rail to Klagenfurt & Wörthersee East Bay
- Day 5 — Wörthersee Boat Cruise: Maria Wörth, Pyramidenkogel & Velden
- Day 6 — Hochosterwitz 14-Gate Cliff Castle or Villach & Faaker See: Hochosterwitz 14-Gate Cliff Castle or Villach & Faaker See
- Day 7 — Pörtschach Peninsula & Return Railjet to Vienna: Pörtschach Peninsula & Return Railjet to Vienna
- Day 8 — Vienna Coffee House Morning & Departure: Vienna Coffee House Morning & Departure
Southern Austria offers a completely different atmosphere from the northern Alps: terracotta rooftops in Graz, hillside Buschenschanken pouring crisp Sauvignon Blanc in South Styria, and Carinthia's warm turquoise Wörthersee.
Day 1 — UNESCO Semmering Railway from Vienna to Graz
Ride the ÖBB Railjet over Carl von Ghega's 1854 UNESCO Semmering viaducts and tunnels into Graz. Take the Schlossberg funicular up to the Uhrturm clock tower.
Day 2 — Graz: Styrian Armory, Kunsthaus, Eggenberg Palace & Farmers' Market
Sample pumpkin seed oil at Kaiser-Josef-Markt, tour the 32,000-piece Landeszeughaus armory and Kunsthaus Graz, and ride Tram #1 to UNESCO Eggenberg Palace.
Day 3 — South Styrian Wine Road (Südsteirische Weinstraße) Excursion
Spend the day amid the steep vineyard hills around Gamlitz, Ehrenhausen, and Kitzeck, enjoying a traditional Brettljause and Sauvignon Blanc at a hillside Buschenschank.
Day 4 — High-Speed Rail to Klagenfurt & Wörthersee East Bay
Glide from Graz to Klagenfurt Hbf via the Koralmbahn rail corridor. Stroll Klagenfurt's Renaissance Alter Platz and swim or relax at the historic Wörthersee Strandbad.
Day 5 — Wörthersee Boat Cruise: Maria Wörth, Pyramidenkogel & Velden
Board the Wörthersee Hop-On/Hop-Off ship (€24) across turquoise water to the Maria Wörth peninsula churches, ascend the 100m wooden Pyramidenkogel tower, and promenade past Schloss Velden.
Day 6 — Hochosterwitz 14-Gate Cliff Castle or Villach & Faaker See
Morning excursion to medieval Burg Hochosterwitz perched on a 150m dolomite crag, or ride the S-Bahn west to Villach and emerald Faaker See.
Day 7 — Pörtschach Peninsula & Return Railjet to Vienna
Walk the flower-lined Johannes-Brahms-Promenade in Pörtschach before taking the late-afternoon ÖBB Railjet back to Vienna.
Day 8 — Vienna Coffee House Morning & Departure
Pick up an original wooden-boxed Sachertorte or Linzer Torte before heading to Vienna International Airport (VIE).