NEED TO KNOW

International dialling code: +43.

Currency: Euro (€)

Getting there: No airlines currently fly direct from the UK to Graz; flights go via hubs such as Vienna and Frankfurt. Buses from the airport run to Graz Puntigam (ten minutes) for trams to the centre. The airport also has a train station; the ride into Graz takes ten minutes. The fastest rail route from London involves taking the Eurostar to Brussels, the night sleeper to Vienna and then the train to Graz.

Getting around: Trains connect Austria’s cities rather than countryside, though don’t miss a ride on the Unesco-listed 41km-long Semmering Railway, the world’s first mountain railway, between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag. An efficient bus network provides comprehensive coverage of Styria.

Festivals: The wine festivals in Styria’s south are worth planning around – these coincide with the autumn harvest. Christmas markets are a draw too, making Graz a tempting festive option.

Further information: www.steiermark.com, www.austria.info/en/ where-to-go/provinces/ styria