Attractions for Travelers in Southern Styria, Austria
The region of Styria (called "Steiermark" in German) in Austria is located south of Vienna, and its largest city is Graz. It is a large and diverse region, but in this article, I will focus on the southern part of the region, an area known as the "Tuscany of Austria" thanks to its many wineries and abundance of gastronomic experiences.
This region is wonderful for a family trip, especially for those who have already traveled to more famous regions like Salzburg and Tyrol.
It is packed with family attractions of all kinds amidst magical nature, all within relatively short driving distances. It is ideal for a multi-day hub-and-spoke trip, but also very successful for a one- or two-day trip on the way from Vienna to Slovenia or the Carinthia region.
The region borders Slovenia to the south, and the ideal starting point for a hub-and-spoke trip from it is located at a driving distance of only about an hour and a half (150 km) from Vienna Airport, making it accessible and friendly for families who do not like long, exhausting drives.
The region has an excellent card distributed free of charge in most of its accommodation places, which includes free admission to many attractions as well as discounts to additional sites and attractions.
♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking website: Booking.com
Recommended Accommodation
Family accommodation options are numerous and diverse:
Ranging from staying in a hotel at a spa and hot springs resort, through cute guesthouses, to vacation apartments and farmhouses.
Particularly recommended:
H2O-Hoteltherme
A high-quality and successful resort in an excellent location that includes a successful family hot springs resort with plenty of sports and active recreation facilities, including a kids' club and evening shows. Air conditioning, internet, and free parking. The hotel has a restaurant. The price is usually on a half-board basis.
Quellenhotel Heiltherme Bad Waltersdorf - 2-Thermenresort
This is another hotel that includes a spa and entrance to a large public spa center adjacent to it. A 4-star hotel located in Bad Waltersdorf, about 60 km from the city of Graz. The hotel has a large spa area with thermal pools, saunas, and more spanning an area of 3,000 square meters, and hotel guests also have free admission to the large adjacent Heiltherme spa center, which spans about 25,000 square meters and includes 7 thermal pools and 12 saunas.
Fair-Price-Hotel
A 3-star hotel in an excellent location. Air conditioning. Free internet and parking. The hotel offers double rooms and rooms for three. The hotel features a restaurant and a bar. The price includes a successful breakfast.
Arkadenhof Flasch
A farmhouse with 2-bedroom and living room apartments suitable for 4-5 people. An organized and well-equipped kitchen. Free internet and parking.
Kunstappartment Burgauberg-Stegersbach
An apartment hotel that also features guest rooms. Every apartment and room has a balcony overlooking the landscape. The hotel has a cute garden, free internet and parking. The price includes an excellent breakfast.
Attractions
Video about attractions in southern Styria:
Zotter Chocolate Factory
The number 1 attraction in the area for families is the "Zotter" chocolate factory, Zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur, which offers a fascinating and tasting-rich guided tour. Coming hungry is recommended! The tour also includes a movie of about half an hour. This is a family business founded by Josef Zotter that has grown and developed, and visitors can closely see all stages of chocolate making from cocoa beans to the final product. At the factory, you will discover the first chocolate robot alongside other surprises.
The place also features a idyllic petting zoo for farm animals named Edible Zoo. In 2018, a 360° VR Theatre virtual reality hall opened at the site where you will feel like you are in the chocolate world of Madagascar. A magical place where you can easily spend half a day.
Nearby are a few more food factories where you can tour and taste:
Liqueurs, Whiskey, and Vinegar:
A visit to the whiskey, liqueur, and vinegar distillery
Gölles - Manufaktur für Edlen Brand & Feinen Essig
Where a self-guided headphone tour is conducted, naturally including plenty of tastings.
Sausages:
A tour and tastings at the local sausage factory:
Vulcano Schinkenwelt
Where hour-and-a-half tours are held twice a day, naturally including tastings.
Cheeses:
It is recommended to experience cheese tastings and watch the cheese-making process at the family cheese factory:
Fromagerie ZU Riegersburg
Strange World Machine:
For fans of "mini-factories" and machines, it is also recommended to make a short visit to a huge and cumbersome machine called Weltmaschine ("World Machine"), which was built from various devices and accessories and is designed to do nothing (except make lights, noise, and bells). The machine is located inside a building about a quarter of an hour away from the Zotter chocolate factory.
Water Parks and Hot Springs:
The area is also known for its water parks/hot springs. There are 9 hot springs here, some in large complexes that also feature plenty of fun and recreation facilities for children, and some that are more relaxing, pampering, and sedate.
Hot springs park and hotel, mentioned earlier in the article, the most successful for families packed with entertainment and attractions (mostly indoor) is: H2O-Hoteltherme
Another hotel that includes a spa and entrance to the public spa center adjacent to it: Quellenhotel Heiltherme Bad Waltersdorf - 2-Thermenresort
This is a 4-star hotel located in Bad Waltersdorf, about 60 km from the city of Graz. The hotel has a large spa area with thermal pools, saunas, and more spanning an area of 3,000 square meters, and hotel guests also have free admission to the large adjacent Heiltherme spa center, which spans about 25,000 square meters and includes 7 thermal pools and 12 saunas.
It is possible to enter for a fee for a single-day use of the public spa center even without staying at the hotel.
Lakes:
There are 20 swimming lakes in the region, with many of them featuring recreation and entertainment facilities.
The most successful of all in my opinion is Stubenbergsee Lake:
In summer, this is a lake with pleasant water for swimming and a variety of facilities such as rock diving boards, inflatable water features, etc.
Near the lake, there are plenty of attractions and entertainment such as Pit Pat (mini-golf on billiard tables) Freizeitpark Stubenbergsee Pit Pat and a high ropes course Freizeitpark Stubenbergsee Hochseilklettergarten.
You can also go on a Segway tour around the lake.
Cable Cars:
In the Styria region, there are no towering mountains like in Tyrol or the Salzburg region, but it definitely has beautiful scenery, including peaks that can be reached by cable cars.
It is especially recommended to ride the Schischaukel Mönichkirchen-Mariensee chairlift. At the upper cable car station, there are several cute restaurants overlooking a small lake with a variety of play facilities for children. The descent back can be done by chairlift or, for action fans, on scooters or three-wheeled carts.
Castles and Buildings:
The Styria region also features impressive buildings and museums, including an open-air museum and a folklore museum, among others. The most impressive castle in a strategic location atop a hill is Burg Riegersburg. The castle, located atop an impressive cliff, is reached by funicular. The castle offers an impressive view of the surroundings.
The castle also hosts an impressive birds of prey show, Greifvogelwarte.
Zoo
There are also several zoos in Styria. The largest and most successful of all is Zoo Herberstein, which spans a wide area and is divided into different living zones where the animals live in conditions that simulate their natural environment as closely as possible. There are 700 animals in the park, and visitors can watch the feedings of various animals.
The place also features a huge petting corner with a variety of farm animals. The park also features a castle with charming gardens:
