Destination guide
Graz
Austria
Graz is the capital of Styria (Steiermark) and the second largest city of Austria. Graz maintains a balance between its illustrious past and modern present and features spectacular architecture from all periods, while the warm and sunny climate influenced by the closeness to the Mediterranean and positioned in a…
AI insights
AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page
Skip the funicular or lift to the Schlossberg; the real reward is the network of wooded paths that reveal the best vantage points of the city before you even reach the clock tower.
If you plan to tour the lavish state rooms at Eggenberg Palace, mention your intent at the entrance; while not a guaranteed policy, staff may waive the separate park entry fee.
Avoid driving within the city centre; the one-way system is notoriously difficult to navigate, and parking is scarce and subject to fees on weekdays between 09:00 and 20:00.
For an authentic local breakfast or quick bite, skip the tourist-heavy spots and head to one of the many Bäckerei Sorger locations, which are staples for residents across the city.
If you stay near the main train station along Annenstrasse, request a room facing away from the street to avoid significant noise from the busy thoroughfare.
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Best time to go
Best window: April–October
Kind weather all year — there is no month to avoid.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
By tram
All tram tickets can be bought inside the tram. Graz has an excellent tram service running through the Jakominiplatz where the different routes meet and you can change trams. You can also buy tickets at the tobacco kiosk (Tabak) in the centre of the square.
By bus
Graz also has an excellent city bus network taking in the parts of Graz not serviced by trams. Many buses go through Jakominiplatz, Hauptbahnhof and Geidorfplatz. The tickets are the same as for the tram.
By taxi
Taxis are available 24 hr a day. You can hail one on the street, go to a taxi rank or order one by phone. The taxi ranks with the best chances of getting a taxi day or night are "Hauptplatz" (Right side of City Hall) or "Hauptbahnhof".
By bicycle
Graz is a city of cyclists, featuring an excellent network of cyclepaths. Due to this using a bike to get around (at least the central areas of Graz) is one of the best choices. It also helps that it does not rain a lot in Graz.
By car
If you can avoid it, just avoid it. Graz has areas with an inscrutable one-way system which makes it easy to get lost. Parking space in central areas are rare and subject to a fee from Monday to Friday (09:00 to 20:00, in front of Hauptbahnhof to 20:00) and…
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
The Schlossberg
Worth itAlso recommended by Headshaker
The castle perched upon a hill in the middle of the city around which Graz sprang up. The funicular (Schloßbergbahn) (10-day and tourist tram/bus ticket covers the ride), and elevator (Schloßberglift) will take the effort out of the walk…
Vetted sources
Eggenberg Palace
Tram 1 direction Eggenberg/UKH· Moderate
Early Baroque architecture with lavish state rooms. There fee for entering the park surrounding the castle, which they likely will not charge if you say you intend to take the castle tour.
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Murinsel
It was built as a temporary project during 2003 for the Cultural Capital of Europe (Graz 2003) celebrations. People liked it enough so it stayed.
Vetted sources
Kunsthaus
Tram 1,4,6,7 direction Hauptbahnhof· Cheap
Graz's newest exhibition place. It's worth a visit, even if you only look at its design from the outside. It's right across the river from Hauptplatz at the Suedtirolerplatz. (You will definitely notice the blue bubble.)
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Glockenspiel
Glockenspielplatz
It comes to life with song and rotating dance figures every day at precisely 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00.
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Clock Tower
On the top of the Schloßberg, the symbol of Graz.
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What to do
KIZ RoyalKino
Conrad-von-Hötzendorf-Straße 10
It has Hollywood films in English language and with German subtitles. Take tram number 4, 5 or 13 and get out at Finanzamt. If you are at Jakominiplatz it's a five-minute walk there.
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Football:
SK Sturm Graz play soccer in Austrian Bundesliga, the top tier. Their home ground Liebenauer or Merkur Arena (capacity 16,000) is two km south of city centre.
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Augartenfest
A free park festival lasting a day in July. It includes sport worshops, several stages with live music, sport performances, dance performances and much more.
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What to eat
Rauch & Rebe
Worth itAlso recommended by Michelin Guide
Graz restaurant newly honored with a Michelin Bib Gourmand in the 2026 selection.
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Eschenlaube
near the technical university
Location for students and relaxed people. Periodical live music events.
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3 Goldene Kugeln
Heinrichstraße 18
Fast cuisine of breaded chicken. Large portions, very reasonable prices. Other branches are outside the city center at Griesplatz (next to the telecom tower), Heinrichstrasse (near K.F.
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Sausage-stand at Franziskanerplatz
Franziskanerpl.
Sausages with mustard, ketchup and/or horseradish are best here. Try "Krainer" or "Käsekrainer", which are very popular sausages in Styria.
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Euro-Kepap
Franziskanergasse 2
There are a lot of Döner Kebab sellers in Graz. Another good one is Pamukale at Dietrichsteinplatz.
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Martin Auer
Graz's biggest coffee house chain. Locations: Stubenberggasse, Hans-Sachs-Gasse, Dietrichsteinplatz, Schillerplatz, Zinzendorfgasse, etc.
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Bäckerei Sorger
Nice for inexpensive breakfast with many locations in and arount Graz (Jakominiplatz, Sporgasse, Südtiroler Platz, etc.)
Vetted sources
Where to stay
Hotel B&B
access by car: Metahofgasse 21, on the backside of the hotel (small parking area); from main train station: take Annenstrasse towards the city centre (10-min walk)· Expensive
Walking distance from the main train station, ideal for travellers. Great breakfast per day. 10-min walk into the city center, or three stops with the tram.
Vetted sources
Best Western Hotel Pfeifer Kirchenwirt
Kirchplatz 9 on the eastern edge of Graz, (take Tramway 1 to the final stop at Mariatrost), 3911120,. Quite a distance from the city center but has semi rural surroundings.
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Hotel Drei Raben
Annenstrasse 43 (near main train station)./92 (single/double).
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Hotel Ramada Graz (former Marriott Courtyard)
Unterpremstätten· Expensive
Hotel outside town at airport and close to the motorway A9.
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ibis budget Graz City
Bus stop Kunsthaus. Close to Kunsthaus / Mariahilferplatz; 10-min walk to the city center, safe.· Expensive
Quite nice bars around (Die Scherbe, PPC).
Vetted sources
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.