Things to see and do on your trip to Graz?

Graz is a beautiful city in southern Austria, the capital of the Styria region. It is the fourth largest city in the country, after Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg, and a must-see destination on your trip to Austria. Graz perfectly combines modernity, thanks to places like the Kunsthaus Graz and the Murinsel Bridge, with Austrian tradition, due to the architecture of its historic center and its delicious gastronomy. Read on and discover all the things to do in Graz Austria, a cosmopolitan and traditional place.

Places to visit in Graz Austria

1. The Hauptplatz

Graz Main Square, or Hauptplatz in German, is the center of city life and one of the busiest places. It is the heart of the city, built in the Middle Ages as a central market. This is the place where all the main streets of the city begin. It also houses the Graz City Hall, built in the 16th century, surrounded by colorful houses of baroque and neo-Gothic style. Although it has changed a lot over the centuries, like the 19th century, when the huge statue of Archduke John of Habsburg was placed there, it still serves as a marketplace with food stalls.

2. Eggenberg Castle

Eggenberg Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Austria. It is also one of the most valuable cultural attractions in Graz and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 2010. The palace is perfectly located in the district of Eggenberg, surrounded by gardens. The castle we see today was built in the 17th century by Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenber over an old medieval castle of the 13th century.

The castle is temporarily closed, but we recommend to check directly on the website for possible guided tours.

3. Kunsthaus Graz

Built in 2003, this is one of the most impressive and essential places in Graz and Austria. It is a museum of contemporary art opened when the city was declared a European city of culture. It is located on the other side of the Mura River, but going there is worth it to fully appreciate the grandeur of the building. Designed by the London architects of Spacelab, Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, the museum looks like a huge glassed-in alien whale, difficult to describe in words.

Admission: 10,5€ Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00.

4. Schlossberg

When you search for “Graz Austria” on the Internet, one of the first images you will see is of Schlossberg. It is a mountain of almost 500 meters where you can see the Uhrturm, a Renaissance-style clock that watches over the city from above. The Uhturm and its bell tower are the last remains of a fortress that protected the city. However, in 1809 Napoleon ordered to demolish it.

5. Grazer Landhaus

The Landhaus, meaning the Graz Regional Parliament, is one of the most beautiful places in the city. It was built by the Italian architect Domenico dell’Allio in the 16th century in Renaissance style. It is remarkable for its gorgeous three-story cloister.

6. Murinsel, things to do in Graz

This small artificial island in the river Mura is yet another attraction that have modernized Graz in recent years. In addition to being the passage from one bank of the river to the other, it has a café where you can have a drink and rest in an absolutely unique place after a day of walking around the city.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Things to do around Graz Austria

Stainz, a charming village near Graz in Austria

Stainz is a beautiful Austrian village of almost 9000 residents. It is located half an hour away from Graz, in the region of Estria. Visiting Stainz is one of the best trips you can enjoy from this destination. Its most outstanding attraction is the impressive Stainz Castle. It houses 2 interesting museums: the Museum of Hunting and the Museum of Agriculture.

Also, Stainz is very close to the Slovenian border, so if after your trip to Graz you plan to visit some Slovenian cities, you can stop in Stainz and see its impressive castle.

How to get to Graz Austria

Graz has its own airport, about 8 kilometers from the city. However, there are no direct flights between this Austrian city and many European capitals. A lot of flights stop in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, and the stopovers can sometimes take more than 10 hours. The price of the flight varies greatly depending on the season and if you buy it in advance. But usually the price starts at 100€.

Another option, sometimes more convenient, is to travel to Vienna and then take a train. It will take you about 2,5 hours and 10 euros from Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof). There are about 23 trains a day from Vienna to Graz, so your stopover will definitely be shorter this way. In addition, there are low cost airlines that operate flights from capital cities to Vienna for as low as 30 €. The RJ 1020 and RJ 820 trains run from the airport to the Central Station in 18 and 15 minutes respectively.

Where to eat in Graz

• Delikatessen Frankowitsch: We might think of this restaurant as an Austrian tapas bar. Its glass counter displays a huge variety of appetizers with all kinds of delicious toppings, from sausages, smoked salmon,salad and caviar. They also sell local products and wines and have a fantastic terrace to enjoy on sunny days. Price range: 3-13€
• Der Steirer Graz: A place that mixes tradition with innovation and trends. They serve delicious dishes of Austrian cuisine such as Schnitzel, huge breaded chicken fillets, and many other delights. Price range: 4-25€
• Glockl Brau: This is one of the best restaurants in Graz, offering Austrian cuisine and generous portions. Its terrace, in a pleasant square, is ideal for summer evenings. Price range: 9-19€

Where to stay in Graz

• Grand Hôtel Wiesler: A beautiful 4-star hotel by the river Mura in the historic center of Graz. It has large and bright rooms nicely decorated and designed for your comfort (including bathtub!). It also has a restaurant, sauna, fitness area, barber shop and bicycle rental. Average price per night: 124€.
• Ibis Graz: Slightly further from the center of Graz, but also cheaper. The Ibis Graz is a 3-star hotel, ideal for those looking for a comfortable place to rest after a full day walking around the city. Average price per night: 70€
• Lendhotel: For those who are not only interested in traveling, but also want to do it in a sustainable way, the Lenhotel is the perfect place to stay in Graz. This hotel is part of the sustainable travel program, is in a very good location, is nice and comfortable, has a wonderful rooftop with views of the city… In other words, one of the best hotels you can find in Graz and Austria. Average price per night: 116€

Tips for your trip to Graz Austria

• The official currency of Graz, Austria is the Euro (€), so if you are traveling from the European Union, you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency.
• If you are a European citizen, you do not need a visa to enter the country, your ID card or passport is sufficient.
• If you are traveling from a country with another currency, we recommend that you make the currency exchange in advance.
• The best time to visit Graz is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
• In Austria there is no roaming, you can use the internet on your mobile without any problems.
• The city is safe, but as in any tourist place, be careful with your belongings.
• Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.

How to organize what to see in Graz Austria

Sign up or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes listed in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’re be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Graz Austria.

If you have doubts on how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about Graz