Graz

Courtyards, Culinary Delights, Creative Vibes

Graz stands out as Austria’s second-largest city, known for its well-preserved medieval core and vibrant cultural scene. The historic old town features red-tiled roofs and narrow streets lined with centuries-old buildings now housing museums, galleries and cafes. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it reflects layers of architectural history from Gothic to modernist styles. Beyond the city center, rolling hills provide easy access to hiking trails and vineyards. Graz balances tradition with contemporary life, making it a practical base for exploring Styria’s countryside and local food culture.

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City in Austria

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 9.0

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	10

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions, especially in the center. Most younger locals and service staff communicate well, though a few German phrases will be appreciated.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Graz Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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Read how our scores work

Great for historic architecture and student culture. Explore the old town and castle hill, visit museums and cafés and enjoy lively markets and cultural events.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Walkable

Spotless

Historic sites

Museums

Architecture

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

👩 8

Solo

❤️ 8

Couples

Austria – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Austria is a highly cashless society, particularly in urban areas. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and mobile payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are increasingly popular. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Austria. In restaurants, it is common to leave a 5-10% tip, though rounding up to the nearest euro is also acceptable. Taxi drivers typically expect a small tip, around 10% of the fare. Hotel staff and tour guides appreciate small gratuities.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally permitted in Austria, though some areas may have restrictions. Drinking in public spaces such as parks and squares is socially accepted but may be subject to local laws in specific municipalities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport. Designated smoking areas are available in many locations.

National Day (October)	A national holiday with many closures, celebrations, and increased domestic tourism.
Christmas (December)	Festive celebrations across the country, with crowded tourist spots and higher prices for accommodation.
Austrian Wine Harvest Festival (September)	Celebration of local wines, especially in wine-producing regions, with festivals and events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	Austria is known for its rich cultural heritage, with historical sites, museums, and nature reserves. Its well-developed infrastructure, particularly in transport, makes it a comfortable destination for travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Graz, Austria

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	May - Sep., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Advent markets from mid November to 24 December, main draw of the winter season

Shops closed on Sundays and public holidays, only restaurants and cafés open

Southern Styria wine roads (nearby) busiest September to October during the grape harvest

Don't miss

🕰️ Climb Schlossberg Hill and admire the iconic Clock Tower
🏘️ Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town with historic architecture
🛡️ Visit the Styrian Armoury, the world’s largest historic armory
🖼️ Enjoy contemporary art at the Kunsthaus Graz museum
🌉 Walk across the futuristic Murinsel floating island
🏰 Discover Eggenberg Palace and its beautiful Baroque gardens

You've been here?

Why travel to Graz?

Graz is perfect if you love a city that’s easy to explore on foot, full of surprises and never too crowded. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is a maze of pastel facades, hidden courtyards and lively markets, while the Schlossberg hill offers panoramic views and a fairy-tale clock tower. Don’t miss the Kunsthaus – the so-called ‘friendly alien’-for a dose of contemporary art or the chance to sample Styrian wines and fresh market fare. Graz’s courtyard culture is a delight and you’ll find plenty of tucked-away cafés and wine bars to linger in. It’s a safe and friendly city, but be mindful around the main train station at night and always watch out for trams and cyclists in pedestrian zones. Summer can get hot, so stay hydrated and use the city’s many public fountains. English is widely spoken in tourism spots, but a few German words go a long way.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Kunsthaus
2 Uhrturm
3 Cathedral rectory
4 Hauptplatz
5 Tramway Museum Graz

🎡Places for activities

1 Glockenspielplatz
2 Murinsel
3 Therme Nova Köflach
4 Schlossberg
5 Styrian Armoury
6 Eggenberg Castle
7 Bürgerbastei
8 Österreichisches Freilichtmuseum Stübing

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Stadtpark
2 Volksgarten
3 Augarten
4 Leechwald

🛍️Shopping

1 Citypark

🎈Events

Styriarte Festival
La Strada Street Art Festival
Aufsteirern Folk Festival
Graz Film Festival
Advent Christmas Markets
Spring Festival
Long Night of Museums
Jazz Summer Graz
Designmonat Graz
Wine Harvest Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Walk the Old Town; it’s compact and scenic.
Head up Schlossberg for views; use the funicular or stairs, then linger at sunset.
Try a day ticket for trams; it’s easiest for Mur riverbanks and outer districts.
Cross to Kunsthaus and Murinsel after dark; the illuminated modern architecture contrasts beautifully with the historic center.

How to travel to Graz

Graz Airport is about 10 km from the center, with regular buses and trains to Hauptbahnhof. High-speed trains connect Graz to Vienna and other Austrian cities. International trains and buses also serve Graz and the city is a great base for exploring southern Austria.

Access summary

From Graz Airport (GRZ): S-Bahn S5 or bus 630, about 15–30 minutes.
From Vienna: Direct Railjet/IC trains to Graz Hbf, roughly 2.5–3 hours.
From Maribor (Slovenia): Regional trains or buses across the border, usually 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Graz

Graz offers everything from boutique hotels and cozy guesthouses in the Old Town to modern apartments and budget hostels. Most accommodation is central and walkable. For a quieter stay, look for options near Stadtpark or in leafy residential districts. Book ahead during festivals and summer weekends.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Mercure Graz City

9.0

IntercityHotel Graz

8.7

Austria Trend Hotel Europa Graz

8.7

Amedia Luxury Suites Graz, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Graz

The city center is compact and best explored on foot. Trams and buses are efficient for reaching outlying sights like Eggenberg Palace or the university area. The Graz Card offers unlimited transport and free entry to many attractions. Watch out for trams and cyclists, especially in pedestrian zones and avoid the Hauptbahnhof area late at night.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-3 %

Daily expenses in Graz are around 3% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£72	£143	£419
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£64	£192
🍝 Food per day	£31	£68	£194
🚕 Transportation per day	£11	£11	£34

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£28
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£3.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£19
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.40

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£75
🤧 Cold medication	£8.50
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Graz is very safe, with low violent crime. Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and be cautious near the main train station at night. Tram tracks can be slippery when wet — mind your step.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent and easily accessible, with pharmacies and clinics throughout the city. No special health risks; tap water is safe. Bring any prescription meds, as some brands may not be available locally.

Accessibility

Most attractions, shops and public transport are accessible, though some old buildings and cobblestone streets may be tricky for those with limited mobility. The city is mostly flat and easy to navigate.

Tap water

Tap water is clean, safe and widely available. Public drinking fountains are common in parks and squares — bring a refillable bottle, especially in summer.