Graz, located in southeastern Austria, experiences a moderately continental climate with cold winters, warm summers, and four distinct seasons. The city is known for its pleasant spring and autumn, frequent summer thunderstorms, and manageable winter snowfall. Graz enjoys a fair amount of sunshine and moderate rainfall, making it attractive for travel and outdoor activities most of the year.
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.
Graz’s climate is shaped by its position at the foothills of the Eastern Alps and its moderate elevation. Winters (December–February) are cold and often grey, with average highs of 3–5°C and lows near -2 to -5°C. Snowfall is common but not excessive, averaging around 50–60 days per year, mostly in January and February. The city can experience cold spells with temperatures occasionally dropping below -10°C, though significant snow cover is usually short-lived. Winter days are short, with only 2–3 hours of sunshine and about 8–9 hours of daylight. Fog is possible, especially in the valleys.
Summers (June–August) are warm and pleasant, with average highs of 24–27°C and lows around 14–16°C. July and August are the warmest months, but heatwaves above 33°C can occur. Summer brings the most rainfall, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and monthly precipitation peaking at 120–130 mm. Despite the rain, summer is also the sunniest period, with up to 7–8 hours of sunshine per day and long daylight hours. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild temperatures (13–22°C), blooming gardens or colourful foliage, and moderate rainfall. May and June are the wettest months, while January is typically the driest. Annual precipitation averages 800–900 mm, and Graz enjoys around 1,800–2,000 hours of sunshine each year. Winds are generally light, but can be brisk during storms or in exposed areas.
| Average climate data for Graz, Austria | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 24 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -7 | -5 | -1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 4 | -1 | -5 | -7 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 40 | 48 | 57 | 69 | 95 | 125 | 131 | 119 | 89 | 73 | 73 | 51 | 970 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 146 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
The best time to visit Graz is from May to September, when temperatures are mild to warm (18–27°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor events. Spring and early autumn are especially pleasant for sightseeing, with blooming gardens or colourful foliage and fewer crowds.
The least favourable time to visit Graz is from November to February, when days are short, temperatures are cold (3–5°C), and rain, snow, and fog are frequent. While the city is festive during the holidays, outdoor activities are limited and some attractions may have reduced hours.
Graz’s annual average temperature is about 10–11°C. January is the coldest month (highs 3–4°C, lows -2 to -5°C), while July and August are the warmest (highs 24–27°C, lows 14–16°C).
Graz receives about 800–900 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, with May–August being wettest. Snow is possible in winter, with 50–60 days per year, but heavy accumulation is rare.
Graz enjoys about 1,800–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are June to August (up to 8 hours/day), while December and January are the least sunny (2–3 hours/day).
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) are best for outdoor activities, with mild to warm temperatures, long days, and more sunshine. Summer is ideal for festivals and exploring the city’s parks.
Graz itself is not a major winter sports destination, but nearby hills and the Alps offer skiing and snowboarding from December to March, when snow cover is more reliable.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 25–27°C. Even then, the water in lakes and pools can be cool, so beach activities are limited.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and sun protection for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella and windproof jacket are useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (24 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (0 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (12 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-7 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 3.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (130.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is January (40.1 mm). Over the whole year there are 970 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (15 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is October (8.9 days). Over the whole year there are 145.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 7.9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 2 h). Over the whole year there are 4.9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is June (UV index: 8). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, November and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.2.
