Top things to do in Graz
Attractions, tours and activities in Graz
Graz: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Graz
About Graz
Including tips for the best time to visit Graz
As Austria’s second-largest city, Graz boasts a UNESCO-listed historical centre and a thriving university culture that attracts approximately 60,000 students per year. Visitors are drawn to Graz’s illustrious history but stay for a food culture that rivals anywhere in Vienna.
Roughly translating to ‘small castle’, Graz has origins dating back to the Copper Age. During Babenburg Rule in the 12th century, the city grew to become the Styrian state capital and seat of the Habsburg Monarchy. In 1585, the city’s university was founded and ever since, Graz has been a centre of education, attracting history's greatest minds like Erwin Schrödinger and Nicola Tesla.
There’re many cultural and historical landmarks worth seeing during your time in Graz, with the picturesque Old Town and restaurants of Schlossberg being some of its best. Alternatively, head to the Styrian Armory to see 32,000 exhibits detailing the city’s military past or visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, the Church of the Sacred Heart and the Glockenspiel Clock Tower in the city’s main square. Here, you’ll be able to see a large-scale clock performance featuring wooden alpine maidens and chimes.
Awarded the title of ‘City of Culinary Delights’ because of its thriving food scene, Graz delivers contemporary Austrian dishes in abundance. The Schlossberg and Freiblick Cafe serve traditional caesar salads and pumpernickel tarts in a setting with rooftop views, while the 19th-century Kaiser-Josef-Platz Market offers iconic Styrian specialities like cooking apples and aromatic oils. The city's popular handmade chocolates also make for great souvenirs.
Tonight
From € 107.22 per night
This weekend
From € 187.78 per night
Next weekend
From € 201.12 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | EUR |
| Language | German |
| Average weekend price | € 102.63 per night |
| Average weekday price | € 106.41 per night |
| Typical stay | 1 night |
Points of interest in Graz
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Graz
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Glockenspiel
0.1 miles from city centre
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Eggenberg Palace
2.1 miles from city centre
Graz reviews
What other travellers say about Graz
Graz is a much bigger city than we thought and was full of...
5 October 2024
Graz is a much bigger city than we thought and was full of surprises. With a steep historical background we were delighted to discover the depth of historical buildings and the local stories that go with them.
The old town with characterful buildings and squares and the...
15 September 2024
The old town with characterful buildings and squares and the very pleasant walk on the mountain. We took the funicular up and enjoyed a winding walk down paths after seeing the spectacular views from the top.
Really nice city with a beautifully maintained lively old...
29 August 2024
Really nice city with a beautifully maintained lively old town, among the best sights would be the Cathedral and the Mausoleum, the Stadtpark, Doppelwendeltreppe and Schloßberg. Lively city, but you also get the feeling of being close to nature. Jakominiplatz is a really nice and interesting square, whereas an area that didn’t feel very nice and safe would be the one around the Hauptbahnhof. Easy to find good accomodation, food, coffee (tribeka is a really nice cafe) and ice cream for really affordable prices
Graz is a beautiful city.
13 August 2024
Graz is a beautiful city. Easy to get around. Lots to see. Recommend the Graz card. The Geschichte Museum and the Graz Museum are very interesting and often have additional exhibitions. The Castle is a must. Schloss Eggenberg is worth the tram ride. There's the Schloss plus additional Museums. The Kunst Museum is worth a visit. Spoilt for choice for eating good Austrian food. Der Steirer and Der Brandhof are our favourites. Booking for Der Steirer is essential.
We only used Graz as a stop over on our way to Vienna.
16 July 2024
We only used Graz as a stop over on our way to Vienna. But what a lovely little city, people are friendly and it is easy to use buses and tram. The trip to the castle and the view were a bonus. There are castles to see in the neighbourhood and other sites as well as museums and lots of history, we wish we could have stayed a little longer. The food is also very good and so many tucked away places.
We didn't like the look of the "spaceship...
22 May 2024
We didn't like the look of the "spaceship "Museum, it was out of place with the Baroque architecture of the old town. Loved the old town. We were disappointed to find most restaurants closed the kitchen at 5 pm. As we were in mid-May we felt more should have been open. A couple of days is enough to cover most sights. It was great to see no Islamic minettes spoiling the old town cityscape,
Popular places to stay in Graz
Stay in some of the best accommodation Graz has to offer
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Kaiserreich II - Styrian Hideaway Waltendorf, Graz
From € 103.20 per night
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Kaiserreich I - Styrian Hideaway Geidorf, Graz
From € 103.20 per night
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Deluxe Apartment Graz Graz, Austria
From € 117.70 per night
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Spacy Apartment next to the center of Graz with terrasse Eggenberg, Graz
From € 68.50 per night
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VIVA Apartments Graz, Austria
From € 177.20 per night
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