Top things to do in Graz
Attractions, tours and activities in Graz
Recommended museums in Graz
Where to discover culture and the arts 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 £53 per night
This weekend
From £109 per night
Next weekend
From £120 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.60 |
| Language | German |
| Average weekend price | £82 per night |
| Average weekday price | £83 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
Loved it!
17 May 2023
Loved it! I wouldn't go to the KunstGallery ( large modern building that looks like an alien slug) again, but the Cafe there was brilliant, even with gluten free cake and bread. I probably wouldn't go to the Botanical Garden again, but everything else was fab. Be aware of all the cycles and trams! A really safe, relaxed feel to the City.
It was good for me that I could walk up to the Graz Clock...
16 May 2023
It was good for me that I could walk up to the Graz Clock Tower and had a good sighting then took a beer and sit there for a while, a relax movement in the Sunday morning. Quiet choices of food and I enjoyed it. The hotel is also a walk distance to down town very convinent, even I got a weekly ticket but most of the time I took a walk to downtown.
Hate the fact that everyone smokes in Graz.
13 May 2023
Hate the fact that everyone smokes in Graz. Apart from that enjoyed my stay. Plenty to see and fairly easy to get around. I usually ate at Subway. Next time I think I would check if their is a lift at my accommodation site or not carry as heavy suitcase that I did. City tourist tax seems to be an add on which wasn't overly impressed about. Surely Booking.Com can include this as one in the price of accommodation?
Graz is a beautiful historical town, but don't expect to...
1 May 2023
Graz is a beautiful historical town, but don't expect to do any shopping on the weekends, because all the shops close on Saturday 8 pm and stay closed till Monday. :) That also means shops where you could buy water, so you have to make do with the expensive water at kiosks and such. It is a very nice city to explore on foot, people mostly speak very good English and are very nice to tourists of which there are many, many.
Graz is a beautiful vibrant city.
8 April 2023
Graz is a beautiful vibrant city. Very easy to get around on the tram system bikes and walking!! Loads to see and do. Fabulous cafes and restaurants everywhere you would never be short of somewhere to eat!! The markets are amazing especially at Easter. Transport is cheap but it's so so easy to walk around it.
Pretty town.
11 December 2022
Pretty town. Lovely around the holidays. Good food all around and nice people. It was very difficult to find somewhere to sit and drink beer without reservation, so I'd keep that in mind. Other than that, nice visit. We'll come back.
Popular places to stay in Graz
Stay in some of the best accommodation Graz has to offer
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Kaiserreich I - Styrian Hideaway Geidorf, Graz
From £82 per night
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Parksuites Apartments Graz Lend, Graz
From £118 per night
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VIVA Apartments Graz, Austria
From £138 per night
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Fresh Apartment with Terrace + Free Parking Gries, Graz
From £78 per night
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Modern Apartment close to Congress Center, TU-Uni and Center with Netflix! Liebenau, Graz
From £171 per night
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