20 fun things to do in Graz, Austria

Graz is Austria’s sunny southern capital of Styria, offering a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle. You’ll find great food and secluded courtyard cafés to while away a weekend.

The charming old town and wealth of history are matched with cutting edge modern design. There’s no shortage of things to do in Graz for a weekend break.

With so much to see, the question might be why only 20? Of course there’s much more to enjoy, but I hope you’ll get a flavour in my video below of what to do in Graz Austria.

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20 fun things to do in Graz Austria

Well I’m sure you could find more than 20 but from the weekend we spent in Graz here are some of our highlights;

1. Hauptplatz – the central square of Graz

A great place to start your visit to Graz is the central square of Hauptplatz which is surrounded by pretty pastel stucco buildings. The central fountain is a convenient meeting point for locals.

There are always a few bratwurst and other food stalls to choose from. From here wander along the main street of Herrengasse and explore between the arches. Narrow alleyways draw you into the courtyards that were once enclosed but now house elegant boutiques and cafés.

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2. The Rathaus Old Town Hall in Graz

On one side of Hauptplatz you’ll find the imposing Rathaus or town hall which was built in the 19th century. It replaced an older version when the town merchants felt they needed something more impressive. You’ll often see a wedding party in gathering for their ceremony inside.

3. Climb up the Schlossberg – highest point in Graz

The Schlossberg is the high point overlooking the city. It was once the site of a 16th century fortress which was demolished on Napoleon’s orders.

Feeling energetic? Then take the steep zig-zag path up from Schlossbergplatz through the hanging gardens and rockeries. Or, there’s a more gentle alternative route up from Sporgasse.

If it’s a little too steep for comfort, you can save your legs and either take a lift (€2.20 each way) or the Funicular (€3.00 one way/€5.90 return or €6.40 for a 24hr pass which is also good for tram/buses).

Looking for a tour? Check out these tours of Graz

4. The Clocktower – emblem of Graz

The clocktower that sits at the top of the Schlossberg can be seen from almost any part of Graz. It has become the emblem of city, making it one of the top things to see in Graz. Dating back to the 16th century, the clock originally only had a long hand to mark the hours. This was easier to see from the town below.

After Napoleon won his victory over the Hapsburgs in 1809, he demanded the fortress on the Schlossberg be demolished. This left only the clocktower and the bell tower, for which the people of Graz were forced to pay a hefty ransom.

These days there’s a public park and gardens at the top, which is one of the best free things to do in Graz. It’s a favourite place to come and relax at weekends, while admiring the views over the city.

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5. Old Palace courtyard and notable residents of Graz

Close to the cathedral is all that remains of Graz Castle, the imperial residence of Emperor Freiedrich III in the 15th century. In the grassy courtyard that adjoins the university buildings, you’ll find statues of some of the notable residents of Graz.

These sculptures lead you to the famous double spiral staircase. Around the courtyard of the former palace look out for the carved initials AEIOU. This symbol was used by Emperor Frederich III which is interpreted by various German or Latin phrases to mean “Austria will rule the world“.

Need a place to stay? Check out these hotels in Graz

6. The double staircase of Graz

Through an inconspicuous doorway you’ll find the famous double spiral staircase. This was built around 1500 during the reign of Emperor Maxmillian I to connect two wings of the palace.

Some call it the staircase of reconciliation as the two staircases continually part and then meet again. Others say that it represents eternity, as the rulers of Graz certainly hoped their dynasty would last for ever. Or perhaps it was just an interesting technical problem for the master builder!

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7. Stadtpark of Graz

Behind what remains of the old palace buildings, pass through to the Stadtpark. This relaxing haven of greenery was once part of the palace grounds.

It’s a favourite place to bring a picnic or enjoy the sunshine on the lawns in front of the orangery. There’s also sometimes a fun-fair that’s popular with families.

Need a place to stay? Check out these hotels in Graz

8. Restaurants in Graz

The food is definitely a big part of the charm of Graz. There’s endless delightful cafés, farmer’s markets and fresh produce from the fields and vineyards of Styria. Here are a few of the places we enjoyed and can personally recommend;

Die Susse Luisse – a tiny outdoor cafe in the Lendplatz market, with vintage chairs and tables. We enjoyed coffee and slice of cake topped with berries.

Freiblick Tagescafe – this cafe is on the 6th Floor of Graz’s biggest department store, Kastner and Ohler. It has a bird’s eye view of the clocktower on the Sclossberg. There’s a glass sided indoor cafe, but in good weather you’ll want to head for the outdoor terrace overlooking the red rooftops of Graz’s historic centre.

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Kunsthaus cafe – adjoining the Kunsthaus museum of contemporary art, has a friendly, youthful feel. It serves burgers, salads and bistro dishes, with a good choice of dishes for vegetarians and vegans, and I tried the Friendly Slow Food salad with falafel and bulgar wheat (€12).

More Graz restaurants

Aiola Upstairs – on the top of Schlossberg with an outdoor terrace and fabulous views overlooking the clocktower and the city rooftops. We had a light lunch of Styrian Caesar salad, a pumpernickel and cheese tart and a bowl of gazpacho washed down with a fresh berry cordial – so elegant and delicious.

StadtSchenke – a restaurant that runs as a social project and specialises in Brettljause, a wooden sharing platter with a selection of local Styrian delicacies that would be served at farms along the Styrian wine routes, especially around the harvest time.

Stainzerbauer – this cosy gasthaus is the place to try some Styrian specialities, serving traditional dishes prepared with a light modern touch. We enjoyed pan-fried char on a bed of sweet potato and vegetables for me and a schnitzel with cranberries and parsley potatoes for Guy.

9. The Cathedral of Graz

It’s worth visiting the ornately decorated baroque cathedral with plenty of gold decoration from the 17th and 18th centuries. At the time of Emperor Frederick III there was a bridge that crossed the street from his palace to the cathedral, allowing him to conveniently attend mass without going outside, although it was long since demolished when the palace fell into disrepair.

Looking for a tour? Check out these tours of Graz

10. Mausoleum of Ferdinand II in Graz

Next to the cathedral is the Mausoleum that encloses the monumental tomb that Ferdinand II created for himself. You can peer down at the tomb in the crypt through the grill in the floor and then climb the bell tower with its green copper dome for the views over the old town of Graz and the hills beyond.

Need a place to stay? Check out these hotels in Graz

11. Stay at Hotel Zum Dom Palais Inzaghi in Graz

We enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Zum Dom Palais Inzaghi, in the old quarter of Graz close to the cathedral. Parts of the 29 room hotel hark back to the 14th century when the ground floor was used for commercial purposes.

It was later bought by the Count of Inzaghi and the staircases with fine plaster mouldings, wrought iron staircases and stone floors retain the 18th century style of this period. Each of the rooms is individually designed with traditional elegance and a mixture of antique furniture, artworks and more modern pieces.

We’d recommend this hotel as a friendly and comfortable hotel with individuality and charm, which is very well located to see all the sights during a short break in Graz.

For more information: Check out these hotels in Graz

12. Take a tram – free in the old centre of Graz

It’s easy to cover the central area of Graz on foot, since the distances are small and many of the streets are pedestrianised. But if you get a little weary walking those cobbled streets, just jump on one of the trams that pass up and down Herenhgasse where you can ride for free for a couple of stops in the central area between Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz and one extra stop beyond in either direction.

Look out for the Altstadtbim sticker indicating which are the free stops. Otherwise a tram or bus ticket that covers you for 1 hour of travel only costs €2.30 and can be bought from the ticket machines on board each tram. More information on bus and trams in Graz

13. Dinner Al Fresco in the Bermuda Triangle of Graz

In summer the restaurants move outside and life is lived on the busy outdoor terraces. Around the pedestrianised streets of Mehlplatz, Farbergasse and Glockenspielplatz, are such a concentration of bars and restaurants in that locals call it the “Bermuda Triangle” of Graz.

It’s a place you could get lost in for hours moving from one charming bar to the next, meeting friends for an aperitif of chilled Styrian white wine or the local Schilcher rosé.

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14. The chimes of the Graz Glockenspiel

The street cafés continue on Glockenspiel Platz and if you happen to be there at 11am, 3pm or 6pm you can hear the bells of the Glockenspiel tinkling a charming tune as the costumed figures appear high up on the gables.

15. The Landhaus courtyard in Graz

One of the most impressive of the Graz courtyards is the one behind the Landaus, the seat of the Styrian government, which is ornamented by Italian style Renaissance arcades. Look out for the panther of Graz painted on one of the wooden doors in the courtyard.

This mythical creature is the symbol of the city and of Styria and is always depicted with fire blazing out of his mouth. The courtyard is often used for concerts and events, including an illuminated advent nativity scene in December that is carved from ice.

Looking for a tour? Check out these tours of Graz

16. The Armoury of Graz

The Armoury Museum is entered through the Tourist Information office on Herengasse, and is on five floors, a store house of armour and weaponry from past centuries. It is part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum which is the guardian of a number of unique collections and museums in Graz and Styria, created in the 19th century by Archduke Johann of Austria.

The Armoury’s role was a depot of all the armour and weapons that might be required to defend Styria from invaders, with shelf upon shelf, rack upon rack of armour and old weapons. There is a great view from the Armoury windows over the Landhaus courtyard next door.

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17. The Farmer’s Markets of Graz

Explore Graz’s reputation as Austria’s capital of culinary delights, with a visit to some of the farmer’s markets that are held in the mornings from Monday to Saturdays around the city. The largest is at Kaiser Josef Platz, where from 6am the stalls are set up, overflowing with colourful vegetables, butternut squash, yellow and green beans, frilly Krauthauptel salad and bunches of carrots.

Look out for local specialities on sale; bottles of rich, green pumpkin seed oil, the purple Kaeferbohnen mottled beans destined for soups and salads and locally smoked dried sausages and cheeses.

Just across the River Mur you can visit another of the farmer’s markets at Lendplatz arriving by 1pm when the stallholders pack up, but there are also lots of small cafés in this area for a coffee or lunch stop.

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18. The Graz Styriarte summer arts festival

One of the major Graz cultural events is the Styriarte Arts Festival, with classical music concerts throughout June and July each year. The festival was founded in 1985 by composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt who was born in Graz and the concerts take place not only in the concert hall of Helmut Liste Halle but in beautiful churches and castles around the city. It’s well worth booking for some of the concerts and arranging your visit to Graz to coincide with the Styriarte festival in June and July.

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19. Murinsel in Graz – the island in the Mur

Cross the River Mur via the Murinsel, a sinuous glass island that was commissioned from US artist Vito Acconci as part of the Capital of Culture celebrations in 2003. The curvaceous construction of steel and glass resembles a half opened shell and is anchored to both river banks by footbridges.

You can walk or cycle through the Murinsel which links the city and the river, acting as a miniature community space, film centre, café and design showroom with handmade furniture from Styria.

Looking for a tour? Check out these tours of Graz

20. Kunsthaus Graz – modern art museum

The Friendly Alien, as Kunsthaus Graz is known locally, forms an elongated bubble of blue glass that has been added to the 19th century Iron House, once a fashionable department store and cafe. The organic shape with projecting nozzles at the top is in complete contrast to the red-tiled houses of the surrounding neighbourhood.

It is one of the architectural projects that have established Graz as a UNESCO City of Design. On the ground floor is a design shop and the Kunsthaus café, while on the upper floors are exhibitions of contemporary and conceptual art. It’s one of those places that provokes questions about what art is or should be.

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More information for things to see in Graz

For further information on fun things to o in Graz, check out the Graz Tourism website and follow their social channels on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram. Once you arrive, visit the tourist information office at Herrengasse 16 for lots of helpful information and to book tours. For more information on holidays in Austria visit the Austria Tourism website.

If you are looking for a place to stay check out these hotels in Graz.

Consider taking this private walking tour of Old Town Graz or check out these tours of Graz.

How to get to Graz

We flew direct from Birmingham to Graz with bmi regional who fly three times a week between Birmingham and Graz on Monday, Thursday and Friday. All fares include a generous 23kg of hold luggage, a complimentary in-flight drink and snack, allocated seating and a speedy 30 minute check-in.

An easy alternative airport from the UK is Vienna (2hrs 10 min drive) where you can pick up a hire car or take the efficient coach service with Flixbus. You can also fly into Vienna and then transfer by short internal flight to Graz airport.

Need a guidebook for Austria?

Looking for a guidebook for your visit to Austria? We recommend the DK Eyewitness guide to Austria.

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Thanks to Graz Tourism for hosting* our weekend visit to Graz and to BMI regional for providing our flights

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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