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Graz , the capital of Styria and Austria’s second largest city, is strongly attached to its traditions but is not afraid to be daring. In its historic centre, baroque, renaissance and jugendstil buildings, medieval charm and contemporary avant-garde styles coexist harmoniously.
Crossed by the river Mur and rich in green parks, it is a city that offers many opportunities for pleasant walks, while the shops in the centre are perfect for an afternoon of shopping; Graz is also a university town with a lively nightlife .
In 2003, Graz was the first Austrian city to be declared the European Capital of Culture , an occasion for which the best international talents were commissioned to design two works that reshaped the city’s profile, projecting it into a future of art and sustainability: the futuristic Kunsthaus and the bizarre Murinsel.
Pride in the past and confidence in the future are the hallmarks of this city that deserves more attention from European tourists: make a note of it because it is the ideal destination for a weekend full of things to see and do.
Things to do in Graz
A walk through the centre of Graz is like a journey back in time, past Baroque and Renaissance buildings, bold works of contemporary architecture, quaint medieval streets and Jugendstil palaces. Some must-see attractions are located just outside the centre and are easily accessible by public transport.
Schlossberg
Built over a thousand years ago, the castle that gives the city of Graz its name could be described more as a guardian of the city surrounded by greenery than a hilltop fortress. Look up to the overgrown hill beside the old city centre and you will see the city’s landmark Uhrturm tower , bastion, viewing terrace and restaurant sprouting here and there among the trees.
After admiring it from below, climb to the top of the Schlossberg hill , an oasis of greenery and relaxation a stone’s throw from the city. The view of Graz from Schlossberg is unbeatable: keep your camera handy.
If you are out of breath, you can walk up a steep flight of steps to an altitude of 473 metres and then perhaps rest on a bench admiring the view; easier and quicker is to take the lift or the ultra-modern funicular railway , and no one forbids you to sit back and relax even if you have gone up by public transport!
Schlossberg in the history of Graz The name of Graz derives from the Slavic word Gradec, meaning ‘small castle’, with which Schlossberg was once called. The citizens of Graz are so fond of the Uhrturm tower that they paid Napoleon a large sum of money, 2987 guilders, to save it during the French invasion of 1809.
Kunsthaus Graz
If Schlossberg is the romantic image of Graz’s past, Kunsthaus is the emblem of its modernity and propensity for the future.
Dubbed by the locals as ‘the friendly alien’, it is the result of an ambitious contemporary architecture project by London architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier that saw the construction of a museum with an eccentric shape, vaguely resembling an enormous sea slug, in the heart of the old town, next to historical buildings of a completely different style. This surprisingly successful peaceful coexistence is one of the factors that makes Graz unique.
The Kunshtaus is one of the most modern museum venues in Europe: it hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art of the highest quality and organises workshops, meetings, debates and other events.
But its distinguishing feature is its roof, the ultra-modern BIX media façade , which with its 930 phosphorescent lights is used as a gigantic art installation in the heart of the city.
Another extraordinary work of contemporary architecture is the artificial island on the river Mur , designed by New York architect Vito Acconci .
It is an ultra-modern steel structure in the middle of the river, connected to the two banks by pedestrian walkways, which includes a cafeteria, an outdoor event space and a children’s play area.
This work has revitalised the river, now much less polluted than in the past, and its connection with the city. It was supposed to be a temporary structure, to be sold to another city after 2003, the year Graz was European Capital of Culture, but the citizens fell in love with it and now the Murinsel is another identity symbol of modern Graz.
Schloss Eggenberg
It is worth stepping out of the centre of Graz for a moment to reach the castle of Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg , the most important castle in the Styrian region.
It is a sumptuous Baroque palace built on an earlier Gothic building and designed as an allegory of the cosmos to indulge the prince’s desire for peace and harmony: there are numerous references to astronomy and astrology in its elegant rooms. It is interesting to take part in the guided tour to understand the complex symbolism of the decorations and to learn about the curiosities and eccentricities of the prince.
Schloss Eggenberg today houses a museum with four collections: art from the Middle Ages to the Baroque, prehistory, Roman antiquities and coins.
Today’s seat of the regional government is the Burg , a 15th-century palace that mixes elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Biedermeier styles, but what makes it so special is the wonderful double-helix staircase.
Let yourself be captivated by this ingenious optical illusion: the famous staircase actually consists of two separate staircases that rejoin at each floor and then separate and rejoin again on the next floor.
It will not be difficult for you to spot the Palais Saurau , with its magnificent ornamental Baroque portal, but it is above all the figure of the Turkish soldier peeking out from under the roof of the palace that attracts the attention of passers-by.
It’s even easier to work out which of Graz’s many splendid palaces is the Gemaltes Haus (Painted House), a building with walls decorated with scenes from Greco-Roman mythology and a total of 220 square metres of frescoes! Try your hand at recognising the gods depicted on the walls of this wonderful building: can you see Zeus? Bacchus? Mercury? Minerva? And who else?
Don’t miss the carillon show at Glockenspielplatz : three times a day, the colourful figures of a young man and a maiden in traditional costume decorating the top of a stately home come alive in time to music.
It is an exciting and sweet experience that will transport you nostalgically back in time. And if you come to Graz in another season, come back to see it because the music is changed five times a year!
The Graz Cathedral may seem modest compared to other impressive European cathedrals, but it is still worth a visit or at least a look from the outside to admire the famous fresco Scourge of God , which illustrates the difficult living conditions in Graz at the end of the 15th century.
Not far from the cathedral but decidedly more sumptuous is the Mausoleum of Ferdinand II , a monument in Mannerist-Baroque style designed in the 17th century by the Italian architect Giovanni Pietro de Pomis, an artist at court.
The mausoleum holds the remains of the emperor, who died in 1637, but what sticks out in visitors’ memories is the red sarcophagus containing the remains of his mother Maria of Bavaria.
Armour and weapons from the Middle Ages onwards you may have already seen, but nothing compares to seeing 30,000 of them under one roof! This is the impressive number of armours and weapons preserved at the Graz Armoury Museum , the largest museum of its kind in the world.
Housed in a five-storey building, it displays gleaming swords, spears, firearms, shields, complete suits of armour and many other objects used for defence or attack.
The Armoury Museum, like Schloss Eggenberg and Kunsthaus, is also part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum , an institution founded by Archduke John in 1811 that today runs 17 museums of all kinds in Graz and the surrounding area.
These include the Museum of Natural History , the Neue Galerie Graz dedicated to contemporary art and the Folk Life Museum , which exhibits everyday objects from the pre-industrial period.
Where to stay in Graz
Modern design hotels and city-apartaments, elegant hotels in historic buildings, traditional guesthouses and B&Bs, international chain hotels, simple and inexpensive room rentals: Graz’s hotel offer is extremely varied and you will have no trouble finding a place to sleep that suits your needs.
Recommended hotels in Graz
How to get to graz.
Graz has an international airport but offers few direct flights to European airports. In fact, it is only well connected with the main German cities (Munich, Frankfurt and Stuttgart) and with Amsterdam. Alternatively, you can fly to Vienna and from there take a train or bus to Graz .
Graz Weather
What's the weather at Graz? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Graz for the next few days.
Where is located Graz
Location around.
12 Top Tourist Attractions in Graz & Easy Day Trips
Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 27, 2023
Austria's second largest city, Graz lies on the River Mur and has long been a popular stopover for tourists. Highlights include exploring its many historical buildings, particularly in the Old Town with its numerous Baroque façades. Another big draw is the Schlossberg, a large hill that rises behind the picturesque town.
While excavations reveal the area was settled as far back as AD 800, the city was first mentioned in 1128, after which time it passed into the hands of the Habsburgs. Soon after, it rose in importance as a place of trade and commerce. Many of the surviving buildings were influenced by Italian architectural styles, including Schloss Eggenberg.
As a result of this abundance of historically significant buildings, Graz is today an important cultural center that was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999. Graz is also the birthplace of Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a little museum here is dedicated to his career.
To help you make the most of your Austria travel itinerary, be sure to review the best places to visit in Graz in this list of top tourist attractions in the city.
Old Town Graz
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The UNESCO-designated Old Town center of Graz is filled with historical architecture, and is a pleasure to explore on foot. Highlights include the Hauptplatz , the Main Square, on the left bank of the River Mur. Here, you'll see a fine statue of Archduke Johann (1782-1859), who did much to bring industry to the region and improve communications and trade. Also of note are the Town Hall (Rathaus), built in 1893, and the 17th-century Haus am Luegg , with its attractive arcaded and stucco-decorated facade.
To the west of the Main Square is the Gothic Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche), notable for its west tower from 1643 and its Late Gothic nave with a ribbed vaulted ceiling. The church's Chapel of St. Anthony, separated from the main building by a Baroque grille from 1650, is worth seeing for its pietà from 1720.
Other Old Town attractions include GrazMuseum (Stadtmuseum Graz), the city's official history museum; the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum , dedicated to old pharmaceutical practices; and the Robert Stolz Museum , honoring the famed Austrian composer born here in 1880.
Finally, be sure to stroll along the Herrengasse pedestrian precinct with its many handsome old mansions, including the lovely Painted House (Gemaltes Haus) with its frescos from 1742.
Address: Franziskanerplatz 14, 8010 Graz
Above Old Town Graz rises the Schlossberg. This 473-meter-tall hill can be ascended by a funicular railway that takes just three minutes to get to the top. Alternatively, it can be reached by a pleasant 20-minute walk.
Highlights include the superb 28-meter-tall Clock Tower (Uhrturm), the city's best-known landmark. Built in 1561, it's all that's left of the massive fortifications that once stood here and which were dismantled after the Treaty of Vienna in 1809.
Several other attractions are here as well. These include the 94-meter-deep Turkish Well (Türkenbrunnen) and the 35-meter-tall Belfry (Glockenturm) from 1588 with its eight-ton bell affectionately known as Liesl.
The café offers superb views over Graz, and there's an open-air theater. Traveling with kids? They'll love the miniature railroad.
Located on Graz's Herrengasse, the Styrian Armoury (Landeszeughaus) is, like many of the town's other top attractions, a part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum collection of museums. This important historic site has, in fact, been home to the provincial arsenal since 1644.
Known to be the worlds' biggest historical armory , its permanent collections include 13,400 small arms and accessories, of which 4,259 are pistols. The artillery collection contains volley guns, mortars, cannons, falconets, and their accessories, and there are more than 2,000 edged weapons - swords, broadswords, and sabers.
Most impressive is the display of armor, showing how soldiers of all ranks protected themselves from the weapons of their time. These range from shields, armored sleeves, and chain mail to full suits of armor. Among the 3,844 items is a horse armour made around 1510 in Innsbruck.
The collections are dramatically displayed in traditional armory style, without signs or placards that would ruin the historic appearance of the setting. Pick up a free visitor's guide in English at the entrance or rent the inexpensive audio guide for descriptions and background on the exhibits.
Address: Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz
Official site: www.museum-joanneum.at/en/styrian-armoury
In the heart of Graz's pedestrian-friendly Old Town stands the majestic Landhaus, home to the Styrian provincial government. Built in Renaissance style in 1565, it's widely regarded as one of the finest such buildings in Austria.
Passing through the splendid main façade, dominated by rounded windows and a loggia, you'll end up in the superb arcaded courtyard with its three-storied pergolas on two sides. There's also a beautiful Renaissance fountain.
If possible, try to time your visit to coincide with one of the regular outdoor concerts or theatrical performances held here. Interior highlights include the sumptuous Knights' Hall with its exquisite stucco ceiling from 1746.
Another government building to visit is Graz Burg . This old palace is famous for its 15th-century double spiral staircases (the Staircase of Reconciliation), which meet on each floor, creating a bizarre optical illusion.
Looking a little like some alien life form plunked in the middle of Graz's splendid old architecture, the ultra-modern Graz Art Museum (Kunsthaus Graz) was built in 2003 to mark the city's choice as the European City of Culture. Focusing on works of contemporary art of the mid-20th century, the gallery hosts artists from around the world with regularly changing temporary exhibits.
The best views of the building are available at night, when the building lights up like a spaceship. English language guided tours and audio-guides are available.
Address: Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz
Official site: /www.museum-joanneum.at/en/kunsthaus-graz
Another Graz landmark built to commemorate the city being granted the role of European Capital of Culture in 2003 is a man-made island known as the Murinsel, or Mur Island. Made entirely of steel and resembling a large upside-down seashell, it's really a 47-meter-long floating island in the middle of the River Mur that's tethered to its banks by two footbridges.
The middle section consists of a unique amphitheater used for concerts and other events. There's also a café here, as well as a children's playground with a rope maze and slide.
Address: Mariahilferpl. 5, 8020, Graz
Official site: https://murinselgraz.at/en/
One of the top things to do in Graz for free, Graz's Late Gothic St. Gile's Cathedral (Grazer Dom) is a must-visit. It was built between 1438-62 on the site of an earlier church dedicated to St. Giles and which was first referred to in 1174.
Of particular note is the main doorway, which is decorated with the coat of arms of its builder, Emperor Frederick III.
On the south external wall, facing onto a small square, are the remains of a Late Gothic fresco. Dating from 1485, it's called the Landplagenbild and depicts Graz threatened by pestilence, the Turks, and a plague of locusts.
The mainly Baroque interior is equally impressive, its wide nave separated from the choir by a narrow triumphal arch flanked by two fine reliquaries from 1477. The choir, dominated by a high altar, is notable for its altarpiece portraying the Miracle of St. Giles , while in the aisles are many fine monuments and altars.
Address: Burggasse 3, 8010 Graz
After visiting the cathedral, be sure to also visit the adjoining mausoleum . Built in the early 1600s next to the cathedral and St. Catherine's Church (Katharinenkirche) for Emperor Ferdinand II, it's also where you'll find the Tomb Chapel with exquisite artwork and sculptures.
It's known among locals as "the crown of the town" for its elevation and spectacular views. The steps leading up to the mausoleum make for the perfect selfie-spot.
The Baroque Mariatrost Basilica sits at the top of a hill, ascended by more than 200 steps that pilgrims climb, reading the messages as they go. The interior of this popular pilgrimage church is Baroque, although the Madonna on the high altar is late Gothic in origin.
Highlights are the 1779 pulpit by Veit Königer, the inlaid side altars, and the frescoes. There are sweeping views from the basilica, and it's a favorite place to watch the sunset. To reach it from central Graz, take Tram 1, marked Mariatrost, to the final stop.
Address: Kirchpl. 8, 8044, Graz
Atop a hill just three kilometers west of Graz's city center stands Schloss Eggenberg. This stunning 1635 Baroque palace features four large towers, fine state apartments, and rich Rococo fittings.
Interior highlights include the walls and ceilings of the banqueting hall, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture richly painted with more than 600 superb works, including the signs of the zodiac and the planetary system.
This theme is continued in the Reception Room, known as the Room of the Planets, part of a suite of 24 staterooms decorated by Styrian artist Hans Adam Weissenkircher.
Also of note is the Alte Galerie , a collection of magnificent artwork, including the famous Admont Madonna from 1320, the Lambrecht votive tablets from 1440, and numerous Baroque sculptures and paintings. English language guided tours are available.
Address: Eggenberger Allee 90, 8011 Graz
Official site: www.museum-joanneum.at/en/palace-and-gardens-schloss-eggenberg
Endowed by Archduke Johann in 1811, the Natural History Museum - also a part of the larger Universalmuseum Joanneum group of city-owned cultural institutions - is one of the most important museums in Graz. Spread over several floors, its large collections include many artifacts, specimens, and displays relating to geology, zoology, and botany.
You'll also learn about the history of the region since the time of the earth's formation thanks to its fascinating displays of fossils and exhibits on Ice Age creatures and ancient volcanoes.
Address: Joanneumsviertel, 8010 Graz
Official site: https://www.museum-joanneum.at/en/natural-history-museum
Graz Stadtpark, at the eastern end of the Opernring with its modern Opera House, was laid out in 1869 on the site of the city's old fortifications. A highlight of this large municipal park is the Emperor Francis Joseph Fountain surrounded by numerous figures and monuments, including many famous Austrian writers, scientists, and politicians.
The city's other important park is its botanical gardens, tucked away in the city's poshest residential area. Noted for its ultra-modern greenhouse with exotic flora from around the world, the garden's displays are broken down into four main climatic zones: tropical, Mediterranean, temperate, and alpine. Each of these are accessible over a series of fun wooden gangways and bridges.
Address: Schubertstraße 59, 8010 Graz
Considered one of Europe's top open-air museums (it's also Austria's largest), this huge facility preserves 98 historical farm buildings from all the country's regions. The museum was in fact established to showcase their construction and how people lived and worked in them throughout history.
This immersion into six centuries of rural Austria also preserves folk skills, crafts, and traditions. The 76 original historical buildings were carefully dismantled in their original locations and reconstructed here, while the remaining are exact replicas of originals that could not be moved.
Along with homes and barns, the collection included a dovecot, ropewalk, oil press, corn mill, blacksmith shop and forge, wine press, winemaker's cottage, windmill, and several styles of mountain huts from various alpine regions. You can sample typical local foods at the Gasthaus Zum Göller.
Address: Enzenbach 32, 8114 Stübing
Official site: www.museum-joanneum.at/en/open-air-museum
One of the prettiest areas in the Styrian region lies around Voitsberg. For beautiful views of the area, climb to the ruins of Castle Krems (Burgruine Krems), where you'll also find exhibits of modern art and gardens.
More romantic in their ruin and overgrown with forest are the stone walls of nearby Neuleonrod castle. Stop also to see the intricate paintings on the façade of the chapel in the village of Tregist, also near Voitsberg.
Voitsberg is the home of the famous Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, the oldest thoroughbred horse breed in Europe. They are bred at the Piber Federal Stud in the village of Piber, about an hour from Graz. A Baroque palace serves as the visitor's center, and you can see the white Lipizzaners with their black foals in the corrals. Look around on your own or join a guided tour that includes the stables, farrier's shop, and a museum. There's a playground and adventure trail for children, and you can reserve rides in a carriage pulled by a team of Lipizzaners.
Address: Piber 1, 8580 Köflach
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