Graz - Austria
Austria’s second largest city and the capital of Styria is known to Poles mainly as a… city on the way to Italy or Croatia. At least, that’s according to the responses we were getting on social media when we showed our several-day stay in Graz. So let’s disenchant this city! We will show you that it is a charming city with an interesting history, full of culture and art, where it is worth staying for a little longer than one day.
Inhabited by more than 280,000 people, Graz is a fascinating city full of interesting history, eye-catching architecture and… cyclists! Even visiting this city in winter, we were surprised at how many people ride unicycles here year-round. The infrastructure in the city is well prepared, but it is just as easy and convenient to get around by public transportation, and we chose this mode of transport.
We spent 3 days in Graz walking around the Old Town, visiting museums, admiring the skyline, while looking for places for families with children. By the way, we learned that the city was the European Capital of Culture in 2003, and in 2011 it was awarded the title of City of Design. Sound interesting?
Table of contents
In the following post, we’ll show you what to do and see in Graz, while dropping off a lot of practical information. Also waiting for you at the end of the post is a map with the points we described in this post.
The most characteristic place in Graz is the Schlossberg with its clock tower. Situated on a hill above the city, this castle was once a major fortress, protecting the city from invasions. It was considered one of the strongest fortifications, and the proof is that even Napoleon Bonaparte was not able to conquer it (only when he won the war with Austria did he order the destruction of the castle).
The only surviving remnants of the former castle are the towers, including the Uhrturm, which, towering over the city, served primarily as a clock tower. What is not so obvious about this tower, however, is the way it shows the time. Unlike other clocks here, the large hand indicates the hour and the small hand the minute. Why is this the case? Because the first pointer that was installed was the big one, and when it was determined that a minute hand should be added, it had to be smaller than what was already installed, and so it has remained until now.
Today, this castle offers not only great views of the city, but also a picturesque garden and a restaurant, and it must be said that the trip up the hill itself can be quite an attraction as well. There is a path to the top, stairs (there are 260 of them), a special glass elevator in the carved rock, and a railroad(Schlossberg Funicular). So there are several options, and everyone can choose the one that is most suitable and attractive. And if you are wondering which option to choose to get back down, you might be interested in…. the slide! A tube winds around the elevator, on which you can slide down to the very bottom (this is a paid attraction, photos are taken during the descent).
Another attraction worth noting is located at the entrance with stairs and an elevator: Fairy Tale Train(Die Grazer Märchenbahn), which takes you through tunnels hollowed out of the rock through various scenes and arrangements from fairy tales. It departs at specific times, and the only downside is that the recordings played are only in German. Nevertheless, just driving through the tunnels that served as shelters for residents during World War II is an interesting experience (you can read more about this attraction here).
Prices:
You can see what the castle looked like in its heyday at the Graz Museum: here, even before you enter the exhibitions, there is a separate room where there is a model depicting the castle hill.
The Altstadt is a part of Graz where you can stroll along narrow streets, admire the colorful facades of historic buildings, visit charming cafes and restaurants, and see impressive monuments. By the way, it is worth mentioning that this part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We had the opportunity to walk around the city with a guide following the children’s route – it was a very interesting trip, because the guide gave the children a lot of puzzles and tasks to solve, they had to look at details, look for ornaments and follow the streets of Graz with a map in hand (let’s add that parents also have a lot of fun while doing it, and they also learn a lot of interesting facts about Graz).
What’s worth seeing in the Altstadt? You can start your tour from Hauptplatz, the central part of which has a fountain with a statue. The building that most catches the eye on the square is the imposing Baroque City Hall(Grazer Rathaus), but the townhouses surrounding the square with ornaments and bas-reliefs are equally interesting.
The Landhaus is the building that houses the Styrian Parliament, and something that deserves special attention is the courtyard with cloisters. At Glockenspielplatz, in the building with the clock, there is a short, several-minute show of dancing figurines three times a day, which causes tourists gathered around to pause for a moment to look at them and listen to the melody (the shows take place at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.).
A special place is the Landeszeughaus Graz, known as the Styrian Arsenal, this is one of the most impressive military museums in Europe, with some 32,000 exhibits inside. An impressive collection of weapons and armor make it a place worth visiting.
Walking around the Old Town, it is also worth paying attention to the Gothic St. Peter’s Cathedral. St. Giles (Grazer Dom) and themausoleum of Ferdinand II(Mausoleum Kaiser Ferdinands II) next door, the Church of Our Lady of Help (Mariahilferkirche) and the OperaHouse(Oper Graz) along with the Bauernmarkt Kaiser-Josef-Platz, where you can buy local produce, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Prices:
Landeszeughaus: € 12,00, children free (free with Graz Card)
A building that absolutely stands out from the city’s skyline is the Kunsthaus , or Museum of Modern Art, located on the Mur River.
The building was constructed in 2003, when the city was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture. According to some, this modern block resembles the heart of a man, although according to the architects it is supposed to be a Friendly Alien. The glass facade also catches the eye in the evenings, when it lights up with various inscriptions.
The futuristic and intriguing building is home to numerous contemporary art exhibitions, showcasing works by both Austrian and international artists, with mostly temporary exhibitions.
While in the museum, it is worth going to the top floor, where there is a glass platform from which you can observe the Mur River and the castle hill, and a store and restaurant are located on the first floor of the building.
Right next to the Art Museum, another modern form can be found on the Mur River. This is Murinsel Island, which, like the Art Museum, was built as part of being named European Capital of Culture. The island is connected by two footbridges and features a cafe and an amphitheater where cultural events are held. Interestingly, the island floats as the river level rises.
Prices:
Kunsthaus : € 12,00, children free (free with Graz Card)
For those who like to be active outdoors, Graz also offers plenty of opportunities. The Stadtpark is an ideal place for walks, picnics and relaxing in the trees. This green island in the center of the city is the largest park in Graz and attracts locals and tourists alike at any time of the year. The central place of the so-called “the”. There is a fountain in the Green Heart, and as you walk around you will notice many sculptures, there are plenty of benches to rest on, and a playground awaits children.
Another green spot is the Augarten, located on the banks of the river. There is also a playground in this park.
We walked around Graz with three children so there were plenty of activities for them as well. Our choice was two children’s museums and a place with trampolines and inflatables. Plus, as we mentioned, there were playgrounds, a guided family tour and a ride on a fairy train.
Das Grazer Kindermuseum Frida & Fred is definitely not a typical museum. It is a space on two levels to explore the surrounding world with all senses, to learn about it. Temporary exhibitions lasting 11-12 months are held here, and one month a year the museum is closed for changing exhibitions.
During our stay we hit an exhibition on architecture and building. There were thematic exhibitions on two levels aimed at children of different ages. On the first floor there is a fully safe and child-friendly section for the youngest children, and on the first floor there is an exposure for older children (so from the age of 7 or 8), where there are tasks and stations that require cooperation with others and creativity. While at the lower end there is freedom to play and explore the various attractions, at the upper end sometimes more reading, thinking is needed to understand how something works.
Various workshops and demonstrations for children are also held on site.
Prices:
Center of Science Activites is another place where children can learn about the world around them through experiences, workshops and engaging stations. There are several sections separated here, some of which will include experiments for smaller children, and some for quite a few older ones (age 12 and up).
One of the most interesting posts is the one that allows you to build your own car. With the installation prepared, children build a car from individual parts (choose the type of box, headlights, engine, brakes), and at the end they can take part in a short simulation of driving this particular vehicle on the computer. The part that looks like a hospital is also interesting – mannequins with various ailments lie here on hospital beds, and visitors can take on the role of medical personnel.
In addition, children learn the laws of physics, learn about energy and technology, and indulge in optical illusions.
Prices:
CoSA: € 18,00, children free (free with Graz Card)
For those who are looking for a place where children (adults, too, by the way) can run and jump around, we have another recommendation – the Flip Lab trampoline park, located in the Center West shopping center. We visited this place at the end, when we were already leaving Graz, because it is located outside the strict center.
Flip Lab is a giant trampoline and inflatable park consisting of two parts. On the first floor there are more than 90 trampolines, where children and adults can not only jump, but also play ball, jump from heights or try their hand at computer games.
On the second floor is a huge space with inflatables: there are slides, tunnels, obstacle courses, climbing walls, which will be quite a challenge to overcome. For smaller children there is a separate, safer area, where there are balls, a slide, large blocks to stack.
Before entering the various parts, there is a warm-up under the guidance of instructors, who also provide important safety information.
Entrance is purchased for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 2 hours (below are the prices for entry per hour). Both parts are separately ticketed, but there are also combination tickets.
Pricing (per 1 hour):
The city of Graz is located in the southern part of Austria, in the Styria region, about 200 kilometers southwest of Vienna. To get to Graz, you can use various means of transportation, depending on where exactly you plan to travel from.
For those traveling from other parts of Austria, it will be most convenient to use the A2 or A9, but note that vignettes, which can be purchased online, will be necessary. In addition, driving from the center of the country you can go through a tunnel, which has an additional fee (the fee can also be paid online), but it definitely speeds up the trip.
Driving from Poland, you go through the Czech Republic and/or Slovakia, where you may also need vignettes.
The non-stop trip from central Poland takes about 8 hours (770 km).
Graz has a well-developed rail network, so you can take the train from many cities in Austria and other European countries. What may surprise you is that even from Poland you can get directly to Graz by train, among other things. from Krakow, and the trip takes 8.5 hours according to the schedule.
The main station is Graz Hauptbahnhof, from where you can easily reach the city center.
Graz also has an international airport, Flughafen Graz, with domestic and international flights. The airport is located about 10 kilometers southwest of the city center, and access to the center can be arranged by cab, bus, train or rental car.
What’s the best way to get around Graz? By public transportation, bicycle or on foot. It is best to leave your car in the hotel parking lot to avoid the hassle of moving your car and looking for parking spaces. Distances between the most interesting attractions in Graz are not large and can be easily covered on foot.
Graz residents are definitely opting for bicycles. Even in winter, we saw many cyclists, and the bicycle parking lots were full.
We chose public transportation. From our hotel we walked to the bus stop and drove to Jakominiplatz, which is a transfer point for public transportation.
It is highly recommended to purchase the Graz Card – it is a card that entitles you to free rides on public transportation, free entrance to museums or offers discounts at certain places. The card can be purchased for 24, 48 or 72 hours, and 2 children under the age of 15 can travel for free if they ride with the holder of such a card.
Graz Card Price List:
Pricing of public transportation tickets:
In Graz you can easily find accommodations of varying standards. We stayed at the JUFA Hotel Graz City, a facility geared toward families with children. Family rooms consisting of two rooms, including a folding bunk bed, are available here, and you can also get a travel crib.
Downstairs is a playroom with a climbing wall, where children will enjoy spending time in the evenings after returning to the hotel. The hotel is a bit far from the Old Town, but we didn’t mind. Nearby is a bus stop, from which we had a good connection to the center.
Link to the facility where we stayed: JUFA Hotel Graz City.
Below is a list of other facilities that are not far from the center and have very good reviews:
Our trip around Graz was not a culinary journey, but we did manage to look at a few, interesting places that we can recommend:
We have prepared a map for you with all the places we wrote about in this post:
You can also find a video version of our stay in Graz on our YouTube channel. You are welcome to visit here: 🎬 What to see in Graz, Austria?
Here are some links to help you plan your trip even better:
All in all, Graz is a city with a rich history, fascinating architecture and a vibrant culture. Whatever your interests and preferences, there is something for everyone here, whether exploring the historic streets of the Old Town, visiting museums and art galleries, or savoring traditional Austrian flavors.
This is a city where you should spend a few days to quietly feel its atmosphere, stroll through the Old Town, look at museums and even drive around the Graz area.
The entry was created in cooperation with the regional tourism organization Steiermark Tourismus and the Austrian Embassy in Poland.
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