Before Day 1. Graz is small, so leave your bags and walk out into the old town.Details
From the airport
Graz has its own airport south of the city, with a bus and a train link to the center, and taxis. Many visitors also arrive by train from Vienna, which runs on a regular timetable. Check the times ahead of your day.
Your car
You need a car for the wine road, the castle and the hills, but not for Graz. Collect it on the morning of Day 3, not before, so you are not paying for parking in the old town. Check the rental office hours when you book.
Cycling
The valleys are gentle enough for cycling, and the wine road has quiet lanes. Check ahead on bike hire and on whether an electric bike suits the hills. A cycling day is a good way to taste wine without a car.
Before you go out
Graz is at its best on foot, from the main square to the river. Day 1 starts on the Hauptplatz, so book a hotel in the old town and you will be there in minutes.
Day 1. Graz
4 stops · 0.8 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningA place to sit
Hauptplatz
The main square of the old town, with the town hall on one side and a fountain in the middle. Start here, look around, and take your time.
Go whenMorning, before the shops open.
Local tip Look at the town hall on the square and the fountain, then take one of the lanes off the square to see the courtyards.
About 2 min walkunder 0.1 km
2
MiddayPick one floor
Styrian Armoury
A building from the 1600s full of historic armor and weapons, kept in the rooms where they were stored. Walk through one floor and leave when you have seen enough.
Go whenMidday, when it is hot or wet outside.
Local tip You do not have to see it all. Choose one floor, look at the armor close up, and move on.
The hill in the middle of the old town, with the clock tower that is the symbol of Graz. A lift, a funicular and stairs lead up, so check ahead on which are running. The hands are the other way round, because the long one is the hour hand.
Go whenLate afternoon, around sunset.
Local tip Take the lift or the funicular up and walk down the stairs, if you are comfortable with steps. Check ahead on which is running.
Wurzelfleisch is a Styrian dish of boiled pork with root vegetables, grated horseradish and caraway, served with bread. Warm and plain, and a taste of the region.
Local tip Order it in a traditional inn and ask what comes with it.
If it rains. Styrian Armoury and Graz Cathedral are covered, so keep them. Move Hauptplatz and Schlossberg and the Clock Tower to a dry day if you can.
Day 2. Graz, part 2
4 stops · 8.8 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth a short look
Murinsel
A shell-shaped island of glass and steel that floats in the river Mur and is linked to the banks by two footbridges. A short stop with a good view of the water.
Go whenMorning, with the river quiet.
Local tip Walk across one footbridge and back, and then look at it from the bank, where the whole shape shows.
A baroque palace in a large park on the western edge of the city, part of the UNESCO site. Walk the park first, then see the state rooms if you wish. Check ahead for how to visit.
Go whenAfternoon, then stay for the park.
Local tip Walk the park first, then decide whether to visit the state rooms. Check ahead on how to visit.
An open-air market in the east of the old town, with fruit, cheese, bread and bottles of pumpkin seed oil. Go in the morning and eat as you walk.
Go whenMorning, when the stalls are full.
Local tip Look for the dark green pumpkin seed oil, the black bread and the apple juice. Buy a little to eat on the spot.
About 15 min walk1.2 km
4
EveningSee the building first
Kunsthaus Graz
A modern art building that looks like a blue bubble with glass spikes, which locals call the friendly alien. Look at the building from the river, then go in if the exhibition appeals.
Go whenLate afternoon, when the blue skin catches the light.
Local tip Cross the river for the best view of the whole shape, then decide whether you want to go in.
If it rains. Eggenberg Palace and Kunsthaus Graz are covered, so keep them. Move Murinsel to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. The castle and volcano land and the South Styrian Wine Road
3 stops · 108.7 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Kunsthaus GrazAbout 48 min by car38.5 km
Where Day 2 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Riegersburg Castle
A large castle on a steep volcanic rock that stands alone over the farmland. Walk up from the village or use the lift if it runs, and check ahead for opening.
Go whenMorning, before the heat.
Local tip Check ahead on opening, since a castle may close on some days. Wear shoes for stone paths, even if you take the lift.
A Buschenschank is a family wine tavern, where the grower pours his own wine and serves a board of cold cuts, cheese, black bread and spreads. A cheerful, simple lunch. The opening days vary, so check ahead.
Local tip Plan a designated driver, a taxi or a cycling day. Do not drink and drive on these roads.
About 41 min by car29.5 km
3
AfternoonWorth a short walk
Klöch
A wine village on the slope of an old volcano, known for its Traminer, a spicy white wine. Walk the lanes and look out over the vines.
Go whenAfternoon, after lunch.
Local tip Walk to the edge of the village for the view over the vines, and look for the volcanic soil in the slopes.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. The hills are slow, so leave plenty of time to get back.Details
Returning the car
Plan to give the car back at the Graz station or airport the evening before you leave, or early on the day. Fill the tank outside the city, where it is easier.
By train or by air
Trains run from Graz to Vienna and on to other Austrian cities. The airport is a short trip from the center. Check the timetable the night before and pick the earlier option.
Bringing food home
A bottle of oil or wine is a good souvenir. Wrap it well, and check the allowance for your airline and your country before you pack.
A last morning
If you have a few hours, walk up the Schlossberg once more or have a slow coffee on the Hauptplatz before you go.
Questions people ask
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 4 days in Graz, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 0.8 to 70.2 kilometers between its stops, and 90.8 kilometers in all across 4 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.