If you’re planning a day trip to Graz, the good news is that it’s a very manageable city to explore in a short space of time. Austria’s second-largest city is compact, walkable, and super easy to get around, with many of its main sights clustered around the Old Town and Schlossberg.
I visited Graz for one day on my way from Vienna to Ljubljana with my sister, and it worked really well as a stop en route. We had actually only planned on staying for a couple of hours, but ended up staying for most of the day.
So, is one day enough for a Graz itinerary? Yes, absolutely. You won’t see every single corner of this small city, but you can definitely cover the main sights of Graz in a day.
Read also: How To Plan The Perfect Vienna To Graz day Trip
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Morning — Old Town & Schlossberg
Breakfast near Schlossberg Funicular
If you want to start your Graz itinerary with some fuel for the day, I recommend having breakfast near the base of Schlossberg so you can get straight into it afterwards. KLYO is a very handy option for that.
It’s right by Schlossbergplatz, so there’s no unnecessary faffing about first thing in the morning trying to find somewhere convenient that turns out to be not so convenient.
Ride or walk up the Schlossberg
One of the best things about Graz is that the main viewpoint is right there in the city, looming above the Old Town.
You’ve got two choices when heading up to the viewpoint. You can take the funicular if you want the easy option, and, full disclosure, this is what I did. There is no prize for arriving sweaty before breakfast has even settled! But if you do feel energetic, you can walk up the 260 steps instead.
Explore the Uhrturm (Clock Tower)
At the top, head straight for the Uhrturm, the clock tower which is a major symbol of Graz. This is where you get that classic view over the city’s red rooftops, church towers and cobble-stoned streets.
One of the reasons Graz Clock Tower matters so much historically is that it survived when much of the Schlossberg fortifications were destroyed after the Napoleonic era.
The clock is famous for something that catches nearly everyone out the first time: the big hand shows the hours and the small hand shows the minutes. That’s not a mistake. The original clock face only had an hour hand, and when a minute hand was added later, the large hour hand was kept just because it was easier to read from far below in the city.
Wander the paths around the hilltop fortifications
Don’t make the mistake of seeing the clock tower, taking a couple of photos, and immediately heading back down again. The paths around Schlossberg are part of the attraction in their own right.
They loop around old bastions, gates and terraces, so you are not just walking up to the Clock Tower, you’re moving through what was once the layout of Graz’s hilltop fortress.
After the stronghold was dismantled in the early 19th century, the area was turned into a public park, which is why the route today mixes defensive history with leafy viewpoints and promenades.
Head down into the Historic Centre
There are three ways to get back down into the Old Town from Schlossberg. Of course we’ve already mentioned the two (the funicular or the steps.
But if you want, Graz also has one of the coolest ways to leave a viewpoint I have ever come across. You can take the slide.
Yes, an actual slide.
This isn’t just a tiny gimmicky one for kids. It’s the tallest indoor slide in the world! Fast and ridiculously fun.
Once back down, you are straight into Graz’s UNESCO-listed Historic Centre, which is where you’ll find medieval lanes, hidden courtyards and elegant old façades.
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Stroll toward Hauptplatz
From Schlossberg, make your way down into the Old Town and head for Hauptplatz, Graz’s main square. This has been the centre of city life for centuries and it is still one of the busiest parts of Graz.
Admire the Graz City Hall
One side of the square is dominated by Graz City Hall, the large white building with the central dome and decorative façade. The building you see today is from the 19th century, however the city administration moved into a town hall on Hauptplatz around 1550, and that building was later replaced in 1803 by the current Town Hall.
Around the rest of the square, look out for the rows of historic merchant houses painted in soft shades of yellow, pink, cream and blue. This is one of the prettiest parts of central Graz, and if you’ve seen photos of the city before, this’ll be the one of views you’ll have seen.
Keep an eye out as well for the Archduke Johann Fountain in the square. Archduke Johann was a famous figure in Styria and is still closely associated with Graz, so his statue turns up more than once around the city.
Lunch — Traditional Styrian Food
Next up is lunch, and this is a good point to try some Styrian food if you’re a foodie. Graz is the capital of Styria, so if you are going to try regional dishes anywhere, this is the place for it.
A good option in the Old Town is Der Steirer for some Backhendl, which is Austrian fried chicken or Käferbohnensalat made with Styrian scarlet runner beans.
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Afternoon — Modern Graz & Riverside Walk
Kunsthaus Graz
After lunch, cross the Mur and head for Kunsthaus Graz, the blob-like blue building that looks as if someone dropped a futuristic art museum into the middle of the city and just left it there.
It opened in 2003 as part of Graz’s year as European Capital of Culture, and is nicknamed the Friendly Alien.
Even if you are not planning to go inside, it’s still worth walking over just to see it up close because it is such a contrast to everything you’ve already seen so far in the Old Town.
One minute you are looking at church towers and historic façades, the next you’re standing beside this huge curved building covered in shiny blue panels. I feel Graz actually does this sort of contrast very well.
If you do want to go in, Kunsthaus Graz is one of the city’s main contemporary art venues and runs changing exhibitions rather than a fixed permanent collection. In 2026, for example, the programme includes exhibitions such as Hybrid Pleasure and 30% Dandelion, both opening on 20 March, with the exhibitions running from 21 March.
Murinsel (Island in the Mur)
From Kunsthaus, it’s just a minute’s walk to Murinsel, the steel shell-like platform sitting in the middle of the river. It was built in 2003, again for Graz’s European Capital of Culture year, and connects both riverbanks by footbridges.
It’s not an island in the normal sense, more like a floating structure anchored in the Mur with a café and event space inside. You can walk onto it and get a different view of both the Old Town side and the more modern side around Kunsthaus.
The Murinsel also has its own café, so this is a good place to stop for a coffee if you need one before carrying on.
Late Afternoon — Historic Highlights
Graz Cathedral & Mausoleum
From the river, head back into the historic centre and make your way towards Graz Cathedral.
The cathedral, or Grazer Dom, dates from the 15th century and was built under Emperor Frederick III. The outside is quite plain by Austrian standards, and I recommend stepping inside rather than just glancing at the façade and moving on.
Right beside it is the Mausoleum, which is a bit more dramatic. It was commissioned by Ferdinand II in the early 17th century and has a distinctive dome and tower that stand out immediately.
Hidden Courtyards & Staircases
After that, I recommend spending a bit of time doing one of the best things in Graz, which is simply looking beyond the main street. The Old Town has a lot of courtyards, passageways and staircases tucked behind fairly ordinary-looking doorways, and they’re easy to miss if you only stick to the obvious route.
One of the best-known is the double spiral staircase at the Burg. This is probably one of the most unusual architectural details in Graz and definitely not something you come across every day.
The two staircases curve around each other and then reconnect at each floor. If you like finding stuff that’s a bit different when you travel, this is one of the best stops in the city.
If you still have time and you’re a history fan, this area is also close to the Styrian Armoury, so you may want to add that in.
Evening — Dinner & Night Views
Dinner in the Old Town
For dinner, stay in the Old Town and go somewhere that serves proper Styrian food. Altsteirische Schmankerlstube is a good choice for that. It’s central, traditional, and suits this Graz itinerary well.
Another solid choice is Zur Steirerstub’n, which is a little less obvious than some of the places right on the main route and is known for traditional Austrian and Styrian cooking.
Cocktails at a Rooftop Bar
Graz has some wonderful options if you want to finish the day with a drink and a view.
Aiola Upstairs is probably the best known. It sits up on the Schlossberg, so the big draw here is the view back over the rooftops and city lights. I liked the idea of ending my Graz itinerary where the day started, so this was the obvious choice.
Freiblick is another good option and is more central, so it works well if you don’t fancy heading back up the hill in the evening. It has a roof terrace and looks out over the historic centre.
One Day Graz Itinerary Map
To help you get the whole picture, I’ve put together this helpful map of all the stops on my Graz itinerary. Zoom in and click on each pinpoint for more information.
Best Graz Organised Tours
If you’re more of an organised tour kinda person, rather than a do it yourself one, you might want to consider some of the below top rated Graz tours and activities.
- Guru Walks: Free Walking Tour of Graz
- Funicular Ride & Scholssberg Picnic Experience
- Graz Instagram Photo-Tour
- Private Tour from Vienna to Graz
Where to Stay in Graz
If you plan to stick around Graz overnight or even for a few days, here are some of my top pick hotels.
Luxury
- Schlossberghotel – This is a stylish art hotel near the base of Schlossberg hill and within easy walking distance of the old town and the Schlossberg funicular.
Mid-range
- Aiola Living Boutique Hotel Graz – A boutique hotel which is design focused right in the centre of Graz, with each room individually designed and many of the city’s cafés, restaurants, and sights right on the doorstep.
Budget
- CHRIZZ Rooms – A smaller, modern accommodation option that offers simple rooms. It’s an easy base for exploring the city.
Check out other hotels in Graz below.
How to Stay Online in Austria
In case you don’t have data while travelling, I recommend getting an e-Sim. My personal favourite is Airalo (you can read my full review here).
The benefit of using an e-sim rather than a physical sim card is that you ca
