Graz

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The landmark of Graz: The clock tower
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The landmark of Graz: The clock tower

Graz is the capital of Styria (Steiermark) and the 2nd largest city of Austria.

Contents

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Understand

Graz is the second-largest city in Austria, with a population of over 300,000. Some 50,000 of this population is made up of students, as Graz is home to no less than six universities (four "standard" universities and two dedicated solely to applied sciences), and is associated with names as illustrious as Johannes Kepler, Erwin Schrödinger and Nikola Tesla.

Graz was the European City of Culture for 2003.

Phone: The local area code is (0)316. The country code for Austria is +43.

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Get in

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By plane

Graz airport, (Flughafen Graz - Thalerhof), less than 6 miles south of the city center.

Scheduled flights operate to Graz from Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, Linz, Innsbruck, Zurich, London, Hannover, Gothenburg, Friedrichshafen.

Getting to the City is easy and inexpensive. The trainstation is located 300 meters away from the passenger terminal. Trains leave to Graz Hauptbahnhof (main station) roughly every hour. Fare: 1,70 Euro. As an alternative Buses leave right in front of the passenger terminal. The Bus will take you first to Jakominiplatz and then further to Hauptbahnhof. Fare: 1,70. Of course you can also take a taxi (which is about €20 to the centre of the city) or rent a car.

Nearby Airports include Maribor, Klagenfurt and a little further away Vienna.

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By train

The main station (Hauptbahnhof) is on the western edge of the city center, at the end of the Annenstrasse. Timetable.

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By car

The A9, runs north-south through Graz, mostly via the 6 mile long Plabutsch tunnel. The A2, just south of the city, runs east-west. Vienna (Wien) is 127 miles (2hrs) up the A2 to the east. A just as fast but much more scenic alternative route to Vienna is via Bruck/Mur taking the S6. (Beware: The dual carriage way is unfinished for a few miles between Graz and Bruck and there are lots of tunnels on the S6!!!) Some might also find the 5-mile-long( single carriageway) Gleinalm (Toll) tunnel on the A9, 15 miles to the north of Graz, unnerving. Toll charge: Gleinalm Tunnel: cars and motorhomes up to 3.5 t: EUR 7.95 | with caravans/trailers: EUR 9.95 | Motorhomes over 3.5 t: EUR 11.50. It is possible to avoid the tunnel by travelling on the rather longer route via Bruck an der Mur.

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By bus

Graz does not have a dedicated bus terminal. Private and public operators all operate from separate terminals:

  • Postbus operates its terminal at Andreas-Hofer-Platz (City Bus 40, 67), with many destinations throughout Styria but also further available.
  • Bahnbus (Trainbus) operates from a terminal next to the Hauptbahnhof (Tram 3, 6, 14 as well as 1, 7 in the evening, City Buses 50, 52, 53, 58, 63, 85).
  • Eurolines operates from the same terminal as the Bahnbus at Hautpbahnhof. They offer reasonable cheap tickets to many destinations throughout Europe.

For travels to Austrian destinations check out http://busbahnbim.at , they will find you routes with public buses, trains, and trams to your desired destination. (Although outside of Styria it is limited to trains.)

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Get around

  • Tram - Graz has an excellent tram service running through the Jakominiplatz where the different routes meet and you can change trams and buy tickets at the tobacco kiosk (Tabak). Make sure you punch your ticket inside the tram (If you get caught without a valid/punched ticket you will have to pay a fine of 40 Euros). You can buy hourly, daily, weekly or monthly tickets (also available at the driver). They are valid on all modes of public transport throughout the city (Zone 101). These tickets are also valid for the funicular railway up the schlossberg.
  • City Bus - Graz also has an excellent city bus network taking in the parts of Graz not serviced by trams. Many buses go through Jakominiplatz, Hauptbahnhof and Geidorfplatz. The tickets are the same as for the tram.Be sure to get yourself a map (at Jakominiplatz) of the network if you plan to use it frequently. Also check out [1].
Tram and Bus Ticket prices: Single ticket (available from the driver) € 1.70 (valid for one hour) Day ticket (available from the driver) € 3.50 (valid for 24 hours) Week ticket € 8.70 and Monthly ticket € 29.60 available from the Office of Transportation at the Hauptplatz.
  • Bike - Graz has an excellent bikeroute network. Due to this and the relative small size of the city, using a bike to get around is one of the best choices. It also helps that it does not rain a lot in Graz... Bikes may be rented, although if you are staying a bit longer buying a used one (and maybe reselling it) from one of the many bike stores may be cheaper.
  • Taxi - Taxis are available 24h a day. You can hail one on the street, go to a taxi- rank or simply order one by phone.The taxi ranks with the best chances of getting a taxi day or night are "Hauptplatz" (Right side of City Hall) or "Hauptbahnhof" . There is a base rate of approx. €3 for all rides. Avoid taxis in the early morning and early evening when traffic congestion can makes a taxi ride very expensive. Taxis can be booked calling 878, 889, 222.
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See

  • The historic OLD TOWN. It has been designated a World Heritage site
  • The Schlossberg (Schloßberg), the castle perched upon a hill in the middle of the city around which Graz sprang up. The funicular (Schloßbergbahn) and elevator (Schloßberglift) will take the effort out of the walk to the top, although to use them would be to miss the wooded paths and some spectacular views.
  • Clock Tower (Uhrturm) on the top of the Schloßberg, the symbol of Graz.
  • Eggenberg Castle (Schloss Eggenberg). Early Barock architecture, lavish state rooms. There is a small fee for entering the park surrounding the castle. ( Tram 1 direction Eggenberg/UKH) Tel: 583264-0 (free entry to the museum with euro<26 card)
  • Kunsthaus is Graz's newest exhibition place. It's worth a visit, even if you only look at it's design from the outside. It's right across the river from Hauptplatz at the Suedtirolerplatz (Tram 1,3,6,7,14 direction Hauptbahnhof). (You will definitely notice the blue bubble) (free entry with euro<26 card)
  • Joanneum Museum of Styria (Steiermärkische Landesmuseum Joanneum), Raubergasse 10. Tel: 8017-9716 (free entry with euro<26 card)
  • Armoury (Zeughaus) in the Herrengasse Tel: 8017 9810 open March 19th - October 31th, 2005: Mo to Su 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00; November 1st, 2005 - März 18th, 2006

Thu to So 10:000 - 15:00; Additional Information: It's not allowed to take pictures! http://www.museum-joanneum.at/zeughaus/ (free entry with euro<26 card)

  • On the Kaiser-Josef-Platz, right opposite the Opernhaus, is a fruit and vegetable open-air market where small farmers from the countryside around Graz bring their produce for sale (or rather their wives do). Morning only. The other main farmers market in Graz is located on the "Lendplatz". Morning only.
  • During the summer months, in the city centre between the Jakominiplatz and the Hauptplatz, along the Herrengasse, you may be fortunate enough to come across musicians of all sorts. Perhaps a small quartet playing Mozart. Perhaps a barrel-organ.
  • Football at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadion, the home of Sturm Graz and Grazer AK in the district of Liebenau, south of the city centre. Ticket prices from 22 to 36.50 Euros : http://www.stadiumguide.com/arnold.htm
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum, Fitnessparadies, Stadionplatz 1. Tel: 482482. Open Mo-Fr: 05:45-22:00, Sa,Su & public holidays: 10:00-21:00. Admission free.
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Do

  • Walk or climb up the Schloßberg and have a meal in the open-air at the top whilst admiring the views. The easiest way is to walk up the Sporgasse from the Hauptplatz to the "Karmeliterplatz" where you walk under a archway on the left where a road meaders up the gentler eastern side of the Schloßberg. From the west and north you have a choice of zig-zag paths or to climb the steps from "Schlossbergplatz". You also might see some of the tame red squirrels (Eichkätzchen) at the top. Use the Schloßbergbahn to go up or down if you don't feel like walking.
  • Take the number 1 tram to the terminus at the bottom of the Plabutsch, a hill on the western edge of Graz, and take a stroll up it. Perhaps I should say climb, because it's quite strenuous, and you really need walking boots and perhaps a map. Take Bus number 40 to the terminus and walk up (very steep) to the ruins of "Gösting" castle and enjoy the view over the city.
  • Swimming. Normally after May, the water in the outdoor swimming pools very quickly warms-up enough to enjoy swimming:
    • Eggenberger Bad, Janzgasse 21
    • Augartenbad, Schönaugürtel 1, right next to the river Mur and the Schönaubrücke bridge.
    • Bad Strassgang, Martinhofstraße 3.
    • Margarethenbad, Grillparzerstraße 10.
    • Ragnitzbad, Pesendorferweg 7.
    • Stukitzbad, Andritzer Reichsstraße 25a.
  • Boating or skating on the Hilmteich' and Talersee (just outside Graz) , depending upon the season.
  • Royal English cinema,Conrad-von-Hötzendorf-Straße 10, Tel.826133 has Hollywood farye in english language. Take tram Number 4,5 or 13 and get out at Finanzamt. If you are at Jakominplatz its a five-minute walk there. More alternative films can be found at the AUGARTEN KINO in the Friedrichgasse or the RECHBAUER KINO, Rechbauerstrasse.
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Buy

Be sure to buy a bottle of "Kernöl" (pumpkin seed oil). This oil is typical for Styria and has a very unique and wonderful taste. Ideally buy it at a (farmer)market (like Kaiser-Josef-Platz, Lendplatz,...). But you can also buy good quality oil at the normal supermarkets.

There are many possibilities to go shopping in Graz. However beware that it's only a small city, thus you will not find the same possibilities as you would in a city like Vienna, Paris or London. Good places to shop are:

  • Herrengasse - the most important shopping street in Graz. It connects the main square (Hauptplatz) with Jakominiplatz.
  • numerous lanes in the old town like "Schmiedgasse" or "Sporgasse".
  • in Kastner+Öhler Graz's big department store, right in the center, next to the main square. There is an underground car-park right underneath.
  • Steirerhof, Jakominplatz 12. Named after the demolished hotel that occupied the site until recently. Tel: 83 55 70
  • "CITY PARK" shopping complex situated on south-western edge of central Graz. "Lazarettgürtel 55"

Bigger shopping complexes located outside the city center are:

  • Shopping Center West - Being already quite a few years old it's a lot smaller than the Shopping City Seiersberg, but it's also nearer to the center. Take tram 5 to Puntigam and then bus number 64.
  • Shopping City Seiersberg - A new build shopping complex just outside the city limits. Take tram 5 to Puntigam and from there take bus 78. Although the center lies outside of Graz it's still Zone 101, meaning that you will not have to buy an additional public transport ticket.
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Eat

  • Schloßberg-Restaurant, Schloßberg 7/8. Tel: 823050
  • Take the number 5 tram to Puntigam and eat in the Puntigammer Brewery restaurant, Triesterstraße 361, Tel: 297100, open 10:00-24:00, or outside in the Gastgarten, when the weather permits .
  • Saegewerk, Schlögelgasse 1 (near Dietrichsteinplatz) , Tel: 820258 - they serve excellent and cheap pizza.
  • Posaune, Zinzendorfgasse (near KF University) - Like the Saegewerk.
  • Brot & Spiele, Mariahilferstrasse 17, Tel: 715081 - They offer american and asian style food for reasonable prices ( go for the steaks )
  • Braun de Praun,Morellenfeldgasse 32, Tel: 0316/322093 - Which has an incredible huge menu and reasonable prices.
  • 3 GOLDENE KUGELN 5 restaurants in Graz, Griesplatz(next to the telekom tower), Heinrichstrasse(near K.F.University) , Riesplatz, Annenstrasse(near Hauptbahnhof), Citypark. Austrian cuisine. large portions!!!, very reasonable prices.
  • Gloeckl Braeu, Glockenspielplatz 2-3, Tel: 814781 (gloecklbraeu.at) - It is possible to sit outdoors and the food is reasonable priced but very tasty! Try the filet steak or the styrian seasonal specialties!
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Drink

You'll have plenty of opportunities to drink beer (Bier) or wine (Wein) but perhaps the best one would be sitting, on a sunny day, in one of the many open-air bars.

The local beer brands are Murauer, Gösser, Reininghaus and Puntigamer. The latter 2 are brewed in Graz itself. Gösser do a strong dark brown beer reminiscent of Guinness (Stiftsbräu). But you'll also find lots of possibilities to drink other austrian and international beers. Heineken merged in 2003 with the biggest beer group in Austria, therefore you'll often find bars that will only serve beers from the Heineken group. (Gösser, Puntigamer, Zipfer, Wieselburger, Starobruno, Heineken,...) If you visit Graz in winter try a Bockbier. But beware they are a lot stronger than the usual austrian beers.

Styrian wine is one of best wines in the world. Especially the white wine. Try a glass of Welschriesling if you get the chance.

Bars are concentrated around the old town as well as the Karl-Franzens-University to the west of the old town. The old town has a mixed audience while the bars around university are mostly attended by students. In the old town you'll also find a few irish pubs. Whereas the most irish of them is O'Carolan's right next to the main square (Hauptplatz) others include Flann O'Brians and Molly Malone's. The Office is a very cosy and busy new addition to the Irish/British pub scene in Graz.

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Sleep

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Budget

  • Jugendhotel & Jugendgästehaus Graz (Youthhostel Graz), Idlhofgasse 74 (Busstop Lissagasse / Jugendhotel - Route 31,32,33) 22 Euro
  • Vital Pension Teuschler, Mariatrosterstraße 12, 321448
  • Centralbackpackers, Rösselmühlgasse 13, 0650-7221070.
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Mid Range

  • Ibis Graz, Europaplatz 12 (in front of the main railway station), 7780 (fax: 778300). 62/77 Euro (single/double).
  • Hotel Europa, Bahnhofgürtel 89 (opposite the main railway station), 7076 (fax: 7076606). 71/94 Euro (single/double).
  • Best Western Hotel Pfeifer Kirchenwirt, Kirchplatz 9 - situated on the eastern edge of Graz, quite a distance from the city center but has semi rural surroundings. (take Tramway 1 to the final stop at Mariatrost) , 3911120 (fax: 39111249).
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Splurge

  • Hotel Gollner, Schlögelgasse 14 (take tram 3 or 6 to Dietrichsteinplatz), 120/200 Euro (single/double).
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Get out

  • Drive to the Schöckel, a mountain to the east of Graz. It has a funicular (gondelbahn) so you can drive to the lower station and go up in that if you do not fancy walking.. There is a restaurant at the top and extensive views. You can walk down, even back to Graz, via Graz-Andritz and the number 4 tram terminus there, if you have a map. Take Bus 250 (Usually labeld St. Radegund) from Jakominiplatz or Andreas-Hofer-Platz to Seilbahn Talstation. Fare: 5,40 Euro. Duration: 40 min. You'll then be at the foot of the mountain, at the cable car station.
  • Austrian Open Air Museum (Österreichisches Freilichtmuseum) Stübing, a few miles north of Graz. Old farm buildings brought from all over Austria in a woodland setting. Tel: +43/(0)3124/53 700. mailto:service@freilichtmuseum.at Open 1st of Apr – 31st Oct, 09:00-17:00 (tickets sold till 16:00) closed on Mo (except on holidays), walk yourself or guided tours.
  • Loipersdorf, 45 miles to the east of Graz, has a spa where you can spend a day, swimming, sun-bathing, and being pampered. Tel: +43 (0) 33 82 / 82 04 -0, mailto:info@therme.at.
  • Riegersburg is 45 miles to the east of Graz. An ancient castle, perched on a 482 meter high crag, that withstood the Turks. Open daily from 9:00-17:00. The lift operates from 9:00-18:00 (last descent). Various entry concessions but adult EUR 9.50 Child EUR 7. The lift is EUR 2 each way. Tel: +43-3153/8346
  • Bärenschützklamm. A walk up a gorge between crags and over waterfalls starting from Mixnitz, 25 miles north of Graz, which can reached by road or rail. Or Pernegg an der Mur, Tel: +43 3867/8044.
  • Schwarzl Freizeitzentrum (Schwarzl Leisure Center) - a leisure center where you'll be able to do Water Skiing, swimming, diving, surfing, sailing, mountain biking, beach volleyball, go-karting, fishing, and ice skating in season, all at the at the Schwarzlsee, 5 miles south of Graz. Thalerhofstraße 85, Unterpremstätten. Tel: ++43/(0)3135/53577-0
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Contact

An internet-cafe (Sit'n'Surf) can be found at Hans-Sachs-Gasse 10 which is close to the Jakominiplatz in the centre of the city.

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External links

WikiPedia:Graz de:Graz

Retrieved from "http://www.world-travel-guide.net/Travel/Graz"
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