Things to do in  Graz

Few will go to Graz and fail to spot the Schlossberg, the mountain in the middle of the city. This densely wooded peak boasts a park with cafes and views, a curious 16th-century clock tower, and a huge underground slide that shoots braver visitors from the top to the old town in the blink of an eye.

History abounds at the Hauptplatz (main square), where architecture dates to the Middle Ages. Set in Graz Old Town, the square today remains the city’s core, linking every street worth seeing and every tram. Architecture enthusiasts and people-watchers come to linger, enjoying markets and events that add buzz to the elegant backdrop.

Graz Art Museum—aka Kunsthaus Graz, the Friendly Alien, or the Spacelab—sparks as much interest for its striking exterior as its collections inside. Designed by British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier for the city’s 2003 European Capital of Culture title, the site features changing art exhibitions, often themed around political and social issues.

Historical weapons abound in the Styrian Armoury, home to some 32,000 objects, making it the largest collection of weaponry in Austria—if not in the world. Covering the period between the 15th and 18th centuries, the exhibits are spread over four floors with knights’ armor, mortars, muskets, swords, and sabers among the finds.

The historic heart of Graz, the second-largest city in Austria, Graz Old Town (Grazer Aldstadt) offers red-roofed baroque homes, exuberant fountains, and a castle-topped mount, set around a rushing river. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is home to museums, state buildings, the cathedral, the Clock Tower, and the Glockenspiel performing clock.

Standing proud on the edge of the Schlossberg hill and park, the Graz Clock Tower (Grazer Uhrturm) is a city icon. Between a neat triangular roof and a wooden gallery that once served as a place for volunteers to watch for fire, its four faces tell the time in an unusual fashion: The long hand marks hours and the shorthand minutes.

Graz City Hall sits in the heart of the Hauptplatz, flaunting a handsome 19th-century façade that masks 16th-century roots. Today, the building is the mayor’s seat, serving mainly as a city administration office, although it also has a sideline as a wedding venue. You can often see brides and grooms dressed in their finery at the hall’s doors.

Gaining a reputation as “the” cultural hotspot in Graz, the Joanneum Quarter links the city’s historic museum buildings and library from a modern plaza created in the city’s old town in 2011. Escalators sweep visitors up from the plaza to different museums that showcase art, history, science, and literature.

One of Austria’s most important baroque palaces, Eggenberg Palace is a must for Graz visitors. Created in the 17th century along with elegant gardens, the site was once home to Austria’s influential Eggenberg dynasty. Today, tours cover the curiosities of the state rooms and their frescoes, plus stories about the Eggenberg family.

Built in the early 16th century, the Landhaushof was the first Renaissance building in Graz and remains one of the most notable Renaissance buildings in central Europe. The massive structure today takes up an entire city block, but the original building containing a law firm and a chapel was much smaller. The building, which was home to the Styrian Diet, was soon enlarged by expanding into nearby buildings. Due to the expansion over the years, the Landhaushof features several different architectural styles, although great care was taken to blend the varied styles together. The building today features a main façade with elegant round-arched windows, airy porticoes and a three-story arcaded Italianate courtyard. The Landhaushof has three courtyards altogether, each hosting musical concerts and theater performances during the summer months.