You’ve probably heard of Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck, but Graz? It’s one of the best European cities you’ve likely never considered.
I had never even heard of Graz before this trip, and I’m guessing many of you are in the same boat – but Graz, Austria with kids is such an easy, underrated European city to visit.
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Graz was part of our 3-week Italy, Austria, and Croatia trip, and it was the city we were catching our overnight sleeper train from to get from Austria to Croatia.
Originally, we planned to arrive the day our train left, spend a few hours there, and then hop on our 10pm train. But after spending a week in Lienz, Austria – with a lot more rain than we expected – we decided to leave a day early and head to a bigger city with more indoor options.
And honestly, I’m so glad we did.
Quick Facts About Graz, Austria
- Austria’s second-largest city
- Population: ~345,000
- Located in southeastern Austria along the Mur River
- About 2 hours by train from Vienna
- Less than 1 hour from the Slovenian border
- Over 60,000 students (which gives it a really lively feel)
- UNESCO-listed Old Town
- UNESCO City of Design
- European Capital of Culture (2003)
How To Get to Graz
We arrived in Graz, with our kids 10 and 14, around 6pm after a train and bus ride from Lienz, Austria.
Graz Central Station is about a 20-minute walk to the main downtown area, and it’s very straightforward, just follow Annenstraße the whole way.
If you’re travelling with younger kids, you might want to grab a taxi or tram, but for us, the walk was totally manageable.
If you’re planning your own trip, there are a few easy ways to get to Graz:
By train
Graz is very well connected by train, and this is probably the easiest way to arrive if you’re already travelling through Europe.
- From Vienna: about 2.5 hours
- From Salzburg: around 4 hours
- From Venice: about 5–6 hours (this is a really nice route if you’re doing an Italy → Austria trip like we did)
We found train travel in Austria to be simple, reliable, and very family-friendly.
By plane
Graz has its own airport (Graz Airport), located about 20 minutes from the city centre.
You’ll typically connect through a larger European city like Vienna, Frankfurt, or Munich.
From the airport, you can:
- take a taxi (fastest)
- use public transit (cheaper, but takes a bit longer)
By car
If you’re road-tripping, Graz is an easy stop.
It’s:
- about 2 hours from Vienna
- just under an hour from Slovenia
- a good add-on between Austria, Italy, and Croatia
Where We Stayed in Graz
I booked the Grand Hotel Wiesler on Booking.com the day before based on location, price, and reviews and it ended up being a fantastic choice.
We paid $244 for the night, and the location couldn’t have been better. Right in the centre of the city along the Mur River, next to the Murinsel, everything was walkable.
The hotel itself had so much character. It’s a historic building with rustic hardwood floors, vintage chandeliers mixed with modern touches. Our room and bathroom were both very large for a standard hotel room, and the bathroom even had a standalone tub.
It definitely felt like more than just a standard hotel stay, with lots of little details that made it memorable.
To book the Grand Hotel Weisler click HERE.
You’ll find the accommodation in Graz is very reasonable for a large European city in the summer. To browse more accommodation options in Graz, click around the map below.
First Impressions of Graz
After checking in, we headed out to explore and one of the best things about staying so centrally is that we didn’t need any transit at all.
We walked everywhere.
First impressions? Graz is vibrant, busy, and really beautiful, but also surprisingly artistic.
You notice it right away.
The Kunsthaus Graz is impossible to miss. Nicknamed “the Blob,” it looks like a giant black bubble dropped into the middle of the old city. It’s such a contrast to the historic buildings and gives you an immediate sense of Graz, a mix of old and new.
As we crossed the Mur River, we also saw the Murinsel, a floating glass structure right in the middle of the water that lights up at night.
Dinner in Graz
By that point, we were starving.
And while Austria might make you think of schnitzel, we were ready for something different.
We ended up at Restaurant Mekong for Vietnamese, and it had great reviews. It did not disappoint.
What We Did in Graz (Day 2)
We woke up and grabbed breakfast at Cafe Tribeka, just a few doors down from our hotel. Great coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and very reasonable prices.
Our sleeper train didn’t leave until 10pm, so we had a full day to explore. The hotel held our luggage for us, which made things really easy.
Schlossberg + The Graz Slide
You can’t miss Schlossberg when visiting Graz. It’s the highest natural point in the city at 473 metres, and the views alone are worth going up for.
There are three ways to get to the top: the funicular, the glass elevator, or walking the steps. We chose to walk… and then ended up going back up again later in the day.
For more information on Schlossberg and Graz, check out the Graz Tourism Website.
At the top, you get incredible views of Graz, the red rooftops of the Old Town and the contrast of the modern Kunsthaus in the distance.
But let’s be honest. The main reason we went up?
👉 The slide.
Now THIS is what we came for.
The Graz Slide is the highest underground slide in the world at 175 metres long. You need to be at least 130 cm to ride it, and it is dark inside, so it could be a bit intimidating for younger kids.
My kids loved it. So much so that we bought them another ride.
I liked it… but once was enough for me. You’re spinning around quite a bit on the way down, so it definitely gets a bit dizzying.
We also did The Flight Graz, a 4D motion ride where you virtually fly over the city. It was a fun add-on and a great way to see more of Graz.
The combined ticket for both was just 10.90 euros, which felt like really good value and we didn’t wait in line for anything!
Kastner & Öhler
From there, we walked over to Kastner & Öhler.
At first glance, it looks like a museum but it’s actually a six-floor department store, and honestly one of the most beautiful ones I’ve ever been in.
With over 500 brands and a rooftop café, it’s a great place to spend some time. Also a good one to keep in your back pocket if the weather turns.
Wandering the Old Town
Walking through the Old Town of Graz is an experience in itself.
It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a mix of Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque architecture. Cobblestone streets, hidden alleys, patios everywhere, it’s one of those places where you just want to wander without a plan.
We also came across so much live music in Austria, and Graz was no exception. I could have stood and listened all day.
CoSA Science Centre (FREE!)
This was one of the biggest surprises of our time in Graz.
We’ve been to a lot of science centres, both at home in Calgary and while travelling, and I was really impressed with this one.
It’s fully interactive and genuinely engaging for both kids and adults. And the best part?
👉 It’s completely free.
Some of the standout exhibits at CoSA:
The medical lab, where kids can put on a doctor’s coat, take “blood,” and run tests on patients. At most places, this kind of exhibit would have a huge line but we walked right in.
The other stand out exhibit here was their Technology space where you get to build your own car. They have actual car parts on shelves and you choose the parts for you car, put it all together and then through their computers you can test drive what you built. The kids were really involved with this exhibit and spent a lot of time here. We all found it really interesting and fun.
And the DIY Maker Workshop, where kids can create projects using tools like saws and soldering irons. My son used a soldering iron to write his name into wood, which made for a really fun souvenir.
There’s also a separate workshop for younger kids just outside this one.
If we had more time, we easily could have spent a full afternoon here.
Kunsthaus Graz (Honest Take)
We decided to go inside the Kunsthaus, and it wasn’t our favourite.
It’s a contemporary art museum, and exhibits change often, so I would definitely check ahead of time. It just didn’t really land for us or the kids when we were there. But I’ve seen good reviews from parents so it’s worth checking what’s on exhibit and deciding from there.
Back Up Schlossberg + Dinner
We crossed back over the Mur via the Murinsel and took the funicular back up Schlossberg.
At only 3.20 euros for adults and 1.60 for kids, it’s really affordable and a fun way to get back up the hill.
This time we explored a different area and ended up sitting at the Biergarten at the top. Such a charming spot overlooking the city, with big trees for shade and a really relaxed atmosphere.
After that, we headed back down in search of dinner.
We ended up at L’Osteria, sitting outside in a beautiful square. Pizza ranged from 9–13 euros, which felt very reasonable.
One thing we noticed throughout Graz: prices felt much more affordable compared to other European cities.
Catching the Overnight Train
After dinner, we went back to the hotel to grab our luggage and made our way to Graz Central Station to catch our overnight train to Split, Croatia.
Why Graz Surprised Us
Although I’m sure we weren’t the only North American tourists there, I didn’t hear a single North American accent the entire time.
Compared to places like Rome, Venice, and Paris, Graz felt much more local.
It wasn’t empty but it also wasn’t crowded. It felt lively and vibrant, but we weren’t being herded through streets or waiting in lines.
We could actually enjoy everything at our own pace. It felt like how you imagine your European trip to feel like but often isn’t because it’s so busy.
There’s also such a cool artistic vibe here. The mix of old and new just works so well.
Is Graz Good for Kids?
Yes, very!
There’s a surprising amount to do for kids, and everything felt easy.
Between the slide, the science centre, the open spaces, and just how walkable everything is, it’s a really manageable city for families.
How Long to Stay in Graz
If you’re short on time, you can see the highlights in one full day.
But ideally, I’d recommend 2–3 nights.
We only had one full day, and I definitely felt like we could have slowed down and explored more.
If we went back, I’d stay at least 2–3 nights and add:
- the local markets (apparently Graz has more market days than any other city in Europe)
- the Styrian Armoury which has the world’s largest collection of historic weapons
- the Opera (tickets start around 12 euros!)
- Eggenberg Palace
- the Red Bull Ring (just over an hour away), Besides Formula One it looks like there’s always lots of events going on here that would be thrilling to watch
When to Visit Graz
We visited in the summer, and it felt like a great time to go.
Warm weather, lots happening in the city, outdoor patios everywhere.
Late spring through early fall would be ideal.
Is Graz Worth Visiting?
Graz completely surprised us. It has everything you want in a European city – beautiful old architecture, great food, and a really cool creative vibe – but without the crowds or chaos.
What also stood out was how affordable it felt compared to other European cities we’ve visited. From meals out to activities to even our hotel, everything felt reasonable, which made the whole experience that much more enjoyable.
It’s also a city that just feels easy. It’s very walkable, the Old Town is one of the best preserved in Central Europe, and that mix of historic buildings with modern design (like the Kunsthaus and Murinsel) gives it such a unique energy.
And with so many things to do for kids, it ended up being one of the most relaxed and genuinely enjoyable stops on our trip. If you’re looking for somewhere a little different that still checks all the boxes, Graz is such a good choice.
To view more of our Austria trip live, in action, head over to my Instagram stories
Planning a Trip to Italy, Austria or Croatia?
If you’re planning a similar trip, you might find these helpful:
- Biking the Drau Cycle Path in Austria with Kids
- What we Packed for Europe in the Summer with our Kids
- Our 3 Weeks in Italy, Austria and Croatia with Kids (Route, Stays & Costs)
- Split, Croatia with Kids What We’d Do Differently Next Time
- Alpe di Siusi with Kids: Hiking, Cable Cars and What We Learned
- Our Italy Dolomites Farm Stay (Agriturismo Experience)
- Bolzano with Kids: Easy Family Travel Tips for the Dolomites
- Taking the Overnight Sleeper Train from Austria to Croatia with Kids
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