Is Graz Worth Visiting on a Budget & Free Things to Do

Graz is the second-largest city in Austria and a wonderful place to visit, with plenty of free things to do. We visited Graz on a tight budget for a few days and stayed 2 nights while travelling between Brno and Ljubljana.

We found the cheapest possible pet-friendly hotel, ate at cheap places, and enjoyed all the free attractions in Graz.

This includes some epic parks, the architecture of the old town and places on the riverbanks. Despite the tight budget, we had some lovely drinks in the city’s cafes and bars.

One of the big draws of visiting Graz is that the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Graz was founded in the Middle Ages, and you can see the layers of history in the preserved central areas. Graz was the residence of the Habsburgs twice, and the noble families influenced the city’s culture and art.

It is home to a blend of architectural and artistic styles from Central and Southern Europe, dating from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. Styles that caught my eye include Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Historicism.

Free Things To Do In Graz

Our main reason for visiting Graz in Austria was to see the various places of interest.

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Explore the Castle – Schlossberg Graz

One of my favourite things to do was to visit Schlossberg Graz. Schlossberg Graz is a castle on the hill overlooking the rest of the city. I took a few walks up the hill and explored the free parts.

The castle has a history dating back to the 10th century. However, most of the current fortifications date from the 16th century. You can see many fortifications and towers as you walk up the hill.

One of the most popular parts of the castle is the Uhrturm, a clock tower that was built in the 13th century. This is prominent in many guides about the city.

I explored the various gardens and bastions on the hill. The views of the city from above are rather special too. My favourite time to visit was around sunrise, when it’s mostly empty and tranquil.

Graz Cathedral

Graz Cathedral is also a pleasant sight to visit for free. The cathedral is beautiful to see from the outside and features decorative elements inside.

Originally, they built it in the Gothic style between 1438 and 1462 as a court church, aka Hofkirche. Subsequently, the Jesuits modified it to fit the Baroque style. It is next door to the famous mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II.

Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II

Next to the cathedral in Graz is the mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, a fantastic free attraction to visit. The mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II resembles a church.

After Emperor Ferdinand II died in 1637, they buried him in the mausoleum in Graz; however, his heart was kept in the Herzgruft at the Hofburg palace in Vienna.

It also has some wonderful decor and altars to see inside, especially on the ceilings. It’s all very grand, including the statues and the view into the burial chamber. You can find out about opening times on their website.

Sightseeing in Old Town

Graz has a rather special old town area, which is ideal for sightseeing walks. It is one of the best-preserved in Europe.

During my visit, I saw the key areas of the old town and the narrow side streets. Seeing the various architectural styles was great and didn’t cost a euro.

When visiting the area, head for the town hall and Hauptplatz der Stadt Graz. From here, you can see all the main streets to explore. The architecture at the edges of Hauptplatz der Stadt Graz is beautiful.

See Murinsel & Views From The River Banks

The picturesque River Mur runs through the city, making it a great place for a stroll. You can see many features from here, and there are benches to relax on.

There are many bridges that cross the river, including Murinsel, a floating platform. Murinsel is unique and well worth a visit when exploring Graz. Being close to the whitewater below is cool, and on Murinsel there are some art/photography exhibits to see.

See The Unique Kunsthaus

If you like off-the-wall architecture, then visiting the Kunsthaus building is eye-catching. It is a unique building and well worth a mooch around outside or to see from above at the castle. I also liked seeing the building from the riverbanks at sunset. Inside, Kunsthaus is a contemporary art gallery if you enjoy that sort of thing.

Doppelwendeltreppe & Burg Graz

The staircase and courtyards are the only parts of the new castle/Burg Graz that tourists can visit. The original castle dates from the 15th century; however, much has been rebuilt.

Another free place of interest to visit is Doppelwendeltreppe, which translates to ‘the double spiral stairs’ and is at the Burg, which is now home to the regional government.

You can climb up the Doppelwendeltreppe and see the Gothic features of the stairs. On the way up, the windows also have some views of the cathedral and mausoleum. The unique staircase, which was built between 1499 and 1500, impressed me.

Schloßbergsteig

Schloßbergsteig is a series of stairs and balconies from the old town to the castle on the hill.

The terraces have gardens and are especially beautiful early in the morning. Russian prisoners of war in the First World War started these. This is one of many routes you can choose to ascend the hill to Schlossberg Graz.

Karmeliterplatz, Graz

Karmeliterplatz is a town square with views of the castle, surrounded by delightful buildings.

The centrepiece of Karmeliterplatz is the fountains next to the Trinity Plague Column. I also looked around the buildings in the square.

One of the more eye-catching buildings for me was the Karmeliterkloster, which is now the Styrian State Archives. The flying cow on the Österreichische Volkspartei was a bit off the wall, too.

Hauptplatz der Stadt Graz

Hauptplatz der Stadt Graz is a nice place to visit in the old town, and there are lots of things to see along the edges of the square. The main focal point is the Grazer Rathaus building. The Renaissance Grazer Rathaus dates from the mid-16th century.

During my visit, there was a craft market with lots of stalls at Hauptplatz, which was nice for a mooch around. Other things to see in Hauptplatz include various pretty buildings at the edges and the centrepiece Archduke Johann Fountain.

Landeszeughaus

A stunning building to see when exploring is Landeszeughaus. The Landeszeughaus is the state armoury of Styria and was built between 1642 and 1744. It was the Habsburg Empire’s most important weapons depot. You can also pay to visit the inside and see the armoury exhibits.

Kellersberg Palace

Another pleasant building in the central area is Kellersberg Palace, AKA Kellersberg’sches Stadthaus. They built the palace in 1728 by joining two older townhouses.

Where To Stay?

We stayed at the dog-friendly Ibis Budget Graz City, the cheapest available accommodation that allowed pets. The hotel is close to the river and the major attractions. It is in the trendy area of Lend, which was fun to spend time in.

Despite it being the cheapest option, it was still quite expensive for our stay. The room was basic and tiny but was good for two nights. Any longer, cabin fever would have kicked in. We booked via the Booking.com website and paid for our stay at check-in. You can check for other options on the Booking website.

Dog-Friendly Cafés & Bars

During our stay, we had refreshments from markets and shops. However, we had the budget to enjoy a few coffees and beers out during our stay. We mostly did this when we were out with Henry, and I found it dog-friendly. Beer prices were in the 4-5 euro bracket, making it one of the less budget-friendly things we did.

What About Cheap Food?

We mostly ate food from the local market or supermarkets during our visit. This involved a few picnics from Billa on Castle Hill. A favourite meal was schnitzel sandwiches with supermarket salads.

I also ate a takeaway from Lend Kebab and Pizza, which satisfied an urge. It was delicious too, and they had proper hot sauce.

Was Graz Worth Visiting on a Budget?

I really enjoyed spending time in Graz and enjoying the sights. It would have been nice to pop into a few Austrian restaurants, attractions, and museums, but I didn’t feel I’d missed out.

We found the city mostly dog-friendly, and as a bonus, dogs were welcome in the parks. I’d certainly return to Graz, as it’s a handy crossroads on the train network and beautiful.