Graz

Graz Country: Austria Links: CS Group Wikipedia Wikitravel

Graz [graːts] (etymologically from Slovenian: Gradec IPA: /gra.deʦ/, "little castle"), with a population of 287,723 as of 2006 (of which 250,099 have principal residence status), is the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the federal state of Styria (Steiermark [ˈʃtaɪ̯ɐmaʁk] in German).

Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six universities have over 40,000 students. Graz's "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centers in Central Europe. In 1999, it was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003. (from en.wikipedia.org)

Getting there

By Plane:

Graz has an international airport, airport code is GRZ/LOWG. The airport is connected to the city via train and bus. For details, see http://www.flughafen-graz.at/

By Train:

Graz is connected to Vienna via 2hourly EC/IC trains, travel time is ~2h40min. If you come from abroad, the main railway station "Graz Hauptbahnhof" is most likely the destination where you want to go. It is well connected to the rest of the city via public transportation. For schedules, please consult http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp

If you are under 26 years of age (until the day before your 26th birthday) you can get a discount card ("Vorteilscard") which gives you a 50% discount on train travels. It cost EUR 19,90. If you're over 26 you can still get it, but it's EUR 99,90. For more information please take a look at this: http://www.oebb.at/pv/en/Servicebox/VORTEILScard/VORTEILScard_26/index.jsp

By Bus:

By Carsharing: Check out this website http://www.mitfahrboerse.at/v2/index.php?lang=EN

Getting around

Public Transport (Grazer Verkehrsbetriebe - GVB)

Single ticket (valid 1hr): EUR 1,70, 24hr ticket: EUR 3,70

For detailed rates and schedules please have a look at http://www.verbundlinie.at/lang/en/. This will work for all of Styria...

The public transportation system (tram and bus) is very extensive in Graz and you can get to virtually anywhere in the city, just check the maps. http://www.gvb.at/home/files/Plan_neu.pdf

Riding without a Ticket: may cost you a fine of € 60,00. Yes, there are people checking your ticket!

Walking

Graz is relatively compact, and you'll most likely be able to see most of the interesting spots by walking. As far as we know, Graz is a relatively safe place. Just remember not to stroll through parks at night alone...other than that, there is really no reason to be concerned about safety.

Cycling

If you want to be faster than walking and independent from public transport you'll love cycling around Graz. if you want to repair your bicyle by your own and you need some tool or the help of a tutor you can come to the bicycle kitchen every thursday between 17:00-21:00 or after arrangement. Look on the homepage for sure: http://combinesch.com/index.php/Fahrradkueche

Inline Skating

Graz has also beautiful bikeways where it's possible to go inline skating. Especially along the river Mur is a nice path to skate. If you are a good skater, you might also be interested in the so called "Cityskating" event every Friday evening Start 19.30 from Tummelplatzt from May to August http://www.cityskating.at/

Car

If you just want to visit our wonderful city, please leave your car at home :-). In case you also want to visit the countryside, a car might save you some time, but there is a decent train and bus network available.

Graz is connected via two motorways, namely A2 Südautobahn (E59, Vienna-Italy) and A9 Pyhrnautobahn (E57, Upper Austria-Slovenia). If you come in from Hungary, use road #E66 via Szentgotthard until you enter A2/E59.

Please note: You have to pay general motorway toll (Vignette) if you want to use motorways in Austria. For some tunnels, extra toll has to be paid, like Gleinalm-/Bosrucktunnel on the A9.

For details on the Austrian motorways, please consult the homepage of the national motorway company ASFINAG: http://www.asfinag.at/

If you want to park your car in Graz, please mind that most of the city center and surrounding districts are subject to parking fees! A useful option is to leave your car at one of the Park & Ride facilities and use the tram to get to the city center. Details on parking in Graz can be found at http://www.graz.at/cms/ziel/245559/DE/ (sorry, in German only).

hitchhike

good spot to go to vienna: take the tramway 4 or 13 to direction liebenau and get out at the station "Murpark" then go back to the busstation along the motorway - there you can be seen from far distance and there is place to stop and go easy...

   you can wait until you get a lift the whole way to vienna because such agood spot you never get again along the way
   generally it is good to have a map with you and also that you ask the driver fistly where he wants to go -> this gives you some  
   time to think about taking the lift or not... good luck!

www.hitchwiki.org/ www.hitchhiking.wikia.com/

Orientation

Online Citymap with search function:

http://www.graz.at/cms/ziel/233038/EN/

Tips

This is just a small selection of interesting sights in Graz…

Schlossberg

The hill in the center of Graz. A castle on top of the hill gave the city it’s name but was blown up by Napoleon’s army. The clocktower, which is the landmark of the city still remains. There are a couple of nice café’s on top and the gorgeous view all over Graz and the areas close by make it definitely worth to hike up the hill on a sunny day. You can either climb the steps (very nice), take a big elevator (where you won't get the nice view) or take the so-called "Schlossbergbahn", which is a small railway leading up the mountain.

Zeughaus

The Landeszeughaus (Provincial Armoury) in Herrengasse is home of an outstanding historical weapons collection. Definitely worth seeing if you’re into medieval stuff!

Sporgasse

More information will be added soon

Kunsthaus

More information will be added soon

Murinsel

More information will be added soon

Schloss Eggenberg

More information will be added soon

Burgruine Gösting

Built in 1138 and almost completely destroyed in 1723... How to get there: GVB Bus Nr. 40 from Jakominiplatz to Gösting or GVB Bus Nr. 85 from Hauptbahnhof to Gösting and then it's a 30min hike up the hill (there is a small road leading up there) right next to the busstation (Route Nr. 563). Be aware that you can go inside only Tue – Sun from 10am – 6pm (same as the opening hours for the small and excellent restaurant "Burgtaverne Ruine Gösting" up there).

Museums

http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/ziel/1391052/EN/

Galleries

http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/ziel/1432867/EN/

You’ll find more sights and additional information at http://cms.graztourismus.at/cms/ziel/1203782/EN

Festivals in Graz

April: Diagonale http://www.diagonale.at/

May: Spring festival of electronic art and music http://www.springfestival.at/#home

June/July: Styriarte The Styrian Festival of Classical Music http://www.styriarte.com/

July/August: Jazz Festival http://www.jazzsommergraz.at/

July/August: La Strada International Festival for Puppet and Street Artists http://www.lastrada.at

September: Aufsteirern (traditional Styrian music festival) http://www.aufsteirern.at/

October: Steirischer Herbst (International Festival of Contemporary Art) http://www.steirischerherbst.at

November: ELEVATE - Festival Festival for contemporary music and political discourse 2008:05-09 Nov. (in and arround the the schlossberg (=castle hill)) http://www.elevate.at/

Long nights of the Museums http://kundendienst.orf.at/

Places to eat

In Graz you can find loads of good restaurants and nice bars. Here we provide you with some favorites:

Posaune (Zinzendorfgasse 34, 11.30am - 1am); Sägewerk (Schlögelgasse 1, 10am - 2am); Grammophon (Maiffredygasse 12, daily from 10am - 2am); Zeppelin (Heinrichstraße 15)

They are all quite similar, you create your own pizza, salad, noodle or toast-"construction". Good food for moderate prices, good bang for the buck, full of students, nice atmosphere.

Propeller: (Zinzendorfgasse 17, www.propeller.co.at). Every day from 9am - 2am. Lunch, café & bar in one. Not the cheapest, but very good lunch, also loads of vegetarian stuff.

Die 3 Goldenen Kugeln (7 locations in Graz: check website http://www.3goldenekugeln.at) Excellent value for the money; very large meals for decent prices. Specialty: The giant take-away Wienerschnitzel-Burger (Riesen Schnitzelsemmel) for 3.90€ --> guaranteed to make you full.

Eschenlaube Good quality meals for average price. long time kitchen (until 22:00 and after that some snacks) 11:30h - 1:00h and 17:00h - 1:00h http://www.eschenlaube.at/

Die ScherbeStockergasse 2 - 8020 Graz you can check out the daily meal online: http://www.scherbe.com/ sometimes concerts in the cellar. member of bookcrossing.com

VOLXSKÜCHE or welfare kantine people who try to manage their life collectively and solidary give food for a donation every thuesday 18:00 at spektral lendkai 45 , 8020 graz : mo-fr 14.00-20.00 www.spektral.-at - kontakt: kueche[@]spektral.at every secound Wednesday: 22:00 at the JAM-Night in SUB: Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai 66 http://subversiv.at.tt/

Brot & Spiele

Eckstein

iKU in Kunsthaus (Art house)

Burgtaverne Ruine Gösting: (8051 Graz, 0043/(0)316/684550; Tue – Sun from 10am – 6pm). A bit of a hike, but definitely worth going if you enjoy old castles.

Mausser, Bergheuriger Fürstenstand: (Fürstenstandweg 100, 8051 Graz. 0043/(0)316/585700; Wed – Sat 11am -11pm, Sun & Fri 10am - 10pm).

International Food:

taj mahal http://www.tajmahal-graz.at/ best but most expensive indian restaurant in graz

Salz & Pfeffer Great pizza delivery service (http://www.salzpfeffer.at/index2.htm)

Fontana di Trevi

Las Tapas

"Malaga" Restaurant Tapas-Bar: Glacisstaße 43a, A- 8010 Graz, Österreich, Tel.: +43 316 3925633

"Omoka" African Restaurant: Keplerstraße 12, 8020 Graz, Tel: +43 316 722 929 Mobil: +43 664 415 22 96

"Fontana di Trevi" Pizzaria: Schumanngasse 4, 8010 Graz, Tel: +43 316 383 602

"Rincon Andino" South American Cuisine: Alte Poststraße 118, 8020 Graz, Tel: +43 316 586 342

Bars, Cafés & more

Office Pub: Trauttmansdorffgasse 13, Tel. 0043/(0)316/890838, http://www.theofficepub.at. Great atmosphere, international crowd, legendary pub quiz every Tuesday night!

Café Fotter: Attemsgasse 6, great authentic and old fashioned ambiance and beautiful garden to sit outside

Spektral (Lendkai 45, http://lab.tt4.at/) community center - kind of free space whith d.i.y. philospohy - free internet - lectures and discussions - workshops - volksküche every thuesday

Café Libertad (Gartengasse 28) www.cafe-libertad.at organic, fair trade, local products, sometimes live music or lectures always for free access

Café Kaiserfeld: (Kaiserfeldgasse 25). small lunch dishes and one the best toasts in Graz! Maybe it's also one of the last places in Graz where you can sit reading, working or playing Chess, and only pause to order a glass of water every two hours. You can spend days there, with a bill of a few Euros, but nobody would ever say anything or look at you in a strange way for that!

Tribeka: see below

Café Bar Continuum: Sporgasse 29, +43(316)815778, www.continuum.co.at. Popular Café and Bar in one, DJs on weekends, Snacks, Cocktail-Happy-Hour every day from 6 - 8pm, special tip: saturday and sunday breakfast 10:00-14:00. It is also possible to order a hookah (waterpipe).

Stern: (also Sporgasse, just opposite of Continuum, +43(316)818400). Also very popular bar, cocktails, in summer you can sit outside.

And for starting the day with a good breakfast (but not only for breakfast!):

Hubert Auer: (e.g. Schillerstraße, Grabenstraße, Zinzendorfgasse, Volksgartenstraße, Nibelungengasse, LKH, Annenstraße) breakfast for 90 cent (2 rolls, jam, nutella and honey), 1,50 for 2 rolls, ham and cheese, 3,50 for 4 rolls, ham, cheese, jam, nutella, honey, egg, orange juice... have to order a coffee tho...

Tribeka: (Grieskai 2, Technikerstraße 13 and Leonhardstraße 82). Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Breakfast, delicious coffee with the best milk froth ever, amazing hot chocolate, cakes, small snacks, good atmosphere - but self-service and not the cheapest. Though you should have been there. In Tribeka at Grieskai you have free wireless internet access.

Going out

SuB: D.I.Y. concert and party space at kaiser Josef kai 66 http://subversiv.at.tt/

Postgarage:

PPC:

Forum Stadtpark:

Arcadium:

Exil:

Revolution:

Music-house:

Meetings

Last minute emergency couches

Accomodation

If you're planning to stay in Graz for a longer period of time, here are some websites where you look for rooms and flats:

http://www.sws.or.at/ They also have an office in Rechbauerstraße 4a

http://boerse.htu.tugraz.at/wohnen/ Search engine of the Student Union

http://www.jobwohnen.at/?id=198

http://www.willhaben.at/iad/immobilien/mietwohnungen/steiermark/?PROPERTY_TYPE=3;110;111;101;112;16;102;113;100

Guides

Trivia

Perception of the City

• Graz on the Hitchwiki
• Graz on Wikitravel
• Graz on Wikipedia

Links

http://www.graz.at/cms/ziel/233038/EN/ online city map

http://tupalo.com/graz A nice tool to find your way around