Graz / The verdict
Where to stay in Graz: which area?
For a first visit, stay inside the Altstadt around Hauptplatz and walk to the main sights. Lend, just across the Mur from the old town, is the runner-up: the Lendplatz farmers market, bars and cafes.
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The Graz story
Graz is the Austrian city that gets on with being pretty without performing it: a UNESCO-listed Renaissance old town spread under the Schlossberg's clock tower, the blue bubble of a Kunsthaus floating beside the Mur, an artificial island in the river, Eggenberg's 24 staged Baroque state rooms, and a South Styrian wine road on the doorstep. It is Austria's second city at student pace, and the food is better than the fame.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: City center (Altstadt and Hauptplatz) (runner-up: Lend (west of the Mur))
For a first visit, stay inside the Altstadt around Hauptplatz and walk to the main sights. Lend, just across the Mur from the old town, is the runner-up: the Lendplatz farmers market, bars and cafes.
Go if
- First-time visitors who want to walk to the main sights
- Travelers choosing between a historic center and a trendier quarter
- Short stays of one to three nights
Skip if
- You plan to base yourself in Geidorf; a local guide says it has only apartment rentals, no hotels
- You are booking last-minute; one guide puts the city's hotel supply at around 6,000 beds
The options
City center (Altstadt and Hauptplatz) Go
First-time visitors who want to walk to the main sights
Good
- A local guide says the Schlossberg, Clock Tower and main museums are all within walking distance
- Reports name the Schlossberghotel, Aiola Living and the Palais-Hotel Erzherzog Johann as central stays
- One forum report from a pedestrian-zone hotel found night-time tram noise mostly absent, since trams run rarely then
Watch out
- Hotel supply is small citywide: one guide cites around 6,000 beds and advises booking ahead
- Trams run past some pedestrian-zone hotels, which one forum reporter feared would be noisy
Browse city center hotelspartner site
Lend (west of the Mur) Go
Return visitors and travelers who want a trendier, more local base
Good
- A local guide points to the Lendplatz farmers market, bars, cafes and independent shops
- A weekend visitor also recommends the Lendplatz area
- Lendhotel has a roof terrace, per a local guide
Watch out
- The Schlossberg, Clock Tower and main museums are in the old town, so you walk or ride in
- Reports name only a few hotels here: Lendhotel, Hotel Feichtinger and Harry's Home
Browse hotels in Lendpartner site
Jakominiplatz and the south side It depends
Travelers who put transit links first
Good
- A local guide calls Jakomini the main hub for trams and buses
- Augarten park is nearby, per the same guide
- Hotel Gollner sits near Jakominiplatz, a short walk from the old town, per the same guide
Watch out
- The same guide calls the rooms at Hotel Gollner basic
- The main sights sit in the old town, so you walk or ride in
Camper-van Stellplatz outside the center It depends
Road-trippers with a camper van breaking a longer journey
Good
- A camper-van traveler reports a direct bus route of about 20 minutes into the center
- Works as a stopover between Vienna and Zagreb, per the same report
Watch out
- Every sight means a bus ride into town
- Only an option if you travel with a camper van
| Criterion | City center (Altstadt and Hauptplatz) | Lend (west of the Mur) | Jakominiplatz and the south side | Camper-van Stellplatz outside the center |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Inside the historic core around Hauptplatz | Around Lendplatz, just outside the old town | Around Jakominiplatz, the tram and bus hub | Camper-van Stellplatz outside the center |
| Stays named in reports | Schlossberghotel, Aiola Living, Palais-Hotel Erzherzog Johann | Lendhotel, Hotel Feichtinger, Harry's Home | Hotel Gollner, Augarten Art Hotel | Reisemobil Stellplatz Graz |
| Getting around | Main sights within walking distance | Just outside the old town | Main tram and bus hub | Direct bus into the center, about 20 minutes |
| Local scene | Cafes, wine bars and historic squares | Farmers market, bars and shops | Augarten park by the river | Not applicable |
| Best for | First visit, short stays | Return visits, a trendier base | Transit links first | Camper-van stopovers |
What it costs
- 24-hour transit ticket, Zone 101 Graz: €7.20 (Covers all Graz trams and buses; the Altstadtbim shuttle through the core is free anyway). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Graz Card 24 hours, adult: €32 (Bundled transit plus museums and a guided tour; 48 and 72 hour versions are 42 and 47). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 9 traveler reports (Nov 2024 to May 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- Reports from old town hotels praise walking to the Schlossberg, a museum, the Murinsel and the main square.
- A local guide calls the old town the best area for visitors because the main sights are within walking distance.
- Reports recommend the Lendplatz area for its farmers market, bars and cafes.
- A forum report from a pedestrian-zone hotel found little night-time tram noise, since trams run rarely then.
What people complain about
- One guide notes Graz has only around 6,000 hotel beds and advises booking ahead.
- A local guide calls the rooms at Hotel Gollner near Jakominiplatz basic.
- A local guide says Geidorf has no hotels, only apartment rentals.
- A forum reporter feared tram noise at a pedestrian-zone hotel, though it mostly stayed away at night.
How to do it right
- First visit? Book inside the Altstadt around Hauptplatz and walk to the main sights.
- On a second visit, or for a trendier feel, look at Lend around Lendplatz, where reports mention the farmers market and bars.
- The Altstadtbim tram runs free through the inner city, per the transit operator; check its route before buying transit tickets.
- If transit links matter most, Jakominiplatz is the main tram and bus hub, per a local guide.
- Book ahead: one guide puts the city's hotel supply at around 6,000 beds.
The trap to avoid
Assuming the choice of area decides everything: one blogger says location hardly matters because public transport is good, while a local resident picks the old town for its walkable sights. Pick on how much you want to walk.
What to do instead
Why this verdict
The Altstadt around Hauptplatz is the pick for a first visit. A Graz resident of 13 years says the old town is the best area for visitors because the Schlossberg, the Clock Tower and the main museums are within walking distance. A weekend visitor at the Schlossberghotel, at the north end of the old town, walked to a museum, the Murinsel, the main square and the Schlossberg stairs. Other central stays named in reports are Aiola Living by Hauptplatz and the Palais-Hotel Erzherzog Johann, whose guest found it in the middle of the pedestrian zone with little tram noise at night.
Lend, across the Mur, is the runner-up. The same local guide points to the Lendplatz farmers market and the area’s bars, cafes and independent shops, and a weekend visitor recommends the Lendplatz area too. Reports name Lendhotel, Hotel Feichtinger and Harry’s Home there. Jakominiplatz is the main tram and bus hub, and the guide places Hotel Gollner nearby while calling its rooms basic. Geidorf, the guide adds, has no hotels.
The reports also say the choice is not critical. One blogger on a return visit says the hotel location hardly matters because public transport is good. A traveler at a Motel One in the inner city reports trams from the airport reaching it after one change, and a camper-van traveler used a Stellplatz on a direct bus route of about 20 minutes into the center. The log is all positive or mixed, with no outright complaint about any area.
The one citywide caution is supply. One guide puts Graz at around 6,000 hotel beds and advises booking ahead.
Timing and tickets
The transit operator lists a 24-hour ticket for Zone 101 at EUR 7.20 (checked 2026-10-09) and says the Altstadtbim tram runs free through the inner city. The tourist board lists the Graz Card at EUR 32 for 24 hours, covering Zone 101 transport, museum entries and a guided tour of the historic center.
Book or check times
Graz tourist board accommodationGraz transit tickets and the free Altstadtbim
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Questions
What is the best area to stay in Graz for a first visit?
The Altstadt around Hauptplatz. A local resident's guide picks it because the Schlossberg, Clock Tower and main museums are within walking distance.
Is Lend a good area to stay in Graz?
Yes, for a more local and trendier feel. A local guide points to the Lendplatz farmers market, bars, cafes and shops, and a weekend visitor also recommends the area.
Do I need to book ahead in Graz?
One travel guide puts the city's hotel supply at around 6,000 beds and advises booking ahead. Check availability early for event dates.
Does the hotel location matter in Graz?
Opinions differ. One blogger says it hardly matters because public transport is good, while a local resident's guide picks the old town for walking to the main sights.
Is transport in the center free?
The transit operator says the Altstadtbim tram runs free through the inner city. A 24-hour ticket for Zone 101 costs EUR 7.20 (checked 2026-10-09).