Graz Transportation

Graz is about half-way between Vienna and Zagreb, about 30 minutes from the Slovenian border, and an hour from Slovenia's second city of Maribor. There are direct connections between Graz and Vienna (2-3 hours) and Zagreb (4 hours). It also has direct internal connections to Bregenz, Salzburg and Innsbruck, as well as international connections to Prague and Ljubljana. Because of Graz's location on the far eastern edge of Western Europe, it has few regular trains outside of Vienna, Ljubljana and local destinations.

The station is a little out of town, on the opposite side of the river Mur from the city center, but it's not that far to walk. It's about 2-3 km away, so if you have a large amount of luggage, grab a cab or a bus.

To get to Graz by air you can fly direct from London Standstead with Ryanair who also fly to various other Austrian cities from the UK. But from Ireland, unless you go by charter, I think the only routes are Dublin to Vienna with Aer Lingus, Austrian Airways and Lauda Air (I think). Hopefully Ryanair will start a direct flight there soon.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus now operate flights from Ireland to a number of cities in Austria (not Graz though)

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Local transport is run by GVB, buses and our favourites, trams.
Always a good idea to invest in a day ticket a cheap way to see any city.
Cost for a 24 hour ticket (Oct 2010) is 4.2 euros, it's valid on the Schlossberg funicular too.

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Another option to get up / down the Schlossberg. This lift runs right through the mountain - become a Chilean miner for a few moments!
You'll have to buy a ticket, GVB tickets are not valid here but only 80 cents(Oct/10)

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Next to the stairs leading up the castle hill, there is a tunnel that leads to an elevator running to the top. It drops you off near the cafe behind the clock tower. It only costs 0.60 cents per adult (as of Oct. 2007) and takes less than 1 min. to get to the top or the bottom.

An excellent and very economic way to come - even for a short visit - to Graz are the Ryanair flights from London Stansted. You can fly from London Stansted to Graz for the price difference for a reasonable dinner between England and Graz.

Parking in Graz is maybe the most difficult and expensive one among all Austrian cities. Therefore I suggest to leave the car far ouside the centre and to use the Public Transport (tram and bus). In the centre you find almost all interesting sights in walking distance.

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The so-called "Lift im Berg" (lift inside the mountain) takes you from Schlossbergplatz and Kriegsteig directely to the Uhrturm. In Contrary to some brochures printed by the Graz-tourist-office, this lift is NOT included in the means of transportation of the daytickets of buses and trams (ONLY Schlossbergbahn is included !!) BUT each ride is just 50 cents and takes you easily and quickly to the famous Uhrturm.
The small, black Uhrturm that you may see in front of the real one is ment for blind people, who may "see" the construction of the tower by their hands that way.