How to Get to Graz from Europe & Beyond

Graz is Austria's second-largest city and the capital of Styria, in the south-east of the country close to the Slovenian border. It is easy to reach by train from Vienna and, since the Koralm railway opened in December 2025, far quicker to reach from Carinthia and Italy as well. Here is how each option works and what to expect on arrival.

By Train

The train is the most comfortable way to arrive. Railjet services of Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) run from Vienna Hauptbahnhof to Graz roughly every hour and take about two and a half hours, crossing the Semmering pass on a railway that is itself a World Heritage Site. The private operator Westbahn has also served the Vienna to Graz route since 2026. From Klagenfurt, the new Koralm line has cut the journey from around three hours to as little as 41 minutes. Salzburg is about four hours away, Maribor in Slovenia about one hour, and Ljubljana three to three and a half hours. Advance Sparschiene tickets on oebb.at are much cheaper than buying on the day, especially on the Vienna route.

From the Station to the Centre

Graz Hauptbahnhof is west of the old town. Tram lines 1, 3, 6 and 7 run from the underground stop in front of the station to Hauptplatz in about ten minutes. On foot it is a straight twenty-minute walk along Annenstrasse and across the river.

By Air

Graz Airport (GRZ) lies about ten kilometres south of the city and is small and quick to get through. It is mainly connected to European hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna, so most long-haul travellers reach Graz with one change. Bus 630 runs from outside the terminal to Jakominiplatz in the centre in around twenty minutes. The S5 suburban train stops a short walk from the terminal and goes to Hauptbahnhof, and a taxi to the old town takes about twenty minutes. Many visitors fly to Vienna (VIE) instead, which has far more routes: trains run from Vienna Airport to Graz in about three hours.

By Bus

Long-distance coaches, FlixBus in particular, link Graz with Vienna, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Budapest and other cities. They are usually the cheapest option when booked ahead, but slower and less roomy than the train. Check where your bus stops when you book, as not all services use the main railway station.

By Car

Graz sits where two motorways meet: the A2 from Vienna, about 200 kilometres and two hours away, and the A9, which runs north towards Linz and Salzburg and south to Slovenia. Austrian motorways require a vignette, sold as a sticker at border petrol stations or digitally from the motorway operator ASFINAG; check the current price there before you travel. If you drive in from Slovenia you need a Slovenian vignette too. The old town is largely pedestrianised and street parking in the centre is limited to short stays, so it is easiest to leave the car in a garage or at a park-and-ride and use the tram.

Which Option Should You Choose?

• •From Vienna: the train. It is as fast as driving, runs every hour and drops you a tram ride from the old town.
• •From Germany or Switzerland: fly to Graz via Frankfurt or Munich, or take a direct train where one is available.
• •From Slovenia, Croatia or Hungary: train or coach, depending on the timetable.
• •On a budget: an advance train ticket or a coach booked a few weeks ahead.
• •With plans to explore the wine roads of South Styria: a car is useful, though you will not need it in the city itself.

When to Arrive

Arriving in the morning gives you a full first day, and most hotels will store luggage before check-in. If you arrive on a Sunday, remember that shops are closed, though restaurants, cafes and most museums are open.