Outdoor Activities in Graz: Biking, Hiking & More

Graz is a green city. A wooded hill stands in the middle of the old town, a river runs through it, and the first forest trails start at the end of a tram line. Within an hour you can be on a mountain summit or among the vineyards of South Styria. Here are the best ways to get outside, from an easy stroll to a full day in the hills.

Walks Without Leaving the City

The Schlossberg is the obvious start: paths wind up through the trees from every side, and the views from the clock tower are the best in Graz. The Stadtpark at its foot is the city's living room on warm days. For a longer walk, follow the Mur upstream or downstream on the riverside paths, or take a tram to the Hilmteich pond and walk into the Leechwald forest. On the western edge of town, the wooded ridge of the Plabutsch has marked trails and a lookout tower at the Fürstenstand, with the city spread out below.

Cycling

Graz is one of Austria's cycling cities, with a dense network of bike lanes and many students on two wheels. The Mur cycle path runs right through the centre along the river and is flat and well signposted, ideal for an easy ride north towards the hills or south into open farmland. Bikes and e-bikes can be rented from shops in the centre. For a longer tour, take a bike on the train to South Styria and ride between wine villages, where the short, steep climbs make an e-bike a good idea.

The Schöckl: Graz's Local Mountain

At 1,445 metres, the Schöckl is the mountain the people of Graz look to for the weather and head to at the weekend. From St. Radegund, north-east of the city, a cable car reaches the broad summit plateau in a few minutes; the hiking trails up take around an hour and a half to two hours. On top there are mountain huts serving Styrian food, a summer toboggan run and, on a clear day, views as far as the Alps. Regional buses run from Graz to the foot of the mountain.

More Ideas Around Graz

• •Rettenbachklamm: a small wooded gorge within the city limits, near Mariatrost, with a short adventurous trail
• •Thalersee: a lake just west of Graz with a level walk around it and a restaurant on the shore
• •Lurgrotte: one of Austria's largest show caves, entered at Peggau or Semriach north of Graz
• •South Styrian wine road: vineyard walks between Buschenschank wine taverns, under an hour to the south
• •Swimming: lakes south of the city and outdoor pools open in summer
• •Open-Air Museum Stübing: a long walk through a valley of historic farmhouses, good with children

When to Go and What to Bring

April to October is the main season. Spring is best for cycling and the first hikes, summer for lakes and early-morning walks, and autumn for the vineyards, when the leaves turn and the taverns serve the new wine. Mountain weather changes fast even on a small peak like the Schöckl, so take a jacket, water and proper shoes, and check the cable car's operating days before you set out. In winter the hills around Graz are good for snowy walks.