Why I Stopped in Graz Instead of Going Straight to Slovenia

The historic Graz Clock Tower (Uhrturm) atop Schlossberg Hill in Graz, Austria, surrounded by gardens on a cloudy spring day.
The Graz Clock Tower, or Uhrturm, has watched over the city for centuries and became the symbol of my overnight stop in Austria before continuing on to Slovenia.

This is part of my Central Europe series. If you’re coming from Slovakia, start with Slovakia: The Country I Knew Almost Nothing About.

One of my favorite parts of independent travel is the freedom to adjust plans as I go. Not dramatically, just enough to make a trip a little easier, a little more enjoyable, or occasionally a little more interesting.

That’s exactly how Graz ended up on my itinerary.

After spending a few days in Slovakia, my next major destination was Slovenia. Going directly from Bratislava to Ljubljana would have meant another long travel day and, depending on the route, potentially another overnight journey. By that point, I was already feeling the effects of moving every few days, so instead of pushing through, I opened a map and started looking for alternatives.

That’s when I found Graz.

While I had already visited Vienna on a previous trip, this journey was less about revisiting favorites and more about exploring places I’d never been. Graz checked every box: the train connections worked perfectly, the city looked easy to explore on foot, and it gave me the chance to experience a different side of Austria.

Sometimes that’s all the justification I need.

A Convenient Stop

One of the things I appreciated most about Graz was how easy everything felt.

After arriving from Bratislava, I checked into a small hotel just a few minutes from the train station. Within a short time, I was already walking toward the historic center without having to worry about complicated transit, navigating a sprawling city, or figuring out how to get from one attraction to the next.

For a one-night stop, that’s exactly what I was looking for.

Staircase leading to the Mausoleum and Graz Cathedral in Austria
Historic buildings and tram tracks along Herrengasse in Graz's Old Town

A short walk from the train station brought me into Graz’s historic center, proving that even an overnight stop can leave a lasting impression.

Travel Breakdown Reality Check

Trip Goal: Break up a long travel stretch between Slovakia and Slovenia without adding unnecessary cost or complexity.

EKONO by Leva Hotel StrasserA short walk from the train station brought me into Graz’s historic center, proving that even an overnight stop can leave a lasting impression.

  • Sticker Price: $79/night
  • Out-of-Pocket: $79/night
  • Travel Hack Used: None

Reality Check

Not every hotel booking needs a travel credit, points redemption, or complicated strategy. Sometimes the best hotel is simply the one that makes your trip easier.

For Graz, my priorities were simple: an affordable hotel within walking distance of the train station, a comfortable room, and easy access to the historic center. EKONO by Leva Hotel Strasser checked every box.

Being only a few minutes from the station made arriving from Bratislava and departing for Ljubljana effortless, and at $79 per night, it was one of the best values of my trip.

Could I have spent more for a nicer hotel? Absolutely. Would it have meaningfully improved my experience in Graz? Probably not.

Sometimes convenience is the luxury.

First Impressions

If Vienna feels grand and imperial, Graz feels approachable.

The historic center is compact, walkable, and easy to explore without much planning. As I wandered through the city, I found myself moving between Hauptplatz, Herrengasse, Graz Town Hall, the Landhaus Courtyard, Graz Cathedral, and countless historic streets and alleyways.

Graz’s UNESCO-listed Old Town is beautiful, but what stood out most wasn’t any single landmark. It was how relaxed the city felt. There were tourists, just not many, and for a city of its size, Graz felt surprisingly under the radar.

Schlossberg staircase leading up to the Clock Tower in Graz, Austria
View over a quiet street and historic buildings from Schlossberg Hill in Graz

Whether you climb the hill, take the funicular, or ride the elevator, Schlossberg rewards you with some of the best views in Graz.

The Highlight: Schlossberg

If there’s one attraction I would tell visitors not to skip, it’s Schlossberg.

Rising above the city, the hill offers some of the best views in Graz. You can reach the top by funicular, elevator, or simply by walking, where Whether you climb the hill, take the funicular, or ride the elevator, Schlossberg rewards you with some of the best views in Graz.be rewarded with panoramic views of the Old Town, the Mur River, and the surrounding hills. It’s also home to Graz’s most recognizable landmark, the Uhrturm, or Clock Tower.

Looking back, this was easily my favorite part of the city. Not because it was the most dramatic attraction, but because it gave me exactly what I enjoy most while traveling: the chance to slow down, take in the surroundings, and appreciate where I was.

By the time I was ready to head back down, dark clouds had rolled in and rain was starting to fall, so I opted for the elevator instead of walking. One unexpected surprise was discovering that the elevator runs alongside Schlossberg’s underground slide, allowing you to watch sections of it twist through the hill as you descend.

I didn’t ride the slide myself, but if you’re looking for a more adventurous way back down, it’s certainly one of the more unique attractions you’ll find in Austria.

Old Meets New

One thing I wasn’t expecting was how naturally modern architecture blended into Graz’s historic center.

After leaving Schlossberg, I wandered toward the river, where two of the city’s most recognizable contemporary landmarks sit just a short walk apart. Murinsel, a floating steel structure that serves as both a pedestrian crossing and café, contrasts sharply with the historic buildings surrounding it, while Kunsthaus Graz—nicknamed the “Friendly Alien” because of its distinctive shape, looks unlike anything else in the city.

Neither attraction takes long to visit, but together they offer an interesting reminder that Graz isn’t just a city defined by its history.

Mur River flowing through Graz with a pedestrian bridge and historic church in the background

After a full afternoon exploring Graz, a quiet walk along the Mur River felt like the perfect way to end my only day in the city.

The Reality of Long-Term Travel

One thing I don’t always talk about in these travel posts is that after a couple of weeks on the road, your favorite moments often become surprisingly ordinary.

By the time I reached Graz, I’d already spent days exploring Poland and Slovakia, with more train rides, cities, and countries still ahead of me.

That evening, instead of searching for another attraction, I ordered far too much pizza and breadsticks, relaxed in my hotel room, and enjoyed a quiet night.

It wasn’t exciting or particularly Instagram-worthy.

But after nearly two weeks of constantly moving, it was exactly what I needed.

Was Graz Worth It?

Absolutely.

Would I plan an entire Austria trip around Graz? Probably not. But if you’re traveling between Vienna, Bratislava, Ljubljana, or Zagreb, I’d recommend adding it without hesitation.

The city was easy to explore, the Old Town was beautiful, Schlossberg offered fantastic views, and perhaps most importantly, Graz broke up what would have otherwise been a long and exhausting travel day.

Not every destination needs to be the highlight of a trip. Sometimes its role is simply to make the journey better.

For me, that’s exactly what Graz did, and looking back, that may be the highest compliment I can give it.

Next up: I Thought Slovenia Was a Stop. It Should Have Been the Trip. What I expected to be a quick stop between Austria and Croatia ended up becoming my favorite destination of the entire trip.

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