A City Break for Nature Lovers: Exploring Green Spaces in Graz

From large-scale pilgrimage sites to small castles perched on a lake and vertigo-inducing greenhouses, these are some of the many green spaces in Graz waiting to be explored. In this city, nature is the driver, gastronomy is riding shotgun, and culture is vibing in the backseat.

Some places instantly give off the “I could live here” vibe, and Graz, Austria, is firmly one of them for me. Abundant vegetarian food (perks of being Austria’s gastronomic capital), gregarious locals always up for a glass of prosecco and a chat, an interesting mix of historical and modern architecture. And let’s not forget about the green spaces.

The latter is largely due to intentional urban planning; roughly 70% of the city is classified as green land cover, which translates into plenty of forests, meadows, urban parks, and a green belt wrapping around the city like a living buffer.

On my third trip, I wanted to explore the green spaces in Graz and its surroundings instead of the well-trodden historical center. With the help of the new Graz Uncovered app, I set out on a very different type of city trip.

---

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

---

Graz Guide: Quick Planning Guide

MORE GRAZ GUIDES: Sustainable weekend in Graz; Off-the-beaten-path places in Graz to discover

TOURISM OFFICE: Tourist Information Graz Region, Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz, Austria

OFFICIAL TOURISM WEBSITE: Graz Tourismus

GRAZ CARD: If you are planning on visiting various museums, it’s well worth looking into purchasing the Graz Card (includes public transport) or the Graz Card Light (without public transport). Valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Can be purchased online through the website of the Graz Tourism office. Or directly at the tourism office.

Graz Uncovered: Who, what, where …

I touched upon the Graz Uncovered app briefly in the introduction. Chances are, you have yet to stumble upon this app. If you are planning a visit to Graz, it’s well worth the stumble.

Developed in 2026 by the Graz Tourism Board and travel writer Dan Clarke, this GPS-guided audio guide takes you to lesser-known spots in the city. I actually met Dan in Graz back in 2025 while he spent three months researching for the project. Fast forward one year, and he has condensed the information into nine bite-sized audio-guided routes.

For someone with my sense of direction, or lack thereof, the design is a gift. The audio plays automatically at each stop, and the GPS hands you off to Google Maps or Apple Maps for the walking/public transport directions. The places mentioned below are part of city route 3, which focuses on green spaces in Graz.

PRACTICAL TIP | If you are planning on using the Graz Uncovered app, make sure to bring an external battery. The combination of GPS and listening to the audio guide drained my battery after half a day.

DOWNLOAD THE APP: The app is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

Basilica Mariatrost: A Pilgrimage at the City’s Edge

OPENING HOURS | Daily 07.00 am to 07.00 pm
ENTRANCE FEE | Free

I started my trip by hopping on tram line 1 from the main square and riding it to its very last stop. About twenty minutes out, the tram dropped me off at the eastern edge of the city, at the foot of one of the city’s most important Marian pilgrimage churches: Basilica Mariatrost. What followed was my own version of a pilgrimage: huffing and puffing up 216 steps to reach the top.

Perched 470 meters high atop the Purberg hill, the 18th-century, twintowered basilica has impressive views over the leafy Leechwald and the verdant Styrian countryside further afield. After catching my breath, I pushed open the heavy wooden doors and found myself, quite accidentally, in the middle of a guided visit.

A large group of German tourists stood clustered around the altar, taking selfies with the local priest. „Ein, zwei Lächeln!“ echoing off the frescoed ceiling. Once the group moved on, the basilica emptied out. I spent nearly an hour walking the nave alone, looking up at the frescoes by Lukas von Schram and Johann Baptist Scheidt, watching the light shift across the ceiling as the morning stretched on. Even the grey marble of the side altars came directly from the Purberg itself.

Truthfully, I would probably not have ventured out this far from Graz without the nudge from the Graz Uncovered app. But boy am I glad I did! I warmly recommend adding the Basilica Mariatrost to your Graz itinerary. Time permitting, you can tack on a hike through the Leechwald all the way back down to Hilmteich on the outskirts of Graz.

READ MORE | A sustainable weekend in Graz: Platbased scoops and vintage shopping in Lend

Hilmteich: A Lake at the Forest’s Edge

OPENING HOURS PURBERG RESTAURANT | Daily 09.00 am to 09.00 pm; kitchen closes at 07.00 pm on weekdays

If you decide to embark on the Leechwald hike, this is your endpoint! Hilmteich turned out to be one of my favorite green spaces in Graz. A 19th-century castle, carpeted in fragrant wisteria, serving colorful salads and piping hot coffees on its sundraped terrace overlooking a lake that gives way to a leafy forest. Pretty much my version of heaven!

This little patch of greenery was once a clay pit, before it transformed into a pond and became a favorite leisure spot amongst locals in the nineteenth century. The Hilmteichschlöss (Hilmteich Castle) was built around the same time and was always intended to be an elegant restaurant. To this day, it remains a very popular spot. Summer sees little boats bobbing on the lake and the opportunity to rent a hammock. Alas, neither was yet available when I visited in May.

Word of caution before stepping inside the castle-like building, it is home to the Purberg restaurant/café and a very nice garden centre. Both can lure you in for the day, the former with fragrant dishes and the promise of people watching the latter with its extraordinary array of items on display. If I could, I would have bought back half the store.

The Botanical Gardens Where Nature Reigns Supreme

OPENINGHOURS | 15/05 – 15/09: 08.00 am to 04.30 pm; 16/09 – 14/05: 09.00 am to 02.30 pm
ENTRANCE FEE | Free

I love a good botanical garden, but they can be hit or miss. Some are impressive for their scale and species. Others feel like the lacklustre remains of a long-dead monarch’s brief flirtation with botany, with the heirs clearly less invested in keeping the project alive. The Botanical Garden of the University of Graz falls firmly into the former category.

The gardens were founded in 1811 and now encompass a whopping 2.8 hectares with 7500 plant species calling it home. The most interesting part is the four enormous glasshouses, designed by Austrian architect Volker Giencke and opened in 1995. It’s definitely a little more off the beaten path in Graz, but trust me, the gardens are well worth exploring!

Walking inside feels like entering the set of an end-of-the-world movie, where the humans have long perished and nature has once again taken over. A labyrinthine network of metal bridges crisscrosses the interior, carpeted with lush foliage. As the gardens are free to visit, chances are high that both the park and the greenhouses will be filled with happy-go-lucky students from the nearby university.

TIP | The Botanical Gardens sit on the Schubertstraße, which has some of Graz’s most impressive Art Nouveau mansions. A neat fact I would absolutely not have known without the Graz Uncovered app! Follow the street all the way down in the direction of the university district. Make sure to keep your camera ready for action.

Stadtpark: The Green Heart of Graz

One of the very obvious parks in Graz is the city park aptly named Stadtpark. Created in the late 1860s on the former glacis, the open strip of land was once kept clear in front of Graz’s city walls for defensive reasons. These days, it forms the green buffer between Old Town and the university district.

Tree-lined alleys are dotted with benches. Locals settle in to read. Lovebirds steal glances at each other and then bashfully look away. Parents collapse with relief as their kids scatter off to play. On warm days, the expansive lawns are carpeted with picnic blankets and sunbathing students.

I have been to this park on each of my trips to Graz, and it always seems to be buzzing with life. Early in the morning, runners crisscross the lanes, huffing and puffing as if their lives depended on it. By early afternoon, bleary-eyed students start emerging from their dorm rooms and spilling out onto the grass.

Once 5 pm hits, the after-work crowd trickles in for a drink. By nightfall, Café Parkhouse hosts live concerts, theater, readings, and even silent discos. Find the program online.

The Eggenberg Palace and Gardens in Graz

OPENINGHOURS | November first – March 14th: 08.00 am to 05.00 pm; March 15th to October 31st: 08.00 am to 07.00 pm
ENTRANCE FEE | Gardens €3; Castle €20
IMPORTANT TO NOTE | The State Rooms can only be visited with a guided tour (11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 02.00 pm, and 04.00 pm)

The Eggenberg Palace is the starting point of route two in the Graz Uncovered app. This beautiful palace is surrounded by a large park filled with peacocks, fragrant flowers – I have been lucky to go both in rose and peony season! The first time I visited as part of a sustainable weekend in Graz trip, and I loved it so much I came back this time around.

The gardens are part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing, alongside the palace and the historic center of Graz. They were originally laid out as a formal Baroque ornamental garden in the seventeenth century, before being redesigned in the English landscape style in the mid-nineteenth century.

A few corners are worth seeking out. The Rose Garden in spring and summer, and the Planetary Garden (Planetengarten), a modern redesign picking up the cosmic symbolism that runs through the palace interior. Eggenberg was designed as an architectural allegory of the universe. 365 windows for the days of the year. 24 state rooms for the hours. 52 doors for the weeks. 31 rooms on the main floor for the days of the longest month.

The crown jewel inside is the Planetary Hall, with ceiling paintings depicting the seven planets, the four elements, and the twelve signs of the zodiac. The Planetengarten outside continues the conversation.

TIP | For a place to pause, Café Pavillon sits in the middle of the grounds and serves locally roasted coffee and delicious cakes. Or if you want something a little different, a glass of regional wine.

More Green Places in Graz to See

Sprinkled through the various routes in the Graz Uncovered app are several additional little parks and pockets of greenery. In a city made up of 70% green spaces, this probably comes as no surprise. Here are a few additional spots you might want to check out if you do not have the time to run through all the itineraries in the app.

SCHLOSSBERG | A hilltop public park where a mighty fortress once stood until Napoleon, unable to conquer it, had it dismantled stone by stone in 1809. Trees from across Austria were planted in the 1830s, including ginkgo, magnolia, cedar, and ancient beeches, which now shade the lookouts. Reach the top via the 260-step climb, a glass elevator, or the steepest funicular in Austria.

HERZU JESU KIRCHE | A Neo-Gothic church built between 1881 and 1887, with the third-tallest church tower in Austria. Weather permitting, the little park in front is filled with students reading and kids chasing around after a football. The church is well worth visiting, but my favorite part is sitting on the steps with the late-afternoon sun warming my face while people-watching.

FURSTENSTAND | A viewing platform at the top of the Plabutsch mountain west of Graz, named after Emperor Franz I and Archduke Johann, who stood here in 1830. The 5.6 km forest hike from Eggenberg climbs roughly 370 meters and takes around two hours each way. Renovated in 2024, the panorama at 766 meters sweeps from the Mur Valley to Slovenia on a clear day. It is a perfect (half) day trip from Graz.

Where to Stay in Graz

Make Your Trip to Graz More Sustainably

FILL THAT WATERBOTTLE: Water from the tap is drinkable, and what’s more, the city is dotted with 120 spots to refill your water bottle. Keep an eye out for the Refill Austria sticker on the door of shops, cafes, and bars. These establishments will fill your water bottle for you. Or, alternatively, do so at one of the many water fountains.

CYCLING IN AND AROUND GRAZ: Graz is a very bicycle-friendly city, with the local authorities set on making Graz the “Bicycle Capital of Austria”; you can expect an extensive network of well-maintained cycling paths.

SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL: If there is one thing Graz knows how to do, it is to set up a festival. Check out the Geco Festival held yearly in June.

SUPPORT COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS: There are plenty of community-led little stores you can purchase souvenirs from, including TAG.WERK and Herzlich Laden.

Vegetarian Restaurants in Graz

SPEISS AM LENDHAFEN: Did someone say vegan schnitzel? Or a crunchy salad with Käferbohnen (Styrian scarlet runner beans) sprinkled with pumpkinseed oil? This vegan restaurant has delicious seasonal dishes from the Styrian region.

DIE EISPERLE: Creamy plant-based ice cream like you never had before. Voted Austria’s best vegan ice cream, their seasonal flavors (Mar–Nov) draw consistent praise for taste, quality, and friendly service

GENIßEREI AM MARKT: A restaurant set inside an actual market stall. Uses ingredients that are fresh off the market, seasonality done right! Asparagus, kohlrabi, and beetroot served in ways that would have even a vegetable-averse foodie asking for seconds.

HUMMEL: Fingerlicking Leventanine cuisine with a zero-waste ethic. Slightly more upscale than the other vegetarian restaurants on the list, but worth every penny. Make sure to book in advance, as it is a popular spot among the locals.

KUNSTHAUSCAFE: Located inside Graz’s iconic contemporary art museum, this chic café offers breakfast, brunch, burgers, great coffee, and evening cocktails.

CAFE ERDE: This little vegan cafe has been around since 2012 and continues to be a local favorite. Super relaxed vibe, affordable dishes made with seasonal ingredients.

CAFE GREENHOUSE: A family-run plant-filled vegan café nestled on Herrengasse. They have the most delicious selection of fresh sandwiches, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, house-baked cakes, and salads.

FREIBLICK TAGESCAFE: Nestled atop the iconic Kastner & Öhler department store. This café, eatery gives you the very best view over the city, in my opinion. On a sunny day, it is jam-packed. Caters to both vegetarians and vegans.

FAQ Exploring Graz

Is Graz a green city?

Yes. More than half of the city of Graz is classified as green land cover, made up of forests, meadows, urban parks, and a green belt that wraps around the city. Under the Green Net of Graz urban development plan, every resident lives within 300 meters of a green space.

What is the best park in Graz?

It depends on what you are looking for. Stadtpark is the central, classic city park, great for benches, picnics, and people watching. The Botanical Garden of the University of Graz wins for plant variety and architecture. Hilmteich is the quieter, lake-side option on the eastern edge of the city.

Is the Botanical Garden in Graz free to visit?

Yes. The Botanical Garden of the University of Graz is free to enter and open year-round. Founded in 1811, it now spans 2.8 hectares and holds around 7,500 plant species, with four contemporary glasshouses designed by Austrian architect Volker Giencke in 1995.

Do I need the Graz Uncovered app to explore Graz?

The short answer is, no, you do not. That being said, it is immensely helpful to find lesser-known places in Graz to explore. It takes the guesswork out of it, provides an easy-to-follow itinerary, and gives a well-researched context for each location.

Where can I download the Graz Uncovered app?

The app is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

How many days do I need to visit Graz?

This is my third visit to the city, which makes the total time I have spent in Graz roughly 6 days. Dan (your narrator on the app) spent three months exploring. For a first visit, I would spend at least 3-5 days, preferably more if you have the time.

This article was sponsored by the Graz Tourism Board. All opinions, stories and images are my own.

MORE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR VISITING EUROPE

Austria: Visiting Ischgl in Summer
Austria: Sustainable things to do in Graz
Austria: Off-the-beaten-path in Graz
Belgium: 3 to 5 day Belgium itinerary
Belgium: 16 Castles you can actually stay in Belgium
Brussels: Local guide on which areas to stay, and which ones to avoid!
Brussels: Two-day itinerary for the perfect weekend in Brussels
Antwerp: How to spend a weekend in Antwerp
Liège:10 Reasons why you should visit Liège
Further afield: Visiting Vianden Castle in Luxembourg

Green Parks in Graz – Pin it

---