The old town of Graz is easily explored on foot and is reachable with a 20 min walk from the main train station. Stop at the Tourist Information at the train station, or any hotel lobby that you come across to pick up a brochure on attractions in Graz. This brochure also contains a map with most of the sights marked, as well as recommended self-guided walking routes through the town.
For other needs, public transportation options exist:
By taxi
Taxis are available 24 h a day. You can hail one on the street, go to a taxi rank or simply order one by phone. The taxi ranks with the best chances of getting a taxi day or night are "Hauptplatz" Right side of City Hall or "Hauptbahnhof". There is a base rate of â¬3-4 for all rides. Avoid taxis in the early morning and early evening when traffic congestion can make a taxi ride very expensive. A ten-minute taxi ride usually costs about â¬10. Taxis can be booked at the same price as on the street by calling 0316-878, 0316-889, 0316-222, 0316-2801.
Tram
Graz has an excellent tram service running through the Jakominiplatz where the different routes meet and you can change trams and buy tickets at the tobacco kiosk Tabak. Make sure you punch your ticket inside the tram If you get caught without a valid/punched ticket you will have to pay a fine of 60 Euros. You can buy hourly, daily, weekly or monthly tickets also available at a vending machine in the tram, but you need coins or a working Austrian cash card. They are valid on all modes of public transport throughout Zone 101 Graz plus immediate surroundings including the airport!
Car
If you can avoid it, just avoid it. Graz has areas with an inscrutable one-way system which makes it easy to get lost. Parking space in central areas are rare and subject to a fee from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm, in front of Hauptbahnhof to 9pm and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Tickets can be bought from ticket machines placed in every street. A ticket for half an hour costs â¬0.60 "blue zones", "green zones" are a bit cheaper. The maximum parking duration in blue zones is three hours and in green zones one day. Be aware that there are a lot of 'ticket-police' around so don't even try to park without a valid ticket Fine ⬠25. There are a number of underground car parks in the city centre for example under the Karmeliterplatz which is called Pfauengarten Parkgarage which is open 24h a day. A ticket for one hour costs â¬2, a 24h ticket costs â¬12.
Bike
Graz is a city of cyclists, featuring an excellent network of cyclepaths. Due to this using a bike to get around at least the central areas of Graz is one of the best choices. It also helps that it does not rain a lot in Graz. Bikes may be rented, although if you are staying a bit longer buying a used one and maybe reselling it from one of the many bike stores may be cheaper get one of the great restored vintage bicycles from Rebikel, KeplerstraÃe 55. Bike theft is a common problem in Graz, so take care that your bike is properly locked if possible against a bar when you are not using it. Also, if you are inexperienced bicycling around trams, take extra caution especially noting that getting your wheel stuck in a tram rail could knock you down, with trams potentially coming right behind and beside you!. Counter-flow cycling cycling in the "wrong" direction of a one-way street is allowed almost everywhere in Graz - watch out for "one-way street"-signs with a small additional "ausgenommen Radfahrer" "except cyclists" sign.
An online map of Graz for cyclists is available here: (http://geodaten1.graz.at/...). You can get a big map for cyclists from the Tourist info office Herrengasse 16, at "Mobil Zentral" JakoministraÃe 1 or at the "Radstation" Cycling station next to the central railway station.
Rental bicycles are available for example at the "Radstation" German only next to the central railway station leave the station through the main exit, turn right, walk approx. 200 m or from one of the shops of "Bicycle" German only.
By bus
Graz also has an excellent city bus network taking in the parts of Graz not serviced by trams. Many buses go through Jakominiplatz, Hauptbahnhof and Geidorfplatz. The tickets are the same as for the tram. Be sure to get yourself a map at Jakominiplatz of the network if you plan to use it frequently. Also check out (http://www.busbahnbim.at).
Ticket prices: Single ticket available from the driver ⬠2 valid for one hour, day ticket available from the driver ⬠4.50 valid for 24 h, weekly ticket â¬11.90.
Keep in mind that bus and tram services operate from 5am to midnight during the week. Trams usually stop around 23:30 from Jakominiplatz in all directions. Nightbuses operate only on Fridays and Saturdays and before public holidays. They leave from Jakominiplatz in all directions at 00:30, 01:30 and 02:30.