Car & Van Hire - Graz Thalerhof

The majority of tourist attractions in Graz are located in the historical centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the heart of the historical centre is Schlossberg Park and its iconic Clock Tower. You can walk or take the cable car, and once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Old Town. Several walking trails crisscross the park, going past Schlossberg Museum, the Gothic Gate, and eventually leading to StadtPark, the largest urban park in Graz.

These two green spaces wrap around the historical centre, where important landmarks include the medieval city gates, Graz Cathedral, Graz main square, the City Hall and Landhaus Palace. In this area, there are multiple museums displaying Graz’s cultural heritage, the most visited of which are the Modern Art Museum, the Folk Life Museum, the New Gallery and the Armoury, home to the world’s largest collection of historical weapons.

The River Mur runs through the city, and several bridges link the historical centre with the new town. Right on the river, you’ll find Murinsel, an artificial island with a cafe whose ultra-modern design contrasts with the views it offers over the Old Town buildings. Not far from this spot is the distinctive building that is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Family-friendly attractions include Eggenberg Palace, a Baroque building featuring 24 spectacular state rooms and surrounded by manicured gardens, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum, both located on the outskirts of town. If you have booked a car or van hire in Graz Thalerhof, you can reach them in less than 30 minutes. A 50-minute drive takes you to the impressive hilltop Riegersburg castle, which you can visit as a day trip that includes the nearby Zotter Chocolate Factory. In Graz itself, the Frida & Fred Children’s Museum is worth a visit.

Graz is a great destination for foodies, as it was designated Austria’s Capital of Culinary Delights. The restaurants in the historical centre are the best place to sample Austrian seasonal cuisine, as well as regional wines. Just remember that most restaurants are closed on Sundays.

Sunday closures also apply to supermarkets, grocery stores and gift shops like the ones on Mariahilfer Street, a popular shopping destination with locals and tourists. The biggest shopping centres are Murpark, City Park and Shopping Nord.

Major annual events include Fasching (the Austrian equivalent of Mardi Gras), Styriarte, Graz Food Festival and Aufsteirern Folk Festival.

Due to its location near the Alps, Graz is a popular winter destination. Ice and snow are present on the roads at this time of the year, which means your vehicle must be fitted with winter tyres between November and April. Austrian police can issue hefty fines for non-compliance, as this is deemed a road safety matter.

Speed limits on motorways are 130 km/m. In urban areas, they range between 30 km/h and 50 km/h, and on other roads, they are 100 km/h. Speed camera detectors are not allowed, and neither are dash cams. Fines for speeding and other traffic violations can be issued on the spot. Still, the most serious offences incur penalties amounting to thousands of euros, in which case the common practice is to ask the driver to pay a deposit.

Drinking and driving regulations are strict. The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.5% for private vehicle drivers unless they’re under 20 years old, in which case the limit is lower at 0.1%. Exceeding the legal limit warrants costly fines and can have legal consequences.

Austria uses a vignette toll system. The vignette itself can be a sticker or come in digital form. Both are available from post offices and petrol stations. A vignette entitles you to drive on motorways (marked with an A for "autobahn") and expressways (marked with an S). Since there’s no vignette day pass, most visitors purchase a 10-day vignette.

Driving in the city, the main things to be aware of involve trams and parking rules. Some visitors tend to mistake tram tracks for car lanes, so be vigilant to avoid driving on dedicated public transport lanes. Note that although trams have priority, you can overtake them as long as you maintain a walking-pace driving speed and keep a safe distance. Blue lines indicate paid parking. You can only park here for a maximum of 3 hours, with a 13-minute grace period.
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