A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Graz vs. Dresden for Old Town, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Graz or Dresden?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Graz or Dresden? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Graz

Graz is a beautiful, medieval, and cultural city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Dresden

Dresden is a friendly, architectural, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Graz and Dresden: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Dresden?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dresden than Graz, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dresden is more popular for its big city activities, while Graz is known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Graz is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. Dresden is popular for its beautiful palaces, castles, and many landmarks (such as the Baroque Zwinger Palace, Semperoper Opera House and the Church of Our Lady). It is also home to Dresden Frauenkirche and The Royal Palace.

How is Graz different from Dresden?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dresden and Graz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Graz or Dresden?

Graz is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Graz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The old town is among the largest in Europe and it's filled with sights and museums. The Schlossberg and the Clock Tower are among the most iconic sights but other highlights include the GrazMuseum, the Mohren Apotheke's Theriak Museum, a Gothic Franciscan Church, and the Robert Stolz Museum.

Dresden is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's rich in culture and baroque architecture. Some of the main sights around town include Dresden Frauenkirche, the Dresden Royal Palace and Museums, the Zwinger and Old Masters Picture Gallery, and the Semper Opera.

Is the Food Better in Graz or Dresden? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Graz is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Graz is an experience not to be missed. There's a huge focus on sustainable dining in town, so you'll find many restaurants that use a farm to table approach. Local ingredients are heavily valued and it's fun to sample the many local flavors. Backhendl is a classic fried chicken dish that you must try.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Dresden. The food features a number of Saxon specialties, which are typically hearty and heavy on the meat. If you have a sweet tooth, you'll also appreciate the many sweets that you can find around town. You should make sure you try a Fettbemme (open faced sandwich), Eierschecke (a cake), and Sächsische Kartoffelsuppe (potato soup) while you're in town.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is high quality in both Graz and Dresden.

Many people head to Graz for the nightlife scene. The large student population means that there's an active nightlife scene that is diverse and fun. There's a wide variety of bars and pubs with almost any music genre you could want. There are also dance clubs for those who are looking for a party.

Dresden has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Head to Neustadt for the highest concentration of bars and clubs. There's a diversity of trendy clubs and casual bars. Bar hopping is easy as most places are accessible by public transit.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for its Old Town?

Graz is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historic old town.

Graz offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The medieval city center is very well preserved and one of the largest in Europe. The city has a lot of hidden charm and quaint streets to explore.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Dresden. Much of the city's old town has been rebuilt, but that's not to say it isn't beautiful. The main square and surrounding area are where you'll find the majority of the city's main sights.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Dresden?

Graz is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Graz. You'll find a lot of shopping around both Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz Squares. There are also a number of shopping streets in town including Herrengasse which is filled with shops, restaurants, and more.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Dresden. Kunsthofpassage Dresden is a network of streets where you'll find crafts, art, and other eclectic items for sale. Prager Strasse is a popular shopping street near old town and Seestrasse is where you'll find all of the trendy brands that are popular throughout Europe. The city also has many shopping malls.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for Families?

Graz is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Dresden is a city with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Graz is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the fairytale train and there's also a 4D cinema that is fun for the whole family. In Schlossberg Hill, families should check out The Slide, which is the largest underground slide in the world. Other highlights include a Children's Museum, a Folklife Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

For families, Dresden is not always the best place to visit. It doesn't have quite the abundance of activities for kids that you may find in other Germany cities, but that doesn't mean that kids will be bored. There's the Dresden Zoo, the Dresdner Parkeisenbahn (a small steam rail), and the Saxon Folk Art Museum. Families can also take a guided to of the Transparent Factory, which is owned by Volkswagon and provided information on the manufacturing of automobiles.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for Couples?

Graz is a great destination for couples. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Graz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

Dresden is a nice destination for couples. Couples can explore the old town or walk through one of the city's many parks. The city has many cultural activities. In the new town you'll find many great bars and fascinating restaurants.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Graz and Dresden are good places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Graz. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Dresden is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and the city itself is not particularly expensive.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for Students?

Graz is a great destination for students. However, Dresden is not popular with students.

Graz is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's long been an education center in Austria and students make up a significant portion of the population. It's also a chill city with a relaxed and student-friendly vibe.

Dresden is not popular with students.

Is Graz or Dresden Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Graz is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Graz. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

While Dresden offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has two major train stations as well as tram and bus lines around town.

Is Graz or Dresden a more walkable city?

Graz is an amazing city to visit for its ease of walking around. Also, Dresden is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Graz on foot is easy. You'll find everything you'd want to see in the old town, which is large, but still compact enough to explore on foot.

Dresden is very walkable. Particularly in the compact city center you'll find Dresden to be very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Graz Worth Visiting? and Is Dresden Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dresden or Graz?

How long in Graz or Dresden?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Graz and Dresden. In our opinion, Graz has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Graz than Dresden. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Graz, and 1-3 days is enough time in Dresden.

Families should spend more time in Graz than Dresden. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Graz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Graz than Dresden. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Graz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Graz than Dresden if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Graz.

One day in Graz or Dresden?

In Graz, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Dresden. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Graz or Dresden?

In Graz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Graz has to offer.

Dresden is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Graz or Dresden?

Graz is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Dresden. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Graz or Dresden?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Graz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Graz. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The architectural city of Dresden offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Bicycle Tours in Austria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Graz and Dresden, we can see that Dresden is more expensive. And not only is Graz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Graz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Graz and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dresden would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dresden than you might in Graz.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Graz Expensive? and Is Dresden Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Graz or Dresden?

Dresden has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Graz and Dresden, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Graz or Dresden?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Graz or Dresden in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Graz as well as Dresden. The summer months attract visitors to Graz because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dresden this time of year.

In the summer, Graz is a little warmer than Dresden. Typically, the summer temperatures in Graz in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Dresden averages at about 20°C (68°F).

Graz receives a lot of rain in the summer. Graz usually gets more rain in July than Dresden. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Dresden in the Autumn?

Both Dresden and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Graz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dresden for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Graz is generally a little warmer than Dresden. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Dresden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In October, Graz usually receives more rain than Dresden. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Graz or Dresden in the Winter?

Both Dresden and Graz during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Graz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dresden in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dresden can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Graz. Graz is much warmer than Dresden in the winter. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 1°C (34°F) in January, and Dresden fluctuates around 1°C (33°F).

Graz usually gets less rain in January than Dresden. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Dresden in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Dresden. Many visitors come to Graz in the spring for the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dresden for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Graz is a little warmer than Dresden. Typically, the spring temperatures in Graz in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Dresden averages at about 10°C (50°F).

In April, Graz usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dresden. Graz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Dresden receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Dresden and Graz