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

Should you visit Graz or Munich?

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

Should I visit Graz or Munich? 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.

Munich

Munich is a high energy, multicultural, and economically thriving city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Graz and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Graz or Munich?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Munich than Graz, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Munich is more popular for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Graz is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Graz is popular for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture. Munich is popular for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. It is also home to The Nymphenburg Palace.

How is Graz different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich 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 Munich?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Graz and Munich.

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.

Many visitors head to Munich specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at very good restaurants in both Graz and Munich.

Graz has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

Dining out in Munich is an experience not to be missed. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Is Graz or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Munich is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Munich is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Graz has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Is Graz or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is renowned for its live music scene. However, Graz is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Munich. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Graz is not a live music destination.

Is Graz or Munich Better for its Old Town?

Graz is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. However, Munich does not have a historic old town.

The rich history of Graz can be explored in its historical center. 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.

Munich does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Graz or Munich?

Munich is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Munich draws large crowds to its stores. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

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.

Is Graz or Munich Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Graz or Munich.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Graz is very family-friendly. 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.

Munich is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Graz or Munich Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Graz and Munich make for a very good place to visit.

Graz is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

Munich is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Graz or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Munich is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Munich is extremely popular for backpackers. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

Graz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Graz or Munich Better for Students?

Munich is renowned for its student-friendly activities. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Many students frequent Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Graz is very popular with students. 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.

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

Munich is renowned for times when you don't have a car. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Munich has a great public transit system. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

Graz offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are buses and trams that travel around the town.

Is Graz or Munich a more walkable city?

Graz is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Munich 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.

Munich is very walkable. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

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

Should I spend more time in Munich or Graz?

How long in Graz or Munich?

In either Graz or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Munich than Graz because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Graz, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Graz 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 Munich.

One day in Graz or Munich?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Graz. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Munich is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Graz or Munich?

Graz is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Munich is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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 Munich?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Graz. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Munich is a economically thriving big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Graz or Munich?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Graz. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The economically thriving city of Munich offers shopping and museums. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Graz and Munich, we can see that Munich 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 Munich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Munich 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 Munich Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Graz or Munich?

Munich has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Graz and Munich, 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 Munich?

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 Munich in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Graz as well as Munich. Many travelers come to Graz for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Munich in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Munich. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Graz this time of the year. In the summer, Graz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Munich. Graz gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun.

Graz receives a lot of rain in the summer. Graz usually gets more rain in July than Munich. Graz gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Munich in the Autumn?

Both Munich and Graz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Graz in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

In October, Graz is generally a little warmer than Munich. Daily temperatures in Graz average around 13°C (55°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Graz usually receives more sunshine than Munich during autumn. Graz gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Graz usually receives more rain than Munich. Graz gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Graz or Munich in the Winter?

Both Munich and Graz during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Graz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Munich because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Munich can be very cold. Graz can be very cold during winter. Graz is much warmer than Munich in the winter. The daily temperature in Graz averages around 1°C (34°F) in January, and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Graz often gets more sunshine than Munich. Graz gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun.

Graz usually gets less rain in January than Munich. Graz gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Graz or Munich in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Graz and Munich. The spring months attract visitors to Graz because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Munich this time of year.

In the spring, Graz is a little warmer than Munich. Typically, the spring temperatures in Graz in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (53°F).

Graz usually receives less sunshine than Munich during spring. Graz gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Graz usually receives more rain than Munich. Graz gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Munich and Graz