A Travel Price Comparison for Austria Vienna vs. Graz for Old Town, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Vienna or Graz?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vienna or Graz, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Vienna

Vienna is a traditional, artistic, and musical city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Graz

Graz is a historical, beautiful, and medieval city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Vienna and Graz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Vienna or Graz?

You'll generally find more things to do in Vienna than Graz. Vienna is bigger than Graz, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Vienna is better known for its music, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Graz is more popular for its nightlife. Vienna is more touristy than Graz and is known for its strong classical music roots including being home to both Mozart and Beethoven. Also, Vienna is famous for The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace. Graz is well known for its many cultural activities, its impressive old town, and its beautiful Baroque architecture.

The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace

How is Vienna different from Graz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Vienna can be an interesting and educational experience. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Graz. 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.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Vienna and Graz can be an enjoyable experience.

Vienna has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.

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.

Is Vienna or Graz Better for Nightlife?

Graz is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Graz has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Vienna has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.

Is Vienna or Graz Better for Music?

Vienna 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 Vienna. On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.

Graz is not a live music destination.

Is Vienna or Graz Better for its Old Town?

Vienna and Graz both have fantastic historical old towns that attract visitors.

With a famous historical old-town, Vienna offers plenty to see. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Vienna or Graz?

Vienna 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, Vienna draws large crowds to its stores. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.

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 Vienna or Graz Better for Families?

Graz is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Vienna is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Vienna. Families enjoy taking carriage rides or dressing up in costumes at Schönbrunn Palace. The city also has children's museums, parks, and playgrounds where you can let little legs run around.

Is Vienna or Graz Better for Couples?

Vienna is renowned for its romantic activities. Also, Graz is not as popular, but is still a nice city for couples.

Vienna makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With it's Baroque architecture and classical concerts, this city is filled with romance. Explore the palaces, take a carriage ride, or enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant.

Graz is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's filled with culture, history, and amazing food. Couples will appreciate the romantic old town and the many world class sights around town.

Is Vienna or Graz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Vienna and Graz are both notable destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Vienna. The city flies under the radar for many backpackers, but those who visit will be rewarded with beautiful buildings, charming cafes, and fun hostels.

Graz is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are hostels and budget-friendly hotels around town that make this a nice town to explore as a backpacker.

Is Vienna or Graz Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Vienna. The city is a popular destination for international students who are interested in art, architecture, and music.

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

Vienna 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.

Vienna has a great public transit system. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.

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

Is Vienna or Graz a more walkable city?

Vienna and Graz are fantastic when it comes to walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Vienna. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.

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.

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

Should I spend more time in Graz or Vienna?

How long in Vienna or Graz?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Vienna and Graz. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Vienna than in Graz. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Vienna, and 2-3 days is enough time in Graz.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Vienna 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 Vienna.

One day in Vienna or Graz?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Vienna. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

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.

A weekend in Vienna or Graz?

Vienna 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.

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.

Five days in Vienna or Graz?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the classical destination of Vienna. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

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.

A week in Vienna or Graz?

The musical city of Vienna offers shopping and museums. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historical 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Austria.

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

Which is Bigger, Vienna or Graz?

Vienna has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Graz. When comparing the sizes of Vienna and Graz, 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 Vienna or Graz?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Vienna or Graz in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vienna and Graz. Many visitors come to Vienna in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Graz for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Vienna is around the same temperature as Graz in the summer. The daily temperature in Vienna averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Graz fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Graz this time of the year. In Vienna, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vienna usually receives more sunshine than Graz during summer. Vienna gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Graz receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

Graz receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Vienna usually receives less rain than Graz. Vienna gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Graz receives 126 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Vienna or Graz in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Vienna as well as Graz. Most visitors come to Vienna for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Graz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Vienna is around the same temperature as Graz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vienna in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Graz averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the autumn, Vienna often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Graz. Vienna gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Graz receives 139 hours of full sun.

Vienna usually gets less rain in October than Graz. Vienna gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Graz receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vienna or Graz in the Winter?

Both Graz and Vienna are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Vienna because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Graz this time of year.

It's quite cold in Graz in the winter. The weather in Vienna can be very cold. In January, Vienna is generally much warmer than Graz. Daily temperatures in Vienna average around 2°C (36°F), and Graz fluctuates around 1°C (34°F).

Vienna usually receives less sunshine than Graz during winter. Vienna gets 65 hours of sunny skies, while Graz receives 95 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Vienna usually receives more rain than Graz. Vienna gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Graz receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Vienna or Graz in the Spring?

Both Graz and Vienna during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Vienna this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Graz for the natural beauty.

Vienna is around the same temperature as Graz in the spring. The daily temperature in Vienna averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Graz fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Vienna. In the spring, Vienna often gets more sunshine than Graz. Vienna gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Graz receives 158 hours of full sun.

Vienna usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Graz. Vienna gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Graz receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Graz and Vienna