Essentials
- City
- Graz, Styria, Austria
- Population
- Approximately 300,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-150 Mbps; widespread fiber optics in the city center
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Steiermärkische Sparkasse, Raiffeisen
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality Alpine water from the Hochschwab region
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- A1, Magenta, Drei (Drei 'KLIXX' prepaid offers approx. 20GB for €15)
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, and Erste Bank (Sparkasse) are popular for easy digital setup
- Accommodation
- Platforms: Willhaben.at, Airbnb, and WG-Gesucht for flatshares
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, but many smaller traditional 'Buschenschank' or cafes may prefer cash
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Limehome Graz (approx. €80-120/night), and Blackhome Boutique Apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- A&O Hostel Graz Hauptbahnhof (from €25/night), Jugendgästehaus Graz
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Innere Stadt (Old Town) near Schlossberg and Hauptplatz
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Geidorf (University district) or Lend (Trendy, creative hub)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Social Business Hub Styria (Lendplatz 35) or Unicorn Graz (Schubertstraße 6a) - €15-25/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Tribeka (Technikerstraße 1) - fast WiFi and large tables; Tribeka (Grieskai 2)
- Networking Events
- Gründungsgarage (Startup events), Ideentriebwerk Graz meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Internationals in Graz (Facebook Group), English Speakers in Graz Meetup
Culture and Attractions
- Local Markets
- Kaiser-Josef-Platz Farmers Market (fresh local produce)
- Music Scene
- PPC (Project Pop Culture), Orpheum Graz
- Street Art
- Murals around Triester Straße and Lend Canal
- Cooking Classes
- Pichler-Haus (Traditional Styrian cooking workshops)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Zimmermann Kratochwill, Camera Austria
- Historic Buildings
- Grazer Burg (home to the Double Spiral Staircase)
- Local Heritage
- Styrian Panther (emblem), Pumpkin Seed Oil culture
- Must-See Landmarks
- Uhrturm (Clock Tower), Schlossberg, Kunsthaus Graz (The Friendly Alien)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Joanneum Quarter, Neue Galerie Graz
- Historical Sites
- Eggenberg Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Landhaushof
- Religious Sites
- Graz Cathedral (Dom), Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II
- Annual Events
- Aufsteirern (Folk festival), Elevate Festival (Music/Arts), Diagonale (Film)
- Cultural Districts
- Lend and Gries (creative neighborhoods)
- Theater Venues
- Oper Graz (Opera House), Schauspielhaus Graz
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Rettenbachklamm (Gorge hike), Schöckl Mountain (cable car access)
- National Parks Nearby
- Gesäuse National Park (approx. 1.5 hours north)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Murradweg (Mur River Cycling Path) extending 365km
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Schlossberg Skywalk, Plabutsch (west of city)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Stausee Gralla (south of Graz)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ pits at Auwiesen park
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Österreichische Post, DHL, DPD
- Tech Repair Services
- McShark (Apple specialist), Reparatur-Netzwerk Graz
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Stadtpark Graz and Augarten
- Language Classes
- Deutsch in Graz (DIG), Urania Graz
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Steiermärkische Landesbibliothek, Graz University Library
- Community Centers
- Spektral (Social/Cultural workshop space)
- Gaming Lounges
- Button - Gaming Culture Center
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Graz (Landhausgasse 10)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €208,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €152,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €294,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €210,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €376,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €264,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 23% (Reduced from 24% in 2024)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 27.5% (Capital Yield Tax/KESt)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (living >183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 55% (for income over €1,000,000); 50% standard top tier
- VAT
- 20% standard rate, 10% for food and books
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in accordance with EU ATAD directives
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on assessed value (Einheitswert)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3.5% Real Estate Transfer Tax + 1.1% Land Registry Fee
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard residency rules apply. High taxes but high quality of life.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi 878, Uber (available but limited), Bolt
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Graz Bike (Nextbike), Tier, and Lime scooters
- Best Beach Nearby
- Schwarzlsee (Lake) - 15 mins south, offering swimming and wakeboarding; entry approx. €5
- Top Regional Airline
- Austrian Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, KLM, Swiss (operating via Graz Airport GRZ)
- Highway Access
- A2 (Vienna/Italy) and A9 (Slovenia/Germany) intersection
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Graz Hauptbahnhof (Main Station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Graz Linien: 1-hour ticket €3.00, 24-hour ticket €6.40, KlimaTicket Styria
- Regional Travel
- ÖBB Railjet to Vienna (2.5 hrs), FlixBus to Maribor, Slovenia (1 hr)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- LKH-Univ. Klinikum Graz (Auenbruggerplatz)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- City Yoga Graz (Am Eisernen Tor 3), Yoga Life (Lendplatz)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFit (Lendkai), Fitinn (various locations, approx. €25/month), John Harris Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Miele Self-Service Laundry (Plüddemanngasse 45)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando, Foodora
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Backhendlsalat with Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil (Kürbiskernöl)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ginko Greenhouse (Herrengasse 7), Swing Kitchen (Glacisstraße)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hofbäckerei Edegger-Tax (Historic bakery), Eis-Greissler (Vegan-friendly ice cream)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Hofer (Aldi), Lidl, and Spar
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.at, Zalando.at, Shpock
- Grocery Delivery
- Billa Online, Alfies (fast delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Univiertel (Zinzendorfgasse area) for students; Lendplatz for trendy bars
- Local Brewery
- Puntigamer (Grazer Brewery), Gösser (nearby Leoben)
- Wine Bars
- Die Weinbank (Regional focus), Vinothek der Steiermark
- Street Food Stalls
- Lendplatz Farmers Market (morning), Frankowitsch (famous finger sandwiches)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Yamamoto (Japanese/Sushi), Ichi Go Ichi E (Ramen)