A Sustainable Travel Guide To Graz, Austria’s Greenest City (2026)

Discover why Graz is the ultimate sustainable travel destination, what makes Austria’s second city so green, and why you should visit.

In the last few years sustainable travel has become a bit of a buzzword, and a lot of people don’t really know what it means exactly.

There are other terms such as ecotourism, ethical travel, and responsible tourism being thrown around too. But what does this actually mean in practical terms?

Sustainable travel goes beyond caring for the environment. It encompasses a great variety of factors, and some destinations have managed to implement a lot of initiatives that take care of these factors.

Austria is a country where sustainability is at the forefront of everyday life. Here you find examples where communities such as those in the Bregenzerwald region try to live in harmony with nature.

When it comes to cities, Graz, Austria’s second city, is a great illustration of what can be done to make it both a more liveable city, and the ultimate sustainable destination for responsible travellers.

I would even go as far as saying that Graz is not only the top green destination in Austria, but possibly in Europe too.

And this is what makes Graz stand out, when it comes to sustainability.

Table of Contents

1 What makes Graz the ultimate sustainable destination?
2 Conclusion
- 2.1 Explore more of Austria

What makes Graz the ultimate sustainable destination?

Farm-to-table cuisine

Graz is the capital of Styria, the region known as the ‘Green Heart of Austria’ and a popular foodie destination. This has given Graz a very rich culinary tradition, which has, in turn, earned it the title of Culinary Capital of Delight.

This accolade was granted to the city thanks to the love that local restaurants share for their regional produce, and for the creativity they put into their dishes.

They feature farm-to-table cuisine that emphasises the use of locally sourced seasonal ingredients, often from small local farms, focusing on sustainability and supporting the local community.

A great example is Stammtisch Au Paulustor, a family owned and run restaurant with a menu that changes seasonally to reflect the freshest and most flavourful locally grown ingredients available. They serve exquisite local wines too.

Another one is Bo Suppe, a small business that sells soup through a shop window using ingredients from the local farmers market. And you can take it away in a glass container that can be returned and reused.

These are just two examples for those looking for high-quality food made with locally-sourced seasonal ingredients, but there are plenty more to discover.

Local network of farmers

Graz may be Austria’s second largest city, but the farming community is very close to its heart. There are around 350 farms within the city perimeter that produce a wide variety of high-quality produce.

These farmers often work together in networks or cooperatives to support each other, and their produce can be found in farmers markets across the city.

Kaiser Josef Market (Kaiser-Josef-Markt) is the largest of the farmers markets in Graz, and is located in the square of the same name, Kaiser Josef Platz, behind the Opera House. It’s also the oldest farmers market, dating back to the 19th century.

The use of zero miles seasonal produce is important for both local restaurants and for residents. And this market is testament to this.

A lot of the produce here is organically grown. The farmers work together to promote the quality and sustainability of their products, which include specialties from the Styria region, such as Käferbohnen (scarlet runner beans), pumpkin seed oil, and apples.

Fun fact: Did you know that 90% of pumpkins and 80% of apples in Austria are grown in Styria?

Businesses with a social conscience

Graz is a city with a conscience, and this is apparent by the number of social businesses that can be found across the city.

Driven by a social or environmental mission, the goal of these businesses is to reinvest their profits into the local community.

A great example is the Offline Retail Project, which offers employment to people suffering from addiction. The positions provided include jobs in their furniture or sewing workshops, and green space maintenance.

The products made in their workshops are then sold in their shop, alongside donated second hand items such as clothing, furniture, bags, and jewellery. Offline Retail Project can be found in Mariahilferstrasse 19.

Another innovative social enterprise is Tag.werk, a bag designer born in the Caritas Shelter over 20 years ago, and that has become a household name in Graz.

They design and create bags using recycled materials such as tarpaulin, awnings and old leather. Their values are not only environmental, but they have a community focus too. They employ young people who have difficulties accessing the job market.

Tag.werk can be found in Marahilferestrasse 13, and you can also buy their products online here.

A bike friendly city

As part of becoming an even greener city, Graz is planning to double the number of cyclists by 2025. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but travelling on two wheels is a great way to explore the city and its beautiful surrounding nature for both locals and visitors alike.

With an extensive network of bike lanes and paths, Graz is a very bike friendly city.

Whether you’d like to ride an e-bike or a tandem to cruise through the city centre, or a mountain bike to explore the Graz countryside, you can rent one from one of the local bike stations (Radstation at Hauptbanhoff and Körösistraße 17, and Gigasport Graz).

There is a network of designated 13 main cycle routes throughout the city that run along both banks of the river Mur, and that connect the city centre with the suburbs and the countryside beyond.

There is also a range of bike-related services and resources throughout the city and the region of Graz, that include bike repair shops, bike storage facilities and bike friendly accommodation, that make it easy for people to get around by bike.

Free and accessible public transport

Graz is a very walkable city, but if you prefer not to walk, the city offers many options to move around and explore by public transport which include buses, trams, the Schlossberg lift, and the Schlossbergbahn funicular.

The public transport network is very easy and convenient to use, so driving in Graz is totally unnecessary, which helps reduce the city’s carbon emissions.

The Old Town tram takes you between Jakominiplatz and Hauptplatz, plus one stop in both directions, for free. Just look out for the AltStadtBim stickers on the tram bus stops.

In addition, Graz public transport system is designed to be accessible for everyone.

Over 90% of buses are barrier free, and a number of them have been equipped with TYFLOSET, an acoustic system that helps visually impaired people with orientation.

Accessibility at the forefront

As Graz Tourismus says… Graz is for everyone! And this is why the city has worked to offer accessible travel options, museums and restaurants.

I’ve already mentioned buses and trams, and how easy it is to explore the Old Town by public transport. But it is also possible to enjoy the views of Graz from up high for those with restricted mobility.

The Schlossberg lift takes you up to Schlossberg Hill, from where you can enjoy the impressive rock landscapes within the hill, and the fantastic views of the city. And Schlossbergbahn funicular is a fun ride that lets you enjoy the city roofs during the ride.

Throughout the city, you also find ‘Graz Miniatures’ at most of the city’s sights. They are small, three-dimensional miniature models made of bronze that can be found right in front of the main sights.

They are designed to be tactile, so blind and visually impaired people can get a feel for the buildings in front of them. There are models of the Clock Tower, the Kunsthaus, the City Hall, Graz Opera House, Landhaus, and Schlossberg Museum.

You can also take a sense-provoking walking tour of Graz designed for the blind and visually impaired called the Hearing and Feeling Graz Tour.

A strong and authentic sense of community

Graz is a city with a very strong sense of community and cultural diversity. The city has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees, and this has contributed to a diverse and vibrant community, one of the many reasons to visit Graz.

One of the ways in which the people of Graz have come together is through a number of cultural festivals and events held throughout the year. They include the Graz International Film Festival (GIFF) and the Styria Autumn Festival (Steirischer Herbst), among others.

These events offer opportunities for people to get involved and celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Graz also champions small independent and family-run businesses, which are often more likely to support community initiatives and events. They also contribute to the unique character and identity of a community and help create a sense of place.

Drinking water fountains

One of the things that everyone can easily do to be more sustainable when travelling, is to carry a reusable water bottle (I love my Waterdrop bottle). And Graz has made this really easy by installing 120 drinking water fountains throughout the city.

Also, look out for the Refill Austria sticker on the door of shops, cafes and bars. You can bring your own bottle and they will refill it with tap water for free.

It saves money, reduces waste, and protects the environment!

Conclusion

If you are looking to travel more sustainably and have a positive impact while exploring the world, then I urge you to visit Graz. As you can see, it is a great example of a green destination that is working really hard to become even more sustainable.

Plus there’s so much to see and do in Graz! Read my guide for things to do in Graz to find out more.