Looking to get from Vienna to Graz, or potentially debating if it is worth visiting Graz while you are in Vienna? You’re in luck because I can answer both of those questions for you, and the answers are that it is EASY and FAST to visit Graz from Vienna and it is DEFINITELY worth the trip.
There are dozens of regular connections between Austria’s first and second cities each day, and you’ll be among the lucky ones if you decide to visit Austria’s second city. Graz is still somewhat of a hidden gem – absolutely untarnished by overtourism, one of the few European cities that is exceptionally local throughout the city center and surrounds, and a rare city that manages to feel both like a city and a countryside town at the same time.
Graz is VERY special, but I saved that for another article – see also my thoughts on why Graz is worth visiting and my in-depth Graz travel guide, and keep reading for ALL the information you will need to plan your travel here from Vienna.
How Far is Graz from Vienna?
Graz is 145km from Vienna, or about 190km on the road. Here are the times of different modes of transport:
Train Vienna to Graz: 2.5 hours / €10-15 Euros
Bus Vienna to Graz: 2.5 Hours / €10-20 Euros
Driving or Rideshare Vienna to Graz: Just over 2 hours, price depending on gas or rideshare
Fly Vienna to Graz: 35 Minutes/ €89 to €170 euros depending
Option 1: Vienna to Graz by Train
Graz is only a mere 2.5 hours on the train from Vienna, so if you are tossing up whether or not to visit Graz from Vienna… GO FOR IT! The train ride is smooth, timely, and allows you a peek inside one of the most authentic and welcoming destinations in Austria.
The Vienna to Graz train scenery is also well worth the ride – the train takes you through mountains with views of snowy peaks to countryside cabins and everything in between (that you cannot see from the road). Many people who arrive in Vienna via a scenic river excursion decide to explore Graz in this way after the trip.
The train lines that travel between Vienna and Graz are Railjet and OBB. There are both daytime trains and also night trains.
You can book them easily online on the OBB website, but I recommend using Omio (prev GoEuro) or TheTrainLine (I have used and trust both providers this year) as the OBB website can be difficult to translate on mobile. When you purchase your tickets on TheTrainLine or Omio you will be sent your pdf tickets straight to your inbox. Make sure they have a QR code as this is what will be checked on the train. You also have the option to select seats on these providers.
Trains from Vienna to Graz can leave from any of the main stations in Vienna and end at the Graz Hauptbahnhof/central train station. Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof/central train station is called Wein and is situated in the South/Central part of the city with a lot of accommodation and restaurants around it.
The Graz Hauptbahnhof (main station) is just outside the city and will be about a 10-12 euro taxi ride to the city center for those who prefer taxis. You can also jump on one of the convenient Graz tram stop get into the city center in just 5- stops; look out for trams 6, 1, 7, and 4 to take you into the center. The trams in the old town are all free, but you will have to purchase a ticket to get there first!
Option 2: Bus from Vienna to Graz
The bus from Vienna to Graz is usually somehow faster than the train! The busses take 2 hours and 17 minutes to reach Graz and should stop closer to the city center from the train station. There are MANY busses between the two cities, with about 20 busses per day and 3 additional night busses operated almost entirely by Flixbus (link below). No matter what time of day you want to travel to Graz from Vienna by bus, you can do it!
Busses from Vienna to Graz either leave from Vienna Felberstrasse (to the west of the city near the west train station), Vienna Matzleinsdorferplatz (South of the city/main station), or Vienna Erdberg (east of the city). None of these departure points are particularly central so you will most likely need to take public transport to get to the bus departure points.
Busses from Vienna to Graz either stop at the Graz central train station (see above), Graz Murpark (quite far south of the city in a residential area), or Graz Girardigasse (right in the center of town with a big tram exchange). I recommend getting a bus to Girardigasse or the central train station if you will stay in the city center.
The Vienna to Graz bus scenery and views are also incredible, but not quite as good as the scenery from the train!
Option 3: Drive from Vienna to Graz
If you can get your hands on a car, it is quite simple to drive from Vienna to Graz – driving is the quickest way to get to Graz from Vienna. The route mostly takes the E59, S6, and S35 freeways, some of which will have tolls you must pay. For other costs, it depends on your car’s gas mileage!
Driving provides the most freedom as you can stop on the way to create an adventurous road trip, and your start and end points are not fixed like they would be with a bus or train. Austria is a FANTASTIC country to road trip because the views are simply stunning from one end of the country to the other, from the alps to the countryside.
You can rent a car to create a more full Austrian road trip between some of the incredible destinations in the country from Graz to Innsbruck to Vorarlberg to Salzburg and more. Get the tunes and cameras ready, read up on some road trip quotes, and get ready for some of the best scenery or your life!
Rideshare platforms are huge in Europe, and very popular in Austria. BlablaCar is a platform where drivers can offer rides to share costs, and travelers can join rides for cheaper transport and some interesting conversation.
If you’re booking last minute and want to avoid higher train/bus prices or simply enjoy meeting new people, see if there re any Vienna-Graz rideshare offers available on BlaBlacar on your dates.
Blablacar rides usually pick up and drop off in specific locations as they may not be coming only from Vienna or going only to Graz – your journey might just be a portion of theirs. So make sure to check the locations and send your potential driver a friendly message.
Option 5: Fly from Vienna to Graz
Yes, there are flights between Vienna and Graz – very short ones! Austrian Airlines provides two to three direct daily flights from Vienna to Graz in the morning afternoon, and night that only last 35 minutes. If you are short on time or prefer flying, these flights are extremely convenient.
It would be worthwhile making a quick weekend trip to Graz by plane from Vienna (although I recommend much, much longer) if you book early enough – a 35 minute flight is next to nothing and coupled with a fun agenda and a cool hotel you’re ready for a great trip. See my Graz travel guide for recommendations!
And that’s it for the best ways to get from Vienna to Graz! I suppose you can also walk if you want to, or take a bike… but I’ll let you figure those ones out on your own! You’ve made the BEST decision to visit Graz on your trip in Austria and it will surely be one to remember.
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.