Graz Survival Guide

Arriving in Graz

Graz is well connected whether you arrive by train, bus, or plane:

By Train: You will arrive at Graz Hauptbahnhof (Central Station). Direct tram lines (1, 4, 6, 7) connect straight to the city centre.
By Plane: Graz Airport (GRZ) is located just south of the city. Take the regional train (S-Bahn line S5) or regional bus (lines 630 or 631) to Hauptbahnhof in about 12 minutes.

TU Graz Pickup Service

If you are studying at TU Graz, you can sign up for our free TU Graz Pickup Service. A volunteer will meet you upon arrival at the train, bus station or airport and help you get to your accommodation.

Mandatory Address Registration (Meldezettel)

3 Working Days Deadline

Under Austrian law, you must register your address within 3 working days of moving into your room or flat. Book an appointment online at a Graz City Service Centre (Servicestelle der Stadt Graz). Bring your passport and the official Meldezettel form signed by your landlord or dorm manager.

EU / EEA Registration Certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung)

If you hold EU, EEA, or Swiss citizenship and stay in Austria for longer than 3 months, you must apply for an Anmeldebescheinigung within your first 4 months in Graz.

Where to Apply: At the Styrian State Government office (Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Paulustorgasse 4).
What to Bring: Passport, university enrolment confirmation, proof of health insurance (EHIC), proof of sufficient funds, and your registered Meldezettel.

Local SIM Card & Bank Account

SIM Cards: Prepaid SIM cards are inexpensive and do not require long-term contracts. Popular options like HoT (bought at Hofer supermarkets) or yesss! (bought at Billa or Lidl) are easy to activate online with photo identification.
Bank Account: Most European bank cards work without extra fees. If you need a local account, several Austrian banks offer free student accounts (Studentenkonto) upon presenting your enrolment confirmation and Meldezettel.

Join Our Events

Visit the ESN Graz office during office hours to get your ESNcard. Attending our events at the beginning of the semester and stopping by our weekly Regulars’ Table (Stammtisch) are great ways to meet new people and settle into student life in Graz!

Need Help Settling In? Visit our Buddy Programme page to get matched with a local student who can answer your questions and meet you when you arrive.

ESN Regulars’ Table (Stammtisch)

Meet us every week at The Office Pub! It is the best place to make friends, join our pub quizzes, and settle into student life in Graz.

Campus Life & Day Hangouts

Spritzerstände: Pop-up drink stands run by student unions on campus. They sell cheap wine spritzers and soft drinks in the late afternoon after lectures.
Stadtpark & Augarten: The main parks to relax or play outdoor games.

Local Tip: Stick to Stadtpark and Augarten for evening hangouts. Avoid Volksgarten after dark as it can feel unsafe.

Evening & Nightlife

Univiertel (University Quarter): The area along Zinzendorfgasse and Heinrichstraße near Uni Graz, filled with student cafés and bars.
PPC & Postgarage: The two major clubs. They often host concerts, electronic music nights, and big student parties.

Seasonal Highlights

Autumn – Buschenschank & Sturm

Visit a Buschenschank (traditional seasonal tavern where local winemakers serve their own self-produced wine and cold regional food) in the hills surrounding Graz. Try Sturm, a sweet, seasonal grape juice available only in autumn.

Winter – Christmas Markets

From late November, Christmas markets open across Hauptplatz, Franziskanerplatz, and Schlossberg. Meet up for a warm mug of Punsch or Glühwein.

Summer – Swimming & Outdoor Spots

Open-Air Pools: Visit Augartenbad in the city centre or Auster Freibad in Eggenberg.
Wörthersee Day Trip: Take the fast Koralmbahn train to Lake Wörthersee (about 40 minutes) for a swim in Carinthia.

Cultural Events

Long Night of Museums (Lange Nacht der Museen): Held every October. One ticket gives entry to almost every museum in Graz (or whole Austria) from 18:00 to midnight.
Aufsteirern: A September festival in the city centre celebrating Styrian music, food, and traditions.
Klanglicht: An annual spring festival with light and sound installations throughout the historic city centre.

Travel & Day Trips

Graz Hauptbahnhof has direct train connections to Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest, Ljubljana and many other cities around Austria.

Money-Saving Tip: Book tickets early on the official ÖBB app to get cheap Sparschiene fares.

ESN Events

We organise trips across Austria, cultural events, sports, and parties throughout the semester. Follow our social media and check our event calendar to join!

Universities in Graz

Graz is one of Austria’s primary student cities, hosting several public universities and applied sciences institutions:

Uni Graz: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (Humanities, Natural Sciences, Business, Law)
TU Graz: Technische Universität Graz (Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture)
FH Joanneum: University of Applied Sciences (Applied Technologies, Design, Media, Health)
KUG: Kunstuniversität Graz (Music and Performing Arts)
Med Uni Graz: Medizinische Universität Graz (Medicine and Nursing Science)

Mandatory ÖH Contribution

Every enrolled student in Austria must pay the compulsory student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag, approximately €25 per semester). Paying this fee is required to complete your registration and automatically provides you with basic accident and liability insurance for campus activities and commute.

Online Portals & Student Cards

University Platforms: Each institution uses its own portal (such as UNIGRAZonline or TUGRAZonline) to manage schedules, course materials, and university emails. Activate your account as soon as you receive your enrollment details.
Student ID (CampusCard): Collect your physical student ID card at your university Registrar’s Office or International Office upon arrival. You must validate the card each semester at dedicated campus terminals to update the expiry date print.

Exams

Attending lectures does not automatically enrol you for the final exam. You must manually register for each exam on your university online portal before the specified deadline.

USI Sports Courses

The University Sports Institute (USI) offers affordable sports, fitness classes, and outdoor recreation for all university students in Graz. Online registration opens a few weeks before the semester starts and popular courses sell out rapidly, so check the registration date early.

ESN vs International Office: For official academic matters, credit transfers, or course permissions, contact your host university International Relations Office or academic coordinator. ESN Graz is here to assist with your social integration, local tips, and student life outside the classroom!

Local Public Transport in Graz

Graz has a reliable public transport network of trams and buses operated by Graz Linien. Jakominiplatz is the central square where almost all lines connect.

Free Tram Zone (Altstadtbim): You can ride any tram for free between Hauptplatz and Jakominiplatz, plus one extra stop in each direction (up to Schlossbergplatz or Südtiroler Platz).
Public Transport Apps: Download ÖBB or GrazMobil to buy single, 24-hour, or weekly tickets and check live timetables.

Top-Ticket for Students (Styria)

If you are under 26 and enrolled at a Graz university, the Top-Ticket Studierende is the best value option. It costs around €187 per semester and gives you unlimited travel on all trams, buses, and regional trains throughout the entire province of Styria (Steiermark) for 6 months.

National Train Travel: ÖBB & WESTbahn

ÖBB Vorteilscard Jugend: If you plan to travel around Austria by train, get an ÖBB Vorteilscard Jugend (for anyone under 26). It costs under €20 per year and grants 50% off standard ÖBB train fares. Yes, it basically pays off after a single trip to Vienna.
KlimaTicket ÖBB (Youth): If you stay for a full academic year and plan to travel across Austria constantly, the youth KlimaTicket ÖBB covers ALL public transport nationwide for one year. For a single semester, the Top-Ticket paired with individual Sparschiene train tickets is usually more economical.
WESTbahn: A private train company offering direct routes connecting Graz with Vienna, Klagenfurt, and Salzburg. They recognize ÖBB KlimaTicket, ÖBB Vorteilscard discounts and offer competitive fares.

Cycling in Graz

Graz is a bike-friendly city with extensive cycle paths. Cycling is often the quickest way to get between campuses.

Getting a Bike: Buy a second-hand bike on Willhaben or you can consider renting it.
Bike Rules: Your bike must have working front and rear lights, reflectors, and a bell. Police regularly check lights in autumn and winter.

Rules & Safety: Buy a valid ticket before boarding trams or buses, as ticket inspectors operate frequently. Never cycle under the influence of alcohol, as police issue heavy fines for drunk cycling, sometimes.

Finding Accommodation in Graz

You want a place to live before arriving. Exchange students in Graz generally choose between student halls of residence (dorms) and shared flats (WGs).

Student Halls of Residence (Studentenheime)

Halls of residence are often the easiest option for single-semester stays because rooms come fully furnished with utilities included. Established housing providers in Graz include OeAD Student Housing (which specialises in international exchange students), STUWO, Akademikerhilfe, and Home4Students.

Shared Flats (WG = Wohngemeinschaft)

Sharing a flat with local or international flatmates is a popular way to integrate into student life.

WG-Gesucht.de: The main platform used in Graz to list and find available rooms in shared flats.
Willhaben: Austria’s largest classifieds site, featuring room offers and flat sublets under the real estate (Immobilien) tab.
ÖH Schwarzes Brett: The student union noticeboard where students post room openings and short-term sublets.

Important Rental Terms

Warmmiete vs. Kaltmiete: Warmmiete includes basic rent plus running building costs (heating, water, building maintenance). Always check whether electricity and internet are included or billed separately (usually it’s separately). Kaltmiete covers basic rent only.
Deposit (Kaution): Landlords standardly require a security deposit equal to 1 to 3 months’ rent before move-in. This deposit is held for the duration of your stay and refunded upon departure, provided the room is returned in good condition.

City Registration (Meldezettel): Your landlord or dorm manager must sign the Unterkunftsgeber field on your city registration form. You require this signature to complete your mandatory address registration at Graz City Hall within 3 working days of arrival.

Scam Awareness Alert

Be cautious when searching for private flats online. Never transfer money via untraceable methods or send passport scans to unverified private individuals before inspecting the room, signing a valid contract, or using an accredited provider (such as OeAD).

Shops & Sunday Opening Hours

Retail stores and supermarkets in Austria generally open Monday to Friday (08:00–19:30) and Saturday (08:00–18:00). All standard shops remain closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Sunday Groceries: If you need groceries on a Sunday, the Spar supermarket at Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) is open daily from 06:00 to 22:00.

Supermarkets on a Student Budget

Budget Discounters: Hofer and Lidl offer the lowest everyday prices for groceries and basic household supplies.
Farmers Markets: Visit fresh food markets at Kaiser-Josef-Platz or Lendplatz (Monday to Saturday mornings) for fresh regional produce; although it is often more expensive than in grocery stores.

Recycling & Bottle Deposit (Pfand)

Waste separation is standard in Austria. Flats use separate bins for Paper (Altpapier), Plastics & Packaging (Gelber Sack / Gelbe Tonne), Organic (Biotonne), Glass (Altglas), and Residual Waste (Restmüll).

Bottle Deposit (Pfand)

Single-use plastic bottles and metal cans displaying the official deposit symbol carry a deposit, usually 25 cents. Return empty, uncrushed containers to reverse vending machines inside supermarkets to collect your refund.

Money-Saving Apps & Second-Hand Items

Too Good To Go: Download this app to purchase discounted surplus food from local bakeries, supermarkets, and restaurants at the end of the day.
Willhaben: Use Austria’s largest online marketplace to buy affordable second-hand furniture, kitchenware, bikes, and winter clothes locally.
ESNcard Discounts: Show your ESNcard at our partner venues in Graz and check the official ESNcard portal for travel discounts with FlixBus, Ryanair and other international partners.

Payment Methods

Contactless card payments are accepted almost everywhere. Keeping a small amount of cash on hand is recommended for Spritzerstand, small bakeries, farmers markets, and traditional cafes.

Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers on your phone when you arrive:

112: European Emergency Number
122: Fire Brigade (Feuerwehr)
133: Police (Polizei)
144: Ambulance (Rettung)
141: Doctor On-Call Service (Hausärztlicher Notdienst, for non-life-threatening urgent care outside regular clinic hours)
1450: Health Advice Line (free 24/7 hotline for medical guidance if you feel unwell but don’t want to call an ambulance)

Health Insurance

EU / EEA Students

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), located on the back of your national health card, covers public medical treatment in Austria. Show it alongside your photo ID at the clinic.

Non-EU / EEA Students

If your home insurance does not cover Austrian public care, you can register for student self-insurance with ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) once you arrive in Graz.

Finding a Doctor

Public Doctors (Kassenarzt): Look for general practitioners (Allgemeinmediziner) listed with ÖGK or Alle Kassen. This way treatment costs are usually covered directly by your insurance.
Private Doctors (Wahlarzt): You pay for the consultation upfront and submit the receipt to your insurance provider for partial reimbursement.

Pharmacies (Apotheken)

Pharmacies are easily spotted by a large red “A” sign. Standard opening hours are Monday to Friday (08:00–18:00) and Saturday (08:00–12:00).

Night & Sunday Duty (Nachtdienst): Outside standard opening hours, pharmacies take turns operating a 24-hour service. Every pharmacy displays the name and address of the nearest open night pharmacy on its front window, or you can search on apothekerkammer.at.