Graz City Hall (Grazer Rathaus)

The basics

Its prominent Old Town location makes Graz City Hall a popular stop on Graz walking tours, self-guided scavenger hunts, and audio tours. With a smart exterior that serves as a photogenic backdrop in the main square, the site often features on photography tours, too. Other nearby landmarks grouped with Graz City Hall on sightseeing tours include the Archduke Johann Fountain and the Landhaushof, a Renaissance courtyard building a few minutes walk away.

Things to know before you go

• The Hauptplatz is mostly wheelchair accessible, so people with reduced mobility should be able to admire the exterior architecture.

• Graz City Hall is a working office for the city, so don’t expect public amenities.

• Wedding ceremonies take place in the site’s historic Wedding Hall; these are often beamed around the world thanks to the in-room webcam.

How to get there

Graz City Hall is on the eastern side of the River Mur in the pedestrianized downtown area known as the innere stadt or the Old Town. Its exact position is on the Hauptplatz, and as this is the main square, nearly all of the city trams stop here. Just hop off at the Hauptplatz/Congress stop.

When to get there

You can pass by at any time to admire the exterior. The city hall looks extra special if you swing past in the holiday season; the façade is illuminated along with many other buildings around the Hauptplatz. If you want an inside glimpse, the site’s doors are open during weekday business hours.

The three houses of Herrengasse

When Graz City Hall was made bigger and grander in the 19th century, many nearby houses were ordered to be destroyed to make space. While most homeowners complied, there were three that quite literally refused to budge—their houses are still standing today. To see them, wander around the corner to Herrengasse. You’ll see three narrow houses that seem wedged within the city hall building itself.