What is the best way to get around in Graz as a student?
Graz is the perfect student town for people who prefer biking over public transport - every essential place in the city center within 15 minutes by bike. Also the public transport network is well developed and you can easily reach Austria's neighboring countries by train and bus.
How to get a bike?
A bike is the most essential vehicle for a student in Graz. You can move independently of the (not almost on time) public transport and in most cases you are also faster if you bike, than using the bus. The bike path network in the city center is not too bad (check out this map to get an over view of the bike path network) and if there is no separate bike path, there usually is a marked bike lane. Especially the bike path along the Mur (main river that flows through Graz) is really nice to start a bike ride, because the "Murradweg" was built right next to the Mur and continues for more than 100kms.
So how to get a bike as fast as possible, when you come to Graz? Check out willhaben.at! On this website you most often find a used bike, which is good enough for bike rides in the city center. Otherwise, search through the Facebook group "Grazer FB-Flohmarkt" (Facebook Flea market Graz), here not only bikes, but also furniture, clothing and other second hand things are up for sale. Otherwise, you can also visit one of the numerous bike stores. Most of them also sell second hand bikes, look up their location on Google Maps. These are also the places to visit, if you need to repair your bike. On the university campus you can also find small repair stations, with bike pumps and useful tools.
Heels on Wheels - shop for girls ;) They also have a bike pump outside their store.
Radaktiv
Bicylce - They also have a bike pump outside their shop and even a bike shower and repair tools around the corner.
If you also want to know, where there are bike paths
Bus, Bahn, Bim
The public transport system within Graz is coordinated by Holding Graz. Six different tram lines and several busses operate in the city center and connect it with its suburbs. The main turntable is Jakominiplatz, where all trams and many busses have a stop. Tickets can be bought at the ticket machine at some of the main tram stops (Hautplatz, Jakominiplatz, Hauptbahnhof,...) and in the tram. Most bus drivers sell tickets on the bus and they can always be bought in a "Trafik" (Tobacco shop) or online. Check this website for the ticket prices and online tickets. The BusBahnBim App is a helpful tool for looking up bus and train connections, as well as timetables.
Tip: As a student, there is the possibility to get a “Studienticket” that is a lot cheaper than normal tickets! At the bottom of the page the information can be found in English. When buying the tickets online via the BusBahnBim App you always get an approx. 10% discount (I think this only applies to 1-hour and 24-hour tickets).
Want to share a car?
Do you want to make a trip to a place, which you cannot reach by bus or train? Or do you need to transport a piece of furniture or something else really bulky? By becoming a member of tim you have the opportunity to rent an electric car at one of the pick-up spots in the city center of Graz. Also cargo bikes can be rented through this initiative.
Tip: As a member of tim you also get discounts on your public transport ticket. Check the website for more details.
Time for some traveling
Graz is located at a good geographic location, if you want to visit Austria's neighboring countries or its capital, Vienna. Only an hour by train to the South is the border of Slovenia and to go to Hungary you can also find good bus connections (check the Flixbus website). From Austria's capital Vienna, which is located a 2,5-hour train ride away from Graz, you can find connections to Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany. The main train station (Hauptbahnhof) is located in the West of Graz and can easy be reached by busses and trams. For train tickets of the Austrian train service please check the website of ÖBB.
Tips: If you already start looking for connections some days in advance of your trip, because there is a higher possibility to still get cheaper tickets (Sparschiene).
For students younger than 26 years: you can buy a yearly discount ticket for 20 € (Vorteilscardjugend), which enables you to buy many tickets at half of the original price.
A bike is the most essential vehicle for a student in Graz. You can move independently of the (not almost on time) public transport and in most cases you are also faster if you bike, than using the bus. The bike path network in the city center is not too bad (check out this map to get an over view of the bike path network) and if there is no separate bike path, there usually is a marked bike lane. Especially the bike path along the Mur (main river that flows through Graz) is really nice to start a bike ride, because the "Murradweg" was built right next to the Mur and continues for more than 100kms.
So how to get a bike as fast as possible, when you come to Graz? Check out willhaben.at! On this website you most often find a used bike, which is good enough for bike rides in the city center. Otherwise, search through the Facebook group "Grazer FB-Flohmarkt" (Facebook Flea market Graz), here not only bikes, but also furniture, clothing and other second hand things are up for sale. Otherwise, you can also visit one of the numerous bike stores. Most of them also sell second hand bikes, look up their location on Google Maps. These are also the places to visit, if you need to repair your bike. On the university campus you can also find small repair stations, with bike pumps and useful tools.
Heels on Wheels - shop for girls ;) They also have a bike pump outside their store.
Radaktiv
Bicylce - They also have a bike pump outside their shop and even a bike shower and repair tools around the corner.
If you also want to know, where there are bike paths
Bus, Bahn, Bim
The public transport system within Graz is coordinated by Holding Graz. Six different tram lines and several busses operate in the city center and connect it with its suburbs. The main turntable is Jakominiplatz, where all trams and many busses have a stop. Tickets can be bought at the ticket machine at some of the main tram stops (Hautplatz, Jakominiplatz, Hauptbahnhof,...) and in the tram. Most bus drivers sell tickets on the bus and they can always be bought in a "Trafik" (Tobacco shop) or online. Check this website for the ticket prices and online tickets. The BusBahnBim App is a helpful tool for looking up bus and train connections, as well as timetables.
Tip: As a student, there is the possibility to get a “Studienticket” that is a lot cheaper than normal tickets! At the bottom of the page the information can be found in English. When buying the tickets online via the BusBahnBim App you always get an approx. 10% discount (I think this only applies to 1-hour and 24-hour tickets).
Want to share a car?
Do you want to make a trip to a place, which you cannot reach by bus or train? Or do you need to transport a piece of furniture or something else really bulky? By becoming a member of tim you have the opportunity to rent an electric car at one of the pick-up spots in the city center of Graz. Also cargo bikes can be rented through this initiative.
Tip: As a member of tim you also get discounts on your public transport ticket. Check the website for more details.
Time for some traveling
Graz is located at a good geographic location, if you want to visit Austria's neighboring countries or its capital, Vienna. Only an hour by train to the South is the border of Slovenia and to go to Hungary you can also find good bus connections (check the Flixbus website). From Austria's capital Vienna, which is located a 2,5-hour train ride away from Graz, you can find connections to Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany. The main train station (Hauptbahnhof) is located in the West of Graz and can easy be reached by busses and trams. For train tickets of the Austrian train service please check the website of ÖBB.
Tips: If you already start looking for connections some days in advance of your trip, because there is a higher possibility to still get cheaper tickets (Sparschiene).
For students younger than 26 years: you can buy a yearly discount ticket for 20 € (Vorteilscardjugend), which enables you to buy many tickets at half of the original price.