Austria
Best Time to Visit Graz
Graz has a continental climate with four distinct seasons, so the right time to visit depends on whether you want festivals, quiet sightseeing, or winter markets. Summers are warm and lively, winters cold but charming.
✦ Go in May or September for the best balance of good weather, fewer people, and lower prices.
✅ Best months
May and September. The weather is mild (15–22°C), crowds are thin, and the city feels relaxed. Spring blossoms and autumn colours both look great against the old town's red roofs.
🔥 Peak season
July and August. School holidays and the Styriarte music festival drive demand. Hotel prices spike 30–50%, and the city centre is packed with visitors. Expect 30°C days and thunderstorms.
💷 Shoulder (best value)
April and October. Hotels often drop rates 20% versus summer. April can be rainy, but the Schlossberg is green. October has crisp air and fewer tourists, though days shorten.
🌙 Quietest & cheapest
November to February, excluding Christmas markets. December has high demand for markets, but January and February are dead quiet. Trade-offs: short daylight (8am–4pm), cold (0–5°C), and some restaurants close on Sunday.
Graz season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Weather: 5–18°C, mixed sun and rain
Crowds: low to medium
Good for walking tours and café terraces without queues.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Weather: 18–30°C, occasional thunderstorms
Crowds: high
Best for outdoor events, but book accommodation early.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Weather: 5–20°C, crisp and dry early, wet later
Crowds: low to medium
Harvest season for pumpkin seed oil – a local speciality.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Weather: -5–5°C, snow possible
Crowds: medium (Dec), low (Jan–Feb)
Christmas markets in December are the key draw; January is for quiet cosy café days.
🎭 Events worth timing a trip around
Styriarte music festival (June–July) fills the city with classical and contemporary performances. Aufsteirern folk festival (September) celebrates Styrian culture with costumes and food stalls.
🧳 What to pack
Bring layers even in summer – the temperature can drop 10°C after sunset, and rain showers are sudden. A packable rain jacket works year-round.
Found your dates? Get your hotel briefing.
Room tips, the 14-day forecast for your exact stay, dining, transport and more — free for any Graz hotel.
Researched & reviewed by the TripSage editorial team · Updated July 2026.