Graz

This article is about the city in Austria. For other uses, see Graz (disambiguation).

Graz
Statutory city
View from the Castle Hill (Schlossberg) Graz City Hall Graz Museum of Contemporary Art Island in the Mur University of Graz
Flag Coat of arms Logo
Graz Location within Styria Graz Graz (Austria)
Coordinates: 47°04′15″N 15°26′19″E
Country	Austria
State	Styria
District	Statutory city
Government
• Mayor	Elke Kahr (KPÖ)
Area
• Total	127.57 km2 (49.26 sq mi)
Elevation	353 m (1,158 ft)
Population  (1 January 2025)
• Total	306,068
• Density	2,399.2/km2 (6,213.9/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Grazer (en) Grazer (m.) Grazerin (f.) (de)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	A-801x, A-802x, A-803x, A-804x, A-805x
Area code	+43 316
Vehicle registration	G
Website	graz.at
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iv
Reference	931
Inscription	1999 (23rd Session)
Extensions	2010

Graz (German: [ɡraːts] ^ⓘ) is the capital of the Austrian state of Styria and the second-largest city in Austria, after Vienna. On 1 January 2026, Graz had a population of 307,912, or 345,391 including residents with a secondary residence. In 2023, the population of the Graz functional urban area was 660,238. The city is an important centre of higher education, with four universities and four other higher education institutions; together, they had more than 63,000 students as of 10 June 2023. Its historic centre (Altstadt) is considered one of the best-preserved urban centres in Central Europe.

The earliest documented mention of Graz dates from the 12th century, when it developed as a fortified settlement under the rule of the Babenbergs. During the Late Middle Ages, the city became an important commercial and administrative centre. From the 14th century onward, it served as the residence of the Inner Austrian branch of the Habsburg dynasty, a role that contributed to its political, cultural and architectural development. Many Renaissance and Baroque buildings from this period remain part of the cityscape. Graz also held strategic military importance as a stronghold against the Ottoman Empire, particularly through the fortifications on the Schlossberg. In the 19th and 20th centuries, industrialisation and urban growth helped establish Graz as a major industrial, educational and cultural centre in southern Austria.

In 1999, the historic centre of Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites; in 2010, the designation was expanded to include Eggenberg Palace (German: Schloss Eggenberg) on the western edge of the city. Graz was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2003 and became a City of Culinary Delights in 2008. It is also recognised as a City of Design within UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.