Graz does Advent in many small doses. Around sixteen markets spread through a UNESCO-listed old town, a nativity scene carved from ice stands in a Renaissance courtyard, and the town hall turns into an Advent calendar at dusk. It suits couples and food lovers who want an Austrian Christmas with more space to breathe than Vienna or Salzburg.
Why go
Austria’s second city keeps its markets close together. The main one fills the Hauptplatz in front of the town hall, and within a few minutes’ walk you reach the old Franciscan Quarter, the Glockenspielplatz, the Mehlplatz and the Färberplatz, each with its own character. Most are compact, so you can move between them in an afternoon without queuing through crowds.
The set pieces make it memorable. The ice nativity in the Landhaushof has been carved every year since 1996, from about 35 tonnes of ice. Up on the Schlossberg, a weekend market sits by the Clock Tower above the rooftops. And Graz is Styria’s capital, which means pumpkin seed oil, roasted chestnuts and some of Austria’s best regional produce on the stalls.
Graz
Don’t miss
The places that make the trip, and why each one deserves your time.
Hauptplatz Advent market
Stalls of crafts and Styrian food fill the main square in front of the town hall, whose façade lights up each evening as a giant Advent calendar.
Food stands stay open until 10pm.
Blumele / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Ice nativity in the Landhaushof
Life-size figures carved from about 35 tonnes of clear ice stand in the arcaded Renaissance courtyard of the Landhaus, a Graz tradition every Advent since 1996.
Free to see, daily 8am to 9pm from 28 November.
E.mil.mil (talk) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 Franciscan Quarter market
The oldest Christmas market in Graz winds through the lanes around the Franciscan Church, with Styrian crafts, farm produce and a nativity scene with real sheep at the church door.
Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Glockenspielplatz
A small square of handmade crafts and Styrian delicacies from local producers, under the house where carved figures in traditional dress turn to a carillon.
C.Stadler/Bwag / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Schlossberg and the Clock Tower
The wooded castle hill rises straight out of the old town, with the Uhrturm clock tower and a weekend Christmas market on top and red roofs spread below.
The Aufsteirern market is open Fridays to Sundays.
Isiwal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Murinsel
Vito Acconci's steel-and-glass island floats in the River Mur, and in Advent it glows with coloured lights above the fast green water.
Marion Schneider & Christoph Aistleitner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5 Kunsthaus Graz
The blue, bubble-shaped 'Friendly Alien' art museum sits on the right bank of the Mur, a striking contrast to the baroque rooftops across the river.
Graz Christmas market 2026 dates and hours
The Advent market on the Hauptplatz runs from Friday 20 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, according to Graz Tourism and the Austrian National Tourist Office. It is open daily from 10am to 8pm, with food stands until 10pm, and from 10am to 2pm on 24 December.
- Old Town market, Franciscan Quarter: 20 November to 24 December 2026, daily 11am to 7pm (food stands to 9.45pm); 24 December 10am to 2pm.
- Glockenspielplatz: 20 November to 24 December 2026, 11am to 10pm; 24 December 11am to 2pm.
- Mehlplatz arts and crafts market: 20 November to 24 December 2026.
- Färberplatz arts and crafts market: 27 November to 23 December 2026. Monday to Thursday 11am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm.
- Aufsteirern on the Schlossberg: 20 November to 20 December 2026, Fridays to Sundays.
- WonderLEND, Mariahilferplatz: 20 November to 23 December 2026, with a big wheel and a curling rink across the river.
- Ice nativity, Landhaushof: Saturday 28 November 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027, daily 8am to 9pm. Free to visit.
- Town hall Advent calendar: 20 November to 27 December 2026, daily 4.30pm to 10pm.
- Christmas tree on the Hauptplatz: Lit from 28 November, with more than 25,000 LED lights.
The city’s Christmas lights are switched on every evening from 4.30pm to midnight. Most markets close on 24 December; for a trip after Christmas, the ice nativity runs until Epiphany.
The 48-hour route
Day 1
Morning: Take the tram from the Hauptbahnhof to the Hauptplatz and browse the main market while it is quiet. Walk down Herrengasse to the Landhaus and step into its arcaded courtyard for the ice nativity (from 28 November).
Afternoon: Wander into the Franciscan Quarter for the oldest market in the city, then on to the Glockenspielplatz and the Mehlplatz, a few lanes apart.
Evening: Be back on the Hauptplatz at 4.30pm, when the town hall lights up as an Advent calendar and the streets come on around you.
Tip: The ice nativity opens at 8am. See it first thing, before the old town fills up, and come back after dark to see it lit.
Day 2
Morning: Ride the Schlossbergbahn funicular, or take the lift inside the hill, to the Schlossberg. Walk to the Clock Tower for the view over the roofs, and on a Friday to Sunday stop at the Aufsteirern market.
Afternoon: Come down to the Mur and cross to the Murinsel, then walk along the right bank to the Kunsthaus. Continue to the Mariahilferplatz for WonderLEND and its big wheel.
Evening: Finish at the Färberplatz crafts market (from 27 November) or with a last Glühwein on the Glockenspielplatz, which serves until 10pm.
What to eat and drink
- Feuerzangenbowle: The fire-lit mulled wine and rum drink served at the Hauptplatz stalls.
- Pumpkin seed oil: Styria’s dark-green Kürbiskernöl, nutty and rich, sold in bottles at the craft and produce stalls and poured over salads in the city’s inns.
- Käferbohnen: Large Styrian runner beans, often served as a salad with pumpkin seed oil and onions.
- Maroni: Roasted chestnuts, sold hot in paper bags on the squares.
- Hot punch and Glühwein: On every market, often made with Styrian wine or fruit.
Where to stay
- Old Town (Innere Stadt): The Hauptplatz, Landhaus and Franciscan Quarter on your doorstep. Best for first-timers.
- Around the Schlossberg: Quiet streets below the hill, a short walk from the markets. Best for couples.
- Lend and Gries: Across the Mur, near the Kunsthaus and Mariahilferplatz, with a younger feel. Best for food and nightlife.
- Near the Hauptbahnhof: Practical for a short rail trip, a few tram stops from the centre.
Getting around
The old town markets are a few minutes’ walk apart. Trams link the Hauptbahnhof with the Hauptplatz. For the Schlossberg, use the Schlossbergbahn funicular, the lift inside the hill, or the stone steps up from Schlossbergplatz. Graz Airport is south of the city.
Good to know
- Dates: The Hauptplatz market runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. Compare other cities in our Christmas markets 2026 dates roundup.
- Christmas Eve: The central markets close early on 24 December, mostly at 2pm.
- Lights: The street lights come on every evening at 4.30pm and stay on until midnight.
- Holiday: 8 December is a public holiday in Austria, so expect weekend-style crowds that day.
- More markets: Pair Graz with the Vienna Christmas markets, the Ljubljana Christmas market or the Zagreb Christmas market, or browse our best Christmas markets in Europe hub.
FAQ
When is the Graz Christmas market 2026?
Most Graz Advent markets run from 20 November to 24 December 2026. The main market on the Hauptplatz is open daily from 10am to 8pm, with food stands until 10pm.
When does the Graz ice nativity open in 2026?
The ice nativity in the Landhaushof opens on 28 November 2026 and stays until 6 January 2027, daily from 8am to 9pm. It is free to visit.
Which is the best Christmas market in Graz?
The Hauptplatz market is the largest, in front of the town hall. For tradition, go to the Franciscan Quarter, the city’s oldest market; for views, the Aufsteirern market on the Schlossberg at weekends.
Is the Graz Christmas market open after Christmas?
The markets close on 24 December, or 23 December for some. The ice nativity stays until 6 January 2027, and the town hall Advent calendar is lit until 27 December.
How many days do you need in Graz at Christmas?
Two days covers the old town markets, the ice nativity, the Schlossberg and the riverside without rushing.
