Kid-friendly places in Graz

19 places in Graz, Austria, where children are actually welcome — what each one is, what it costs, and what to watch for. 19 carry a warning worth reading before you go.

Eat and play
Play cafés
Pools
Sports
Classes
Adventure

Eat and play3

Gasthaus GriesbauerRestaurant
Traditional Backhendl inn in the green belt ~8km north-east, with what locals rate the best playground of any Graz restaurant and a forest trail above it.

Closed Tuesdays. Food takes a long time when busy; treat it as an afternoon out, not a quick lunch. Prices are above average.
KnusperhäuschenRestaurant
Large, popular Styrian restaurant with a big playground, huge portions and fast service even when full. Free parking.

Cash only; the nearest ATM is in the petrol station shop.
MARTIN AUER KINDERCAFÉCafe
City-centre branch of the Graz bakery chain built around a big central play table, with the chain's good coffee and free drinking water. No entry fee.

Quieter than most kids' cafes but still a working bakery cafe at peak times.

Play cafés3

Happy KidsIndoor playground
Large indoor playground in Straßgang, ~6km south-west of the centre, with a wide age range and drinks included in the entry price.

Weekday opening only from early afternoon. Birthday bookings have drawn complaints about thin staffing and the final bill; confirm what is included in writing.
KnirpscafePlay cafe
The pick of the Graz play cafes: small made-to-order menu, lots of high chairs, a changing table and a toddler-height toilet, and space for babies to crawl. Books and toys for a wide age range.

Closed Tuesdays.
The Babyccino ClubPlay cafe
Montessori-inspired play space for babies and toddlers near the university, calm rather than loud, with complete toy sets and good matcha. Attracts an international crowd.

Closed Mondays and Sundays and open in split morning/afternoon sessions. Small; best for under-3s.

Pools2

Auster Sport- und WellnessbadPool
The main Graz aquatic centre in Eggenberg: indoor 50m pool plus several outdoor pools, a large lawn and volleyball courts. Clean and spacious.

Parking rules changed recently and are poorly signposted; register your plate at the tablet inside or you will be fined. Lanes are often reserved for clubs on weekdays.
StukitzbadPool
Andritz neighbourhood pool with a baby pool, a small slide, a motor-skills course around it and a big shaded lawn with a sandpit. Sauna attached for adults.

The main pool gets tight at summer weekends. Sauna sides are separated by gender.

Sports6

BLOC house - BoulderhalleClimbing
The Graz bouldering community hub, friendly and well set, with a good spread of difficulties. Tram stop Puchstraße at the door.

No real changing rooms, just curtained cubicles. Lockers need coins and chalk is not provided. Very warm in summer.
BoulderclubClimbing
Big, airy bouldering hall ~8km south with a family area, a calisthenics park, a bar and outdoor ping pong. Air conditioned.

Under-12s are restricted to the family area and no longer allowed in the main hall.
FLIP LAB GrazTrampoline park
Two-level trampoline and inflatable park near the Weblinger interchange, with a warm-up, guides on the floor and English-speaking staff.

Weekday opening only from 2pm. Book online for the cheaper rate.
Jump 25Trampoline park
Hangar-sized trampoline park ~12km south with a fenced small-children area, sofas and tables around the jumping floor, party rooms and a buffet. Open 9am to 9pm daily.

Little airflow inside; hard going on hot days. Supervision of how many jump per trampoline is loose.
Skatehalle GrazSkate / BMX / roller
DIY-built indoor skatepark with a mini ramp, slappy and small cubes, so beginners have somewhere to start. Runs skate courses in the school holidays.

Session times vary; check before turning up.
Zirkuswelt Events e.U.Acrobatics / aerial
Children's circus school running week-long holiday courses in acrobatics, aerial hoop and trapeze, finishing with a real performance for parents. Full-day supervision included.

Holiday-week courses rather than drop-in; book ahead.

Classes3

FRida & freDChildren's museum
The Graz children's museum, fully interactive and aimed at roughly 3 to 12. Exhibitions change, so it is worth returning; occasional theatre performances too.

Closed Tuesdays. Interactive stations are mostly German-only. Theatre costs extra.
Musivana - Center for Music and MovementMusic
Early-years music and movement classes with singing, dancing and instrument trials. Affordable, and they also host children's parties.

Course-based; contact them for the term schedule.
das linchen GRAZPaint-your-own ceramics
Paint-your-own-ceramics studio near the university with a very large choice of blanks and colours. Firing takes about two weeks.

Closed Mondays. Booking well ahead is essential. No air conditioning; unpleasant in high summer.

Adventure2

Tier- und Naturpark Schloss HerbersteinZoo
Zoo built into a gorge below a castle, ~60km north-east. Large natural enclosures, a petting zoo, feeding shows, water fountains and viewing platforms.

Hilly with a lot of climbing. Enclosures are big, so animals can be hard to spot. Plan half a day.
Waldpark HochreiterWildlife park
Forest animal park ~55km north where you buy a bag of feed and hand-feed the animals, with climbing towers, pedal cars, a water play area and picnic spots. A proper day out.

Trails are not stroller-friendly. Feed costs extra on top of entry.

Other cities

Every place here is in the Kindering app too, on one map with the rest of Graz, sorted by how far each one is from you.

Missing a place, or one has closed? Tell us.