Enterprise

Car & Van Hire in Graz Thalerhof

Enterprise car hire locations in Graz Thalerhof

Graz Thalerhof is the international airport that serves Austria’s second-largest city. The airport is 10 kilometres south of the city centre, which can be reached by public transport. City buses take 30 minutes to cover the route, and trains (which depart from a station 400 metres away from the terminal building) take 20 minutes. If you’d rather not wait for public transport, car hire in Graz Thalerhof is the most convenient solution, as you can pre-book a vehicle online and collect it from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car counter at the airport.

What to do and see in Graz Thalerhof

The majority of tourist attractions in Graz are located in the historical centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the heart of the historical centre is Schlossberg Park and its iconic Clock Tower. You can walk or take the cable car, and once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Old Town. Several walking trails crisscross the park, going past Schlossberg Museum, the Gothic Gate, and eventually leading to StadtPark, the largest urban park in Graz.

These two green spaces wrap around the historical centre, where important landmarks include the medieval city gates, Graz Cathedral, Graz main square, the City Hall and Landhaus Palace. In this area, there are multiple museums displaying Graz’s cultural heritage, the most visited of which are the Modern Art Museum, the Folk Life Museum, the New Gallery and the Armoury, home to the world’s largest collection of historical weapons.

The River Mur runs through the city, and several bridges link the historical centre with the new town. Right on the river, you’ll find Murinsel, an artificial island with a cafe whose ultra-modern design contrasts with the views it offers over the Old Town buildings. Not far from this spot is the distinctive building that is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Family-friendly attractions include Eggenberg Palace, a Baroque building featuring 24 spectacular state rooms and surrounded by manicured gardens, and the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum, both located on the outskirts of town. If you have booked a car or van hire in Graz Thalerhof, you can reach them in less than 30 minutes. A 50-minute drive takes you to the impressive hilltop Riegersburg castle, which you can visit as a day trip that includes the nearby Zotter Chocolate Factory. In Graz itself, the Frida & Fred Children’s Museum is worth a visit.

Graz is a great destination for foodies, as it was designated Austria’s Capital of Culinary Delights. The restaurants in the historical centre are the best place to sample Austrian seasonal cuisine, as well as regional wines. Just remember that most restaurants are closed on Sundays.

Sunday closures also apply to supermarkets, grocery stores and gift shops like the ones on Mariahilfer Street, a popular shopping destination with locals and tourists. The biggest shopping centres are Murpark, City Park and Shopping Nord.

Major annual events include Fasching (the Austrian equivalent of Mardi Gras), Styriarte, Graz Food Festival and Aufsteirern Folk Festival.

Driving in Graz Thalerhof

Due to its location near the Alps, Graz is a popular winter destination. Ice and snow are present on the roads at this time of the year, which means your vehicle must be fitted with winter tyres between November and April. Austrian police can issue hefty fines for non-compliance, as this is deemed a road safety matter.

Speed limits on motorways are 130 km/m. In urban areas, they range between 30 km/h and 50 km/h, and on other roads, they are 100 km/h. Speed camera detectors are not allowed, and neither are dash cams. Fines for speeding and other traffic violations can be issued on the spot. Still, the most serious offences incur penalties amounting to thousands of euros, in which case the common practice is to ask the driver to pay a deposit.

Drinking and driving regulations are strict. The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.5% for private vehicle drivers unless they’re under 20 years old, in which case the limit is lower at 0.1%. Exceeding the legal limit warrants costly fines and can have legal consequences.

Austria uses a vignette toll system. The vignette itself can be a sticker or come in digital form. Both are available from post offices and petrol stations. A vignette entitles you to drive on motorways (marked with an A for "autobahn") and expressways (marked with an S). Since there’s no vignette day pass, most visitors purchase a 10-day vignette.

Driving in the city, the main things to be aware of involve trams and parking rules. Some visitors tend to mistake tram tracks for car lanes, so be vigilant to avoid driving on dedicated public transport lanes. Note that although trams have priority, you can overtake them as long as you maintain a walking-pace driving speed and keep a safe distance. Blue lines indicate paid parking. You can only park here for a maximum of 3 hours, with a 13-minute grace period.
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Car and van hire in Austria with Enterprise

Enterprise Austria offers a range of car and van hire services including one-way, long-term and short-term vehicle hire. Commercial clients can speak to our award-winning business rental team who will tailor a mobility solution for your needs and budget.

We are part of the Enterprise group, the largest transportation solutions provider in the world. Our global network covers more than 90 countries and over 9,500 locations, allowing us to serve your mobility needs, wherever you’re going.

We are committed to providing the best service possible and exceeding our customers’ expectations for quality and value.

Car hire in Graz Thalerhof

If you are travelling with your family or in a big group, you may find a 7-seater or a people carrier will give you more space to travel comfortably with your luggage. For a city trip, a handy hatchback that’s easy to park may suit you better. For business trips or long drives an executive car will combine comfort and performance.

Whether you prefer automatic to manual transmission, no problem. If you want a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine, we’ve got you covered. You may also need GPS, a child seat or want to add another driver to the contract, let us know and we’ll arrange it for you.

Van hire in Graz Thalerhof

Should you need to hire a van while you’re in Graz Thalerhof, all our vans can be driven on a standard licence and are modern, clean and easy to drive. Just ask and one of our branch team will happily show you around your hire van to make sure you are comfortable with it before you head off.