On Friday, 20 November 2026, Advent in Graz begins on Hauptplatz and in the Franziskanerviertel. The arts and crafts market on Färberplatz opens a week later, on 27 November. Anyone planning a weekend visit can therefore experience two different rhythms of city life: first the grand historic squares, then a focus on handmade objects.
The markets are in the city centre and can be explored together on foot. Between them, lanes lead past façades spanning several centuries, while museums offer a refuge from the rain. The sequence follows the calendar: the crafts on Färberplatz are part of the second Advent market weekend, not the opening weekend.
To begin: Hauptplatz and the Franziskanerviertel
On Hauptplatz, the town hall forms the backdrop to the Christmas market. Its present façade dates from the remodelling carried out between 1888 and 1893; surrounding it are townhouses with older structural elements and façades from various periods. The square is therefore more than a space for a market: town hall, fountain and market stalls come together here, while Herrengasse leads further into the old town.
The Franziskanerviertel is just a short walk from Hauptplatz. According to its organisers, the Altgrazer Christkindlmarkt here is devoted to rural traditions, arts and crafts, and Styrian food and drink specialities. Both markets start on 20 November. The opening weekend is a chance to get to know the historic city centre through its squares and connecting streets, rather than treating the market stalls as isolated destinations.
A week later: crafts on Färberplatz
On 27 November, the arts and crafts market on Färberplatz joins the line-up. Craftspeople and artists present handmade one-off pieces and small-batch work in materials such as clay, fabric, metal, glass and wood. The objects draw attention to the making itself: the materials, the techniques and the small differences between individual pieces.
Färberplatz lies in the north-eastern part of the old town. From the market stalls, the surrounding area reveals itself as a dense fabric of lanes, houses and courtyards. A different route therefore suggests itself for the second weekend: first through the old town to Färberplatz, then back towards Hauptplatz or the Franziskanerviertel. The three markets do not share the same opening date; anyone arriving on the first Advent market weekend will not yet find the Färberplatz market open.
A cultural break in bad weather
For a break that does not depend on the weather, Graz Museum is on Sackstraße, a few minutes’ walk from Hauptplatz. It explores the city’s history and urbanism. Kunsthaus Graz, on the opposite bank of the Mur, provides a striking contrast to the historic city centre with its contemporary architecture. According to the museum, its regular opening hours are Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, 10am to 6pm; check the institution’s current information for your specific visit.
The result is a weekend experienced on three scales: the grand Hauptplatz, the more intimate lanes and the craft offerings on Färberplatz. Anyone arriving before 27 November can visit the markets on Hauptplatz and in the Franziskanerviertel and add some cultural activities; those wishing to make crafts a particular part of their plans should come from the second opening weekend onwards.
Getting there and the rhythm of the city centre
Graz Tourismus describes the markets as accessible on foot, a useful starting point for getting around the centre. Visitors arriving by public transport can travel between the station and the city centre with Grazer Linien and check their specific connection before departure. According to Graz Tourismus, travel in fare zone 101 is free on routes with one- or two-digit route numbers on the Advent Saturdays of 5, 12 and 19 December 2026; night buses are excluded.
The market dates extend beyond the opening period: Hauptplatz and the Franziskanerviertel remain open into December, while the Färberplatz market runs from 27 November to 23 December. Opening hours vary by location and what is on offer; it is worth checking the latest information before visiting. It is precisely these staggered openings that give Graz its own Advent rhythm: first the squares and their architecture, then the addition of crafts on Färberplatz.
Original reviewed by the editors · 11 November 2026
