Lakes around Graz: the 10 best spots

Written by: Hannes Wagner, 16.08.2021

The temperatures exceed 30 degrees, the sweat is dripping. The only thing you want to do is cool off and now you are asking yourself “Where can I go swimming in Graz?”.

The student city in Styria has a first-class public transport network, some of the best student bars in Austria and also many swimming lakes in Graz and the surrounding area, which provide you with the necessary refreshment on hot summer days. Today we are going to introduce you to the best bathing lakes and ponds around Graz.

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Before we present to you the most beautiful lakes in this part of Styria, we asked ourselves a completely different question: “Where can you cool off in Graz?”. Unfortunately, the beautiful city in southern Styria does not have its own swimming lakes, but there are outdoor pools where you can relax and swim! Here are our favorites:

1. Auster outdoor pool

Address: Janzgasse 21, 8020 Graz
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Phone: 0316 8873379

The perfect summer location! The Auster outdoor pool has the perfect offer for everyone. Athletes can swim their laps in the 50-meter sports pool, daredevils can jump from the 10-meter diving tower and sportsy people can use one of the beach volleyball courts for a match. A day ticket is available for students for only 5 € and we think the Auster Outdoor Pool is definitely worth a visit!

2. Augarten swimming pool

Address: Schönaugürtel 1, 8010 Graz
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Phone: 0316 8873382

The Augarten swimming pool is a popular meeting point in the middle of the city and is located directly between Augarten and Mur. In addition to the 25-meter sports pool, a 5 meter tower, a beginner pool and a beach volleyball court, the Augarten swimming pool also has table tennis tables, trampolines and a boccia field. Due to the many different leisure activities, Augartenbad promises an eventful summer. As a student, you pay €4.50 for a day ticket.

3. Margareten swimming pool

Address: Grillparzerstraße 10, 8010 Graz
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Phone: 0316 324067

Nestled between beautiful old buildings and not far from the center, the Margareten swimming pool offers urban bathing pleasure. Students, families and retirees can come together to cool off on hot summer days. Since the Margareten swimming pool is so close to university, it is also suitable for a quick visit after your lectures off-seasons (May and September)! A day ticket for students costs about €4.

Now that you are familiar with the best outdoor pools in the student city of Styria, you want to know whether there are lakes nearby and if there are any spots where you can swim for free? We have found the most beautiful bathing lakes in Styria, especially in the Graz area, for you. You don’t want to leave Graz? No problem, here you will find the best summer activities in and around Graz!

4. Schwarzlsee

Address: Thalerhofstraße 85, A-8141 Premstätten
Opening times: Mon-Sun 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Phone: +43 3135 53577 0

Probably the most attractive leisure oasis in Styria! Feel good, relax and enjoy the sun. At Schwarzlsee you will really get into the summer holiday mood. From bike rental to fishing and stand-up paddling – there is a suitable activity for every taste.

Speaking of tastes, your taste buds will not get neglected either because on Schwarzlsee you will find many bistros and restaurants that will round off your summer day wonderfully. From July to September, you can get there with a shuttle bus from Graz that runs every 30 minutes to Schwarzlsee and Thaler See. The bus can even be used free of charge!

5. Kumbergsee

Address: Seeweg 2, 8062 Kumberg
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Phone: 03132 2475

The Kumbergsee is part of a popular local recreational area for everyone in Graz. For more than 35 years, with a surface of 175 x 105 meters, the lake has been an oasis of relaxation and wellbeing. Diving tower, waterslide or pedal boat on the lake – here you can have fun in the water in many ways! Students pay €3.50 for a day ticket.

6. Bad Weihermühle

Address: Tallak 59, A-8112 Gratwein Strassegel
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Phone: +43 664 1402751

Children’s hearts beat faster in Bad Weihermühle. But also all of those who are young at heart can let off steam on the trampoline, in the bouncy castle or on the beach volleyball court. For those who prefer comfort, there is also a rental service of parasols, loungers and VIP lounges available. Some events such as the “Caribbean Night” also take place in Bad Weihermühle. The day ticket costs €4.90 here.

7. Lilienbad

Address: Markt 91, 8323 St. Marein near Graz
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Phone: 03119 222740

The Lilienbad offers a natural swimming pool with a water surface of around 1,700 m². It is one of the largest bathing lakes on the Styrian countryside. In addition to a giant slide, 2 beach volleyball courts and table tennis, the terrace café “Seerose” invites you to have a bite after an eventful day. Old trees provide plenty of natural shade on the berths. A place for connoisseurs! A day ticket for students costs only €2.80.

8. Semriach adventure pool

Address: Neudorfstraße 6, 8102 Semriach
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Phone: +43 664 5700217

Comfortable and without many frills, the Semriach adventure pool offers one thing above all: relaxation! And if your stomach starts to growl from the sheer relaxation, you will not have to worry since the Bad-Café offers you all kinds of refreshments, snacks, drinks, ice cream, etc.

9. Hilmteich Graz

The Hilmteich in Graz is not a swimming lake, but it still offers a great range of leisure activities. If you want to spend a fun summer day or just do some sports, you can rent a pedal boat or venture into the climbing park in the adjacent forest, located directly behind the Hilmteich. You will find seven courses at different heights and with different degrees of difficulty. Do you prefer it quiet and cozy? Take some friends and a picnic basket with you and simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings!

By the way, the Hilmteich stop (tram line 1) is only a few meters away, so it is super easy to get to the pond by public transport. If you prefer to go by bike, you can be at the lake in just 20 minutes from the STUWO Heim Student City Graz.

10. Thaler See

The Thaler See is an artificially created lake and is located just behind the hills in the west of Graz. You can go pedal boating here or follow a circular hiking trail of 9 km. The walking time is about 3 hours and leads from the lake to Unterthal through the Stocker Wald to Steinberg. From here the hiking trail continues to Hart and back to the starting point. On the route you pass the house where Arnold Schwarzenegger was born and shortly afterwards the Unterthal castle ruins. A great day trip for those who don’t just want to lie on the beach all day!

The Thaler See can be reached by public transport easily: the bus line 48 of the Grazer Linien runs from Gösting to the Thaler See and from 11 July to 13 September there is even a free shuttle bus connecting Gösting with the popular excursion destination every half hour. If you are out and about with a sporty bike, you can reach the lake in about 30 minutes from the STUWO Heim Smart Living.

We hope you got some inspiration for hot days at the most beautiful bathing lakes in Styria and enjoy your summer in Graz even more! If the weather doesn’t play along, you will find the best bad weather program in Graz here.

We wish you a nice summer, refreshing moments and good relaxation!

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