Although there are not many lakes in Graz, the inhabitants and guests of the city have various opportunities for ice skating in Graz.
The free ice rinks are of course dependent on the weather. An exception is the Liebenau ice rink. Anyone who does not have their own skates at home can borrow skates from individual skating rinks at reasonable prices.
If shoes are borrowed, it is essential to ensure that they are in good condition. Besides the right size, you should also pay attention to the shine and condition of the shoes. Beginners should preferably use figure skating shoes. This is because hockey shoes can cause greater balance problems as they have less contact with the ice.
Ice skating is possible at the following places in Graz:
- Hilmteich
- Winterwelt am Karmeliterplatz
- Mariatrost
The Hilmteich
The ice skating rink at the Hilmteich can be visited every day from 10:00 am to 20:00 pm.
However, this is only possible if the ice is thick enough and there is no snowfall. The entrance fee for adults is 3,50 Euro and for children from six years on three Euro. From 18 o’clock on everybody has to pay three Euro. At the Hilmteich it is possible to borrow shoes.
There is a special discount for school classes. This is 2,50 Euro per person. School classes can even come to the ice rink before 10:00 am. In addition, there is an area for stick sport shooters and an area for hockey players at the Hilmteich. It is important to register in advance via www.hilmteich.com. On this website you can also see if skating is possible!
The winter world at the Karmeliterplatz
From 15 November 2019 to 26 January 2020 you can skate on a 100 square metre ice rink in the centre of Graz.
From the age of 17 years on, six Euro entrance fee must be paid. From eleven to 16 years of age you have to pay <3.50 Euro/strong> and from six to ten years 1.50 Euro/strong>. Under six years of age, free skating is possible.
Many kindergartens and schools also arrive at Karmeliterplatz to use the ice rink in the morning.
Mariatroster Pond
In the Mariatrosterstraße 230 in 8044 Graz you can benefit from free ice skating. The skating rink is open from Monday to Friday from 14:00 to 19:00 and on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and during school holidays from 10:00 to 19:00 . You can also borrow ice skates for three euros. This skating rink is very often visited by parents with their children.
By calling 0664/5590680 you can get information about the condition of the ice and whether the area is in operation. It is important to know that there are very few parking spaces available around the ice rink. For this reason it is best to use the free parking at the P+R at the terminus Mariatrost. From there it is only a five-minute walk to the ice rink.
Here is no skating possible anymore
The Thalersee
In earlier times, the ice rink at Lake Thalersee was regularly open and on certain days, evening skating was even possible. Nowadays the ice rink can be entered at your own risk if the ice is thick enough. Ice skating on the natural ice rink can take place when there is no snow.
The ice rink Liebenau
As the open-air ice rink was newly built, no public skating was possible until the end of 2019. Schools could use the ice rink in the Merkur Ice Stadium. However, this was only possible by prior appointment.
The Volksgarten
A few years ago it was still possible to use a large ice rink in front of the Volksgarten if the right temperature was available. There was a 500 square meter ice rink available, which could be used without charge.
Ice skating in Graz surroundings
Of course, there are still some possibilities to enjoy the ice in the immediate vicinity of Graz. In the following some more ice rinks are shown, which can be reached within 15 to 30 minutes by car from Graz.
The following ice rinks are in the immediate vicinity:
- Schwarzlhalle
- Gratwein – Bad Weihermühle
- Ice stadium Hart near Graz
The Schwarzlhalle
From 13 December 2019 until 7 January 2020 and from 2 February 2020 until 28 February 2020 free ice skating is available at the Schwarzlhalle in Unterpremstätten. This is therefore only possible during this period, as from 20 January to 26 January 2020 the European Figure Skating Championship will be held there.
In the Schwarzlhalle there is no rental of skates, so you have to bring your own skates. From Monday to Saturday the ice rink can be visited from 08:00 to 16:00. On Sundays and public holidays a visit is possible from 10:00 to 19:00.
Frohnleiten
There is also an artificial ice surface here. For adults, a ticket costs 4.50 euros, children pay 3 euros. Skates can be rented for 3,- Euro.
Ice stadium Hart near Graz
The ice stadium in Hart near Graz can be visited every Wednesday and every Thursday from 14:00 to 16:20. On Fridays and Sundays it can be visited from 15:00 to 17:50 and on Saturday it is open for ice hockey from 15:00 to 17:50. Until the 6th birthday there is no free entrance. From the 6th to the 16th birthday the entrance fee is 2,50 Euro and for adults it costs 4,50 Euro. There are also reduced tickets for certain persons.
gratwein – Bad Weihermühle – no operation
Currently there is no operation in the Weihermühle – the information is from the previous year, because it was still possible then.
If it is cold enough and the ice is thick enough, you can play ice hockey or shoot curling stick in Bad Weihermühle. The ice hockey area is separated from the general ice rink, so that everyone can have the highest amount of fun at the same time. It is possible to hold curling tournaments. However, we kindly ask you to register in advance by telephone. The ice rink is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00. On Fridays the ice rink can even be used until 21:00 hrs. The entrance fee is 3.50 euros and 2.50 euros for children. Anyone who does not have their own skates can borrow them for two euros for children or 3.50 euros for adults.