Venue
JOWO will take place at the new campus of the Medical University of Graz (Austria). Graz is the second largest city in Austria, after Vienna, with a population of around 330.000, of which 60.000 are students.
The city has a long university and educational tradition, with memorable figures having studied or taught in the city. These include 9 Nobel laureates and names such as Johannes Kepler, Ludwig Boltzmann, Nikola Tesla, or Ernst Mach (after whom the ratio of one’s speed to that of sound is named).
The logo of the Medical University of Graz shows Josef Leopold Auenbrugger, who invented percussion as a diagnostic technique.
Aside from visiting this page, you can find updated and extensive information about Graz (traveling, accommodation, events, activities, etc...) at the Graz Tourismus page.
Arriving in Graz
By Plane to Graz
International non-stop flight destinations from/to Graz are limited (being Amsterdam and Istanbul notable exceptions), but there are plenty of convenient one-stop flights via Frankfurt, Munich, or Vienna operated by Lufthansa and/or Austrian Airlines.
Once landed, you can reach Graz in 20-30 minutes using public transportation.
Check the website of Graz Airport / Flughafen Graz (GRZ) for specific information about destinations and further information.
By Plane to Vienna
Vienna International Airport / Flughafen Wien (VIE) is around 2.30-3.00 hours away from Graz and offers many possibilities including low-cost flights. To reach Graz, there are several options.
1. Take a train to Graz (Graz Hbf) directly from the airport. The train might be a direct train or you might need to switch trains in Vienna. Info and tickets: ÖBB.
2. Take a direct bus to Graz (Girardigasse) from Flixbus. Although direct and very convenient, the frequency of this bus is low (timetable available here).
3. First take a city bus to Vienna's “Wien Westbahnhof” (info here), then the “Vienna Felberstrasse-Graz (Girardigasse)” bus from Flixbus.
Getting your bearings in Graz
Getting your bearings in Graz is easy. Following nearly a straight line from West to East you can find the following 4 important points in the city. These 4 strategical sites below are connected by tram line number 7.
Hauptbahnhof, the main train station of Graz, with train connection to international and local destinations including Vienna and Graz’s airport.
Hauptplatz, Graz’s main square and the heart of the city.
This is the starting point of Herrengasse, the main historical and shopping street in Graz, ending close to Jakominiplatz.
Jakominiplatz, considered the transportation hub of the city has connections to all tram lines and many buses. Also, bus stops to/from Graz’s airport and Flixbus (Girardigasse) to Vienna and Vienna’s airport are nearby.
Medical University of Graz, Graz’s main hospital and campus of the Medical University of Graz.
It can be easily reached using tram line number 7. The last two stops (St. Leonard/Klinikum Mitte and LKH Med Uni/Klinikum Nord) are approximately at the same distance of JOWO’s venue.
Accommodation
Graz Tourismus offers a comprehensive page on accommodation including hotels, bed & breakfasts and apartments.
For hotels and general accommodation, also check Booking.com.
If you want to rent a small studio or a cheap room in a shared flat, AirBnB is a great alternative.
For a super-low budget hostel check here.
Public Transportation
Graz and its close surroundings (including the airport) belong to a single Zone (101) and are very well connected via public transportation (train, bus, and tram). A a standard one-hour ticket for Zone 101 costs 2,40€ (May 2019) and allows you to use virtually all trains, buses, trams, and the Schlossbergbahn funicular within its validity.
If you are staying for 3 days and visiting the city you might be interested in purchasing a 3-day ticket. For further information on tickets check this page.
A map of public transportation in Zone 101 is available here. Use this route planner to check for specific connections.
Activities
Graz offers many places to visit and activities to enjoy. Please visit the Graz Tourismus page.
If you intend to visit the region, please visit the official tourism portal of Styria.