FRida & freD

About

FRida & freD, Graz’s hands‑on children’s museum, is designed entirely around curiosity, experimentation, and storytelling. Opened in 2003, it was one of Austria’s first museums built specifically for young visitors, with every exhibition crafted to be touched, climbed, questioned, and reimagined. Its name reflects its mission: FRida stands for “FReude” (joy) and freD for “FREund” (friend), signalling a place where learning feels playful and social. Inside, the museum offers immersive themed worlds that change regularly, each encouraging children to explore real‑world concepts through role‑play and problem‑solving. Past exhibitions have transformed the space into miniature cities, sound laboratories, or nature‑inspired landscapes where kids can test how things work by doing rather than watching. The museum’s “research stations” invite young visitors to experiment with light, movement, and materials, while trained facilitators help them turn observations into discoveries. A highlight is the theatre room, where interactive performances blend storytelling with participation, allowing children to shape the narrative. The outdoor garden adds another layer, offering sensory paths, water play, and seasonal workshops that connect creativity with nature.

Graz Austria

Location

FRida & freD is Graz’sinteractive children’s museum, located inside Augarten park at Friedrichgasse 34 in the Jakomini district. It is the most frequently visited museum in Styria, welcoming around 85,000 visitors each year with hands-on exhibitions designed for children aged three to twelve. The museum sits in the leafy Augarten park, which is perfect for a relaxed walk after visiting the exhibits. Nearby, you can easily reach several of Graz’s main attractions: the historic Old Town, the Graz Clock Tower (Uhrturm), Schlossberg hill with its panoramic views, and Graz Cathedral. The Main Square of Graz is about 1.7 kilometers away, and Schlossberg Park is roughly 4 kilometers from the museum. For families, this location is ideal because children can enjoy both the interactive museum and the park, while adults can explore standout sites like Eggenberg Palace, the Graz Art Museum, and the city’s baroque churches within a short trip.