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Visiting the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum was a clear must-do for me.
Growing up I had always been a big fan of Schwarzenegger movies. Whether it was the Terminator, Kindergarten Cop or The Last Action Hero – I loved all of them.
Then, as I got older and started lifting weights, the Pumping Iron documentary became one of my favorites.
When Katharina told me there was an Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum in Austria I was dedicated to visiting it.
So if you are an Arnie fan like me and are planning a trip to Graz (the closest city to the museum) put the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum at the top of the list of things to do!
What Country is Arnold Schwarzenegger from?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is from Austria. The Arnold Schwarzenegger museum you can visit today is in the building he grew up in which makes the visit extra special.
There were also some photos in the museum showing when Arnold was in Austria opening and visiting it. It is the only official Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum in the world and is supported by him.
Where is the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum?
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum is in Thal, Austria which is a 25-minute drive from Graz. Thal is a small village up in the hills by Graz that Arnold grew up in.
It is a beautiful area but very quiet and rural, a completely different planet from where Arnold lives now (California, US).
Arnold lived in Thal until 1966 when he was 19 years old. He then left Austria to conquer the world and the building he was born in was sold.
In 2009 an investor bought the building and it was decided to turn it into a museum.
Arnold liked the idea and donated many personal belongings and memorabilia to be put on display.
So today you can walk through the building he was born in and see some cool, real movie props and other interesting belongings.
How to get to the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum?
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum is close to the city of Graz. As it is located in a small town the best way to get there is by car (find a rental car here) and drive from Graz.
Alternatively, go can take the bus (number 40) from Jakominiplatz to Gösting or the tram (number 7) from Graz Hauptbahnhof to Alte Poststraße. Then walk to the bus stop Alte Poststraße and take the bus (number 65) to Gösting.
From Gösting you can take the bus (number 48) to Thalersee. Then walk on the not-too-busy federal highway along the Thalersee in the direction of the golf course. Follow the signposts uphill to the museum on Linakstraße 9.
If you are planning a visit from Vienna, you can take a bus (book your Flixbus ticket here) or a train (reserve your ÖBB train seat here) to Graz which both take about 3 hours.
If you are short on time but not on money, this private tour will take you from Vienna to Graz by car, where you will explore the best sights in Graz and Arnold’s museum with an English-speaking guide.
How much is the Entrance to the Museum?
A ticket to the museum is 12.90 euros. We spent about 1 hour in and around the house.
When is the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum open?
The museum is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm. You don’t need to book in advance to visit the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum.
At the entrance to the museum is the famous and iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger statue. A great place to snap a photo!
How much time should I plan for my visit?
Visiting the museum and the nearby lake will only take up about 1 hour of your time. But it is worth it if you are an Arnold fan and are going to be nearby.
Inside the Museum and Arnold’s Life
The Museum is not large but full of details. Each of the rooms is dedicated to different parts of Arnold’s life.
The first room shows the beds that he slept in growing up and the uniforms he wore in the army.
There are also many pictures of Arnold from his younger years in Austria. So it is quite interesting to see what life was like for him before he was famous.
Once you move into the next room there are much more memorabilia from when he became famous.
For example, there is a desk from when he was governor of California and other real movie props that are super interesting.
Upstairs you will find even more movie memorabilia and facts about Arnold’s life. For example, I had no idea that he was rich through real estate investment before he became a movie star.
Visiting the museum feels like walking through Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biography in 3D. It’s super interesting that his life took many turns before he became the person we know today.
It was also inspirational as he knew already in his young years to never give up.
There is also a replica of a kitchen upstairs that shows what they were like at the time Arnold was born.
It was fascinating for me to see how Arnold had such a humble beginning to his career, especially when compared to the life he lives today.
This 2-minute video gives a sneak peek into the museum without spoiling all the details.
Check out the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum Shop
If you are looking for a souvenir from your trip you can grab one at reception.
They have a small museum shop there where you can buy all kinds of different Arnold Schwarzenegger merch.
It’s fun to look at all the things they sell as they vary from typical things like t-shirts to extraordinary souvenirs such as Arnold branded frisbees 😄
You can also browse through the Museum Shop online.
Exploring the Outside of the Museum
The museum is relatively small and, although interesting, does not take long to look through. But there are some areas outside nearby that Arnold fans should check out too.
There is a lake called Thalersee that is within walking distance from the museum. The lake is nice to go for a walk and there are also a couple of Arnold attractions along its shoreline.
The first is a boat that Arnold proposed to his first wife Maria Schriver. The boat has a portrait of the two in it – he was rowing it on that lake when he proposed.
There are also some pull-up bars attached to a tree that Arnold used to work out on when he was young. They are both a bit strange things to see but the lake is nice to have a walk around so it is worth heading down.
AUSTRIA TRIP ESSENTIALS
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✈️ Find cheap flights to Graz or Vienna on Kiwi.com
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🤩 Find the best hotel deals on Booking.com
🤠 Book attractions and tours on GetYourGuide
🚞 Book train rides to and from Austria on Trainline
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✅ Get travel health insurance with SafetyWing
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Have Fun at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum!
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum is a quirky little museum that will be fun to see whether you are an Arnold fan or not.
It’s incredible to see how he came from such humble beginnings in Austria to become a global superstar, demonstrating that anything you set your mind to is possible.
“I will be back!” 💪
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