Linz
Linz is the third largest city in Austria. It is primarily known as a major industrial centre, but also has a very picturesque historical old town including Austria's largest central square, surrounded by an impressive ensemble of Baroque architecture. Linz has tried to reposition itself as a cultural hub with numerous new museums and events. The tourist slogan of the city is "In Linz beginnt's" ("It starts in Linz").
Linz has 205,000 inhabitants (2018). It sits on the banks of the Danube (Donau) river. It is the capital of the federal province of Upper Austria (Oberösterreich) and forms the heart of Austria's second strongest economic region.
Understand
Linz is an industrial city with huge steel and chemical works on the Danube, about halfway between Salzburg and Vienna. While it does not have the touristic significance of these cities, it is an attractive and interesting destination in its own right. The fact that you are less likely to be trampled by hoards of travellers is a bonus.
The area where Linz now stands has been inhabited since prehistoric time. The name of the city supposedly stems from the celtic word for 'bent', referring to the bend of the river Danube just east of Linz. During the Roman Empire Linz was a border settlement with a Roman castle (Lentia). In the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern era, the city profited from its location on an important crossing of the Danube. Nevertheless, Linz never gained the historical significance of cities like Salzburg and Vienna and remained fairly small well into the 19th century. In 1900, Linz had around 80,000 inhabitants. The city's fate took a significant turn after Austria became a part of the German Third Reich in March 1938. In May 1938, construction started on a gigantic steel mill on the site of a former village in the southeast of Linz ('Hermann-Göring-Werke', now part of the steel concern voestalpine AG). Linz turned into an industrial hub. Consequently, Linz was bombed heavily during World War II. Fortunately, the raids were centered on the industrial areas and the main train station, which meant that the historical city center escaped relatively unscathed.
Starting in the 1950s, Linz saw an industrial boom. However, while the population grew and the economy prospered, the city also had to learn to live with the severe environmental fallout of its factories and businesses. Linz gained a reputation as a dirty and unappealing city. While this reputation continues to this day in the heads of some Austrians, it has become completely undeserved. Extensive plant modernizations in the last three decades (as well as an industrial crisis in the 1980s) mean that air and water quality in Linz are now as good – or even better – than in the other big cities of Austria.
While Linz is still cultivating its image as a 'steel city', it has also taken great (and expensive) steps to become better known as a city of culture, music, and art. Several new museums have been constructed since the 1990s, and in 2013 the city finally inaugurated its long-planned opera house. Linz also gets a lot of international media attention because of its annual Ars Electronica Festival. It also hosts the "Klangwolke" ("sound-cloud"), a big cultural open-air spectacle with modern and traditional music and a massive light show, which is held each year in September. Linz was the European Capital of Culture in 2009.
- 1 Tourist Information Linz, Hauptplatz 1, ☏ +43 732 7070 2009, fax: +43 732 7070 54 2009, tourist.info@linz.at. May-Sep: M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa Su holidays 10:00-19:00; Oct-Apr M-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su hoildays 10:00-17:00.
Get in
By plane
Linz has its own international airport, the Blue Danube Airport in Horsching just outside the city of Linz, but it sees very little international traffic. Austrian Airlines flies from Blue Danube Airport to Vienna and Düsseldorf and Lufthansa to Frankfurt, where you can connect to Lufthansa Group's extensive global flight network. Ryanair offers frequent low-fare flights to London-Stansted. There are also charter and seasonal flights to holiday destinations around the Mediterranean and to Canary Islands.
- 1 Blue Danube Airport (LNZ IATA Linz Airport), Flughafenstraße 1, ☏ +43 7221 6000, fax: +43 7221 600-100, info@linz-airport.com. M-F 05:30-23:00, Sa Su 06:00-23:00. Although it's outside the city, there is a bus service to Linz from the airport, which takes about 20 minutes and costs around €3. A taxi costs around €25-30. You can also take the train to Horsching (€1.80) and then the free shuttle bus to the airport from the railway station.
Alternatively, you can fly to the Vienna International Airport or Munich Airport and take a train from either city to Linz. Direct high-speed trains to Linz depart from Vienna International Airport's terminal. From Munich Airport, you need to take a local suburban train to Munich Hbf first and transfer to a long-distance train to Linz there. The total journey time is around 1 hr 40 min from Vienna International Airport and 3 hr 45 min from Munich Airport.
If you are flying Austrian, the train from Vienna airport to Linz is included in your flight ticket and Austrian guarantees your connection. See here for details.
By train
- 2 Linz Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhofplatz. Ticket office: daily 06:00-21:00; automats: 24 hr. Linz has hourly Railjet, Intercity and Eurocity connections to Salzburg and Vienna, and from there to all important European capitals and major cities. ÖBB has online timetables and offers various ticketing options. It also has storage lockers, a Spar grocery store and tourist information office.
By bus
- ShuttleCeskyKrumlov.com (Shuttle bus from/to Cesky Krumlov). 1 hours. Offers door-to-door shuttle bus and private car/van transportation to Vienna from Cesky Krumlov, Linz and back for 420 Kč (~€19) per person. See the timetable. €19.
- CK Shuttle (Cesky Krumlov shuttlebus service). Offers a door-to-door transportation service from Linz to Cesky Krumlov and back for 400 Kč (~€16) pro person. The ride takes about 1½ hours. €16.
By car
Linz is connected with Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich via the A1 Autobahn/motorway; the Muehlviertel and the Czech Republic via the A7 Autobahn and the B310 regional road, and the south of Austria (Graz (Styria), Klagenfurt (Carinthia)) via the A9 Autobahn. It is also connected to Germany via Passau.
By boat
The website of the city of Linz lists all cruises[dead link] departing from the city. There is regular passenger boat service on the Danube from and to Vienna and Passau, Germany.
Get around
Linz has very good public transport. A map of the tram and bus lines as well as an online time table are available on the website of the network operator Linz AG. A one-day ticket is €4 for over 14-year-olds, and €2 for under 14-year-olds. There is also a 4-stop ticket (mini-ticket) for €1. Students can buy an 'Aktivpass', which allows you to buy a monthly card for €10, valid for all lines, and you get all tickets at half-price. Tickets are purchased from the electronic vending machines at each stop, as well as tobacco and newspaper shops.
- 3 Pöstlingbergbahn (Pöstlingberg Railway). A narrow-gauge electric railway which connects the city centre with Pöstlingberg district. Further information can be downloaded here. Return ticket: €5.60 adults, €2.80 children; Erlebnisticket return ticket + one-day City ticket: €8.60 adults, €4.30 children.
Linz Card
The Linz Card (1-day: €16, 3-day: €35) provides unlimited public transport through the city, and free or discounted admission to two dozen museums, galleries and tours. It is available at the Tourist Office and in many hotels. Reduced price (1 day: €15/ 3-day: €33) for children, students under 26, and those who have a valid train ticket (ÖBB, Westbahn) with destination Linz.
See
When strolling through the heart of the city, one can literally sense its history. The lanes of the old town, which lies directly at the foot of the castle, communicate the feeling of past ages. Splendid town residences and chapter houses are worthy of closer scrutiny, as are the many inner courtyards hidden discretely behind arched gates. Moreover, the spacious, baroque main square with its lively hustle and bustle is never far away.
Linz is also a city of churches. With its 134-m tower and space for 20,000 people, the New Cathedral is Austria´s largest church. In addition, the city landmark, the pilgrimage basilica on the Pöstlingberg, is also clearly in view. A symbol of Linz is the Lentos Museum of modern art, which has a striking glass façade that is illuminated at night with alternating colours.
Churches and chapels
- 1 New Cathedral (Mariendom), Herrenstraße 26, ☏ +43 732 946100, domcenter@dioezese-linz.at. Jun-Sep: Tu-Su 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00; Oct-May: Tu-Sa 10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. The construction of the neo-Gothic cathedral was already initiated in 1855 by F.J. Rudiger, then Bishop of Linz, and the foundation stone was laid in 1862. The building was designed by the Cologne cathedral builder Vinzenz Statz. The cathedral was consecrated in 1924. The height of the tower was limited to 134 m (as it was not permitted to surpass St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna). The cathedral can accommodate 20,000 worshippers and is also notable for its stained glass windows, including the famous Linz Window with scenes from the history of Linz (left front). At Christmas the crypt church contains one of the largest nativity scenes, measuring 12 m in length.
.JPG)
- 2 Old Cathedral (Alter Dom), Domgasse 3, ☏ +43 732 7708660, ignatiuskirche-linz@jesuiten.org. M-F 08:00-12:00. Designed according to drawings by Pietro Francesco Carlone, the cathedral was built between 1669 and 1678. It was the cathedral church of the diocese of Linz from 1785-1909. The single-nave Baroque church has lateral chapels and galleries, as well as a closed choir and stucco work by J.P. Spaz and G.B. Mazza. The marble high altar is by Colomba and Barberini with a picture by Antonio Bellucci. The Aloisian altar picture is by Bartolomeo Altomonte. The choir pews originate from the former monastery church in Garsten, while the organ by Franz Xaver Krismann derives from Engelzell monastery. From 1856-1868 Anton Bruckner served as the cathedral organist.
- 3 Pöstlingbergkirche (Wallfahrtsbasilika), Am Pöstlingberg 1, ☏ +43 732 7312280. Daily 08:00-18:00. This pilgrimage church, dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary and perched high above the roofs of the city, is the landmark of the Upper Austrian capital. It was built in 1748 according to plans by Matthias Krinner. The church is popular for weddings because of the unique location.
- 4 St Martin's Church (Martinskirche), Römerstraße/Martinsgasse. This is regarded as the oldest original church still in existence in Austria. It was first documented in 799. A rectangular building that is no longer visible, partially extending into the nave, probably dates from the Agilofingian period (before 788). During the Carolingian period (after 788), the central structure was erected using debris from Roman buildings. This can be seen on the inside and outside, while the ground plan is marked by stone slabs. The building was redesigned as a bay church in the 11th century and the pillar arches were filled in. There are Romanesque and Gothic door and window arches dating from later alterations. Inside the building, Roman stone inscriptions and a furnace can be seen. The first bay contains a copy of the Volto-Santo picture by Lucca (around 1440). The interior of the church can be viewed through a glass door. Entrance into the church is only permitted with a tourist guide.
Monuments
- 5 Trinity Column (Dreifaltigkeitssäule/Pestsäule), Hauptplatz (in the centre of the square). One of Austria's most attractive closed squares, there stands the 20-m-high Baroque Trinity Column (completed in 1723). Carved in white marble by Sebastian Stumpfegger according to a model from Antono Beduzzi, the column bears three inscriptions. These announce the dedication of the column to the Holy Trinity by the guilds, the Emperor and the people of Linz in gratitude for deliverance from the dangers of war (1704), fire (1712) and plague (1713). The column is flanked by the patron saints Sebastian, Florian and Carlo Borromeo.
- 6 Linz Castle (Linzer Schloß / Schlossmuseum Linz), Schlossberg 1, ☏ +43 732 77 44 19, fax: +43 732 774419 29, schloss@landesmuseum.at. T W F 09:00-18:00, Th 09:00-21:00, Sa Su and holidays 10:00-17:00. The Linz Castle is first documented in 799. It was entirely rebuilt in 1477 by Emperor Friedrich III, and there are partial remains of the defensive walls, the bastions and the west entrance (Friedrichstor). The latter is adorned by a stone coat-of-arms (1481) bearing the inscription "AEIOU" ("The whole world is subject to Austria") and the imperial initials. Around 1600, during the rule of Rudolph II, the castle was redesigned and expanded according to plans by the Dutch master builder Anton Muys. The powerful four-story block with two inner courtyards and the main gate to the city (Rudolfstor 1604) date from this time. During the Napoleonic wars the building served as a military hospital, and it was here that the great city fire of 1800 broke out (destruction of the south wing and a part of the transept). Beginning in 1811, the remaining buildings were used as the provincial prison and from 1851 until 1945 as a barracks.
Between 1953 and 1963, the fortress was rebuilt and restored as the Schlossmuseum Linz. It contains permanent exhibitions of art from the Middle Ages to the present day, historical weapons and musical instruments, coins, folklore and technical history, as well as the Kastner collection. There are special exhibitions each year. €6.50 adults, €4.50 concessions, free for Linz Card holders. - 7 Bishop's Residence (Bischofshof), Herrenstraße 19. The bishop's residence is the most important secular Baroque building in the city. Commissioned by Kremsmünster Monastery (1721–26), it was built by Michael Pruckmayr according to plans by Jakob Prandtauer, who was also responsible for the monasteries in Melk and St. Florian. The impressive lattice gate on the staircase is by Valentin Hoffmann (1727).
Museums and galleries
- 8 Lentos Museum of Art (Lentos Kunstmuseum), Ernst-Koref-Promenade 1, ☏ +43 732 7070 3600, fax: +43 732 7070 3604, info@lentos.at. Tu W F-Su 10:00-18:00; Th 10:00-21:00. Houses a large collection focusing on modern art, with representative works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka, as well as current contemporary art. €8 adults, €6 seniors, €4.50 students, free for children under 7.
- 9 Ars Electronica Center, Ars-Electronica-Straße 1, ☏ +43 732 7272 0, center@aec.at. T W 09:00-17:00, Th 09:00-21:00, F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su and holidays 10:00-18:00. This cutting-edge museum serves as a venue for art which explores the creative potential of the latest technology. Multiple child-friendly expositions are available, as well as hands-on expositions of various technical topics (sound and music, virtual reality, robots etc.). €8 adults, €6 concessions, free for children under 6 and for Linz Card holders.
- 10 Provincial Gallery of Linz (Landesgalerie Linz), Museumstraße 14, ☏ +43 732 774482 0, fax: +43 732 774482 66, galerie@landesmuseum.at. T W 09:00-18:00, Th 09:00-21:00, F 09:00-18:00, Sa Su and holidays 10:00-17:00. The museum has a large collection of modern and contemporary art, with rotating special exhibits of works by Upper Austrians. €6.50 adults, €4.50 concessions, free for Linz Card holders.
- 11 Nordico Museum of the City of Linz (Nordico Stadtmuseum Linz), Dametzstraße 23, ☏ +43 732 7070 1912, nordico@nordico.at. Tu W 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, F-Su 10:00-18:00. This former monastery now houses the civic museum, with rotating exhibits focused on regional history and ecology. €6.50 adults, €4.50 seniors, €2.50 students under 27/civil servants, free for children under 7, free for Linz Card holders.
- 12 LinzGenesis (City History in Fast Motion), Hauptplatz 1 (Old City Hall, entrance near Rathausgasse), ☏ +43 732 7070 1920, fax: +43 732 793518, nordico@mag.linz.at. M-W 09:00-13:00; Th F 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. A branch of the Nordico Museum with displays dedicated to the history of Linz and its famous residents. €8, free for Linz Card holders.
- 13 Museum of the History of Dentistry in Upper Austria (Linzer Museum für Geschichte der Zahnheilkunde und Zahntechnik), Hauptplatz 1 (Old City Hall, entrance near Pfarrgasse), ☏ +43 732 7070 1920, fax: +43 732 793518, office@zahnmuseum-linz.at. M-W 09:00-13:00; Th F 09:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00. A one-room museum dedicated to the history of dentistry, from the 17th century until the present. Free.
- 14 StifterHaus (Upper Austrian Literature Museum), Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 1, ☏ +43 732 7720 11294, fax: +43 732 7720 11780, office@stifter-haus.at. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-15:00. The 19th-century Austrian writer Adalbert Stifter lived in this house for many years. It is now a museum devoted to Austrian literature, with exhibits of manuscripts and multimedia. Free.
- 15 The O.K. Center for Contemporary Art (Offenes Kulturhaus Oberösterreich), OK-Platz 1, ☏ +43 732 784178 0, fax: +43 732 775684, office@ok-centrum.at. M-F 16:00-22:00, Sa Su 11:00-22:00. Hosts contemporary art exhibits and festivals, with a focus on installation and multimedia art. €10 adults, €7 seniors/disabled, €5 (children/students/military/youth under 27), free (children under 6).
- 16 Biology Center Dornach (Biologiezentrum Dornach), Johann-Wilhelm-Klein-Straße 73 (near Johannes Kepler University), ☏ +43 7720 52100, fax: +43 7720 252199, bio-linz@landesmuseum.at. M-F 09:00-17:00, Su and holidays 10:00-17:00; guided tours Su at 14:00. Has science exhibits with a focus on botany and zoology. Free.
- 17 Military History Collection in Ebelsberg Castle (Schloß Ebelsberg), Ebelsberger Schlossweg 7, ☏ +43 732 307632, fax: +43 732 307632 6, schloss.ebelsberg@utanet.at. May-Oct: Sa Su and holidays 10:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00. Exhibits a large collection of historic firearms, as well as items from the former Austrian Imperial Navy. €4 adults, €3 concessions.
- 18 Cowboy-Museum Fatsy, Traundorfer Straße 266 (Pichling), ☏ +43 732 791855. Apr-Jun: Sa Su and holidays 13:00-18:00. An unusual museum founded by Austrian entertainer Hans-Jörg Ratzenböck. It houses displays illustrating American cowboy life, with a replica rancher's room, sheriff's office, and gambling room. €5 adults, €2.50 children.
- 19 voestalpine Stahlwelt, voestalpine-Straße 4, ☏ +43 50 3041 58900. M-Sa 09:00-17:00, closed Su and holidays. The voestalpine steel works run an impressive museum and experience centre devoted to the manufacturing and processing of steel, as well as applications thereof. One can visit on their own, or join an organized tour with a guide (1.5 hours), which can be expanded with a tour of the manufacturing facilities (3 hours in total). The Panorama Cafe atop the building offers views over Linz, drinks and light snacks. Groups can pre-order lunches there. €8 adults, €6 concessions/groups over 15 people, free children under 6 and for Linz Card holders; €8 factory tour.
Parks
- 20 Botanic Gardens (Botanischer Garten), Roseggerstraße 20 (Bus 27 from Taubenmarkt, or 30min on foot), ☏ +43 732 7070 1860. Daily Nov-Feb: 08:00-17:00, Mar & Oct: 08:00-18:00, Apr & Sep: 08:00-19:00, May-Aug 07:30-19:30; closed 24 Dec – 6 Jan. One of the most beautiful and extensive botanic gardens in Europe, with more than 10,000 plants and five greenhouses. Particularly noteworthy is the cactus collection. Special exhibits and presentations are hosted throughout the year. €3 adults, €2 concessions, free children under 6.
- 21 Linz Zoo (Tiergarten Linz), Windflachweg 1 (halfway up Pöstlingberg), ☏ +43 732 737180, office@zoo-linz.at. Nov-Mar 09:00-17:00, Apr-Oct 09:00-19:00. Over 800 animals await you on your visit to the local and exotic fauna. There are cuddly animals to hold, a selected collection of mammals (llamas, pygmy cows, sheep, goats), a variety of birds (parrots, ostriches) and reptiles (crocodiles, iguanas, snakes). As an excursion destination the children’s zoo is always popular with the little ones. €4.50 adults, €2 children 6-13, free children under 6.
- 22 Skulpturenpark Artpark, Hamerlingstraße. A 5,000-m² sculpture garden, with works by more than 20 artists. Free.
Do
- Football: LASK - Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub - play soccer in the Austrian Bundesliga, the top tier. Since 2023 their home ground is Raiffeisen Arena (capacity 19.080) two km south of city centre.
- FC Blau-Weiß Linz were promoted in 2023 so they too play in Bundesliga. They play at Donauparkstadion (capacity 5000) 7 km south of the centre.
- Old Town Walking Tour[dead link].
- 1 Pöstlingberg tram (Pöstlingbergbahn). The "Pöstlingbergbahn", Europe’s steepest mountain railway without rack or cable assistance, is no longer the museum piece it once was, but operates from Hauptplatz through Urfahr and through the neighborhoods up the Pöstlingberg itself. A mixture of new low-floor tramcars and rebuilt original cars are now used. Additionally, you can take bus 50 from Hauptplatz (main square) to the top of Pöstlingberg.
- The Grotto Railway. Located in fortifications built by emperor Maximilian. Riding on the "dragon express", a mini-train in the shape of the mythological beast, the visitor travels through a brightly lit landscape of fairy tale scenes. A 1:7 scale model of the Linz "Hauptplatz" at the turn of the century is situated in the cellar of the citadel’s tower. In the side passages, there are depictions of episodes from famous fairy tales. Lift for handicapped visitors!
- City Express, ☏ +43 732 797 555, city-express@geigers.at. Touristy fun little train that takes you around downtown. Good chance to get off your feet and warm up in the winter.
- Danube. The cultural town Linz~Danube is the ideal starting point for a ship tour. Everyone will find his individual ship adventure in the large variety of cruise line offers. Whether you are looking for a round trip, a scheduled tour or a cruise for a special occasion, e.g. Christmas party on the Danube, your captain and his crew is already waiting for you on board of the ship.
- Donauschiffahrt Wurm und Köck
- Donauschifffahrt Schaurecker
- ÖGEG: Dampfschiff Schönbrunn
- Donau Touristik
Culture
Linz has established an international reputation due to its extensive cultural life. You can visit the "culture mile" along the Danube, which stretches from the Brucknerhaus concert hall and the Lentos art museum and the Ars Electronica Center on the northern bank of the river. Linz also possesses a number of stage companies, which offer something for everybody in the form of a range of evening entertainment that extends from classic opera to modern dance theatre.
From June to August the Linz cultural summer features cabaret, open-air concerts and theatre on virtually daily basis at venues that are as varied as the programme itself. These include the bars and squares of the inner city, as well as the romantic Rose Garden high above the rooftops. Moreover, throughout the year, the Posthof features "contemporary culture at the harbour" with national and international performers.
- 2 Brucknerhaus, Untere Donaulände 7, ☏ +43 732 76120, brucknerhaus@liva.linz.at. Designed by the architect-duo Heikki and Kaija Siren, this is the venue for the annual Brucknerfest and Ars Electronica Festival.
- 3 Posthof.
- 4 Stadtwerkstatt.
- Kulturzentrum Hof.
Events
Linz is a synonym for variety that is found at open air events, in bars and restaurants and in the theatre and on concert stages of the city. In late April, the yearly Crossing Europe film festival for young European film features works with unconventional, courageous filmic positions. At Whitsun, the Linz Festival offers a cultural open-air festival in the Danube park, while in July the international "Pflasterspektakel" brings over 500 clowns, acrobats and mimes to the city´s streets. Moreover, September sees the musical "Cloud of Sounds" in the Donaupark, the Ars Electronica Festival and the Bruckner Festival.
The Linz markets provide an opportunity to browse, and sample, whether at the weekly markets or the twice-yearly Fair/Carneval Urfahraner Jahrmarkt, which is Austria´s oldest public festival.
During the universities lecture periods (October–January/march-June) there is a wide range of student parties among the campuses of the 4 universities in Linz. Particularly interesting might be the weekly Mensafest every Thursday in Dornach/Urfahr on the campus of Johannes-Kepler-University and the gatherings at the Sommerhaus Hotel during the SAICCA program that runs mid-May through mid-June.
Cinema
- The Moviemento and City cinemas show films that are not mainstream in original languages with German subtitles.
- The Cineplexx in the harbor shows all the actual blockbusters. Thursday is movie night, so it is the cheapest day to go.
Young people
- The Posthof. Has modern music, dance and comedy performances, which is located near the port.
- The Stadtwerkstatt (near the AEC). Popular meeting point for young people with an alternative lifestyle. They often have gigs with unknown bands.
- 5 Kapu, Kapuzinerstrasse 36, ☏ +43 732 779660, kapu@servus.at. Popular meeting point for young people with an alternative lifestyle. It started out as punk bar. They often have gigs with unknown bands. Nirvana played at the KAPU about one year before they became world-famous. The texta hip hop concerts are legendary too.
- 6 Theater Phönix (Theater Phönix). Shows modern plays that are also suitable for teenagers.
Eat
A well-known specialty from Linz is the Linzer Torte, a torte covered with a latticework of dough and filled with fruit.
Eating in Linz depends on your budget, and taste. Be prepared to search far and wide for open restaurants on Sundays. The entire Altstadt seems to close down Sunday nights leaving tourists restaurant choices only in adjoining districts.
There are many luncheonettes in the city, offering a variety of food, such as Chinese food, kebab, pizza and typical Austrian snacks such as Bratwürstel (fried sausage) with Sauerkraut, Leberkäse, Bosner or Bosna (a special hot-dog with fried sausage and a special curry-ketchup-onion sauce), Käsekrainer (a sausage interlaid with cheese).
Budget
All these are in the city centre:
- 1 Leberkäse Pepi, Rathausgasse 3. M-Th 08:00-04:00, F 08:00-05:00, Sa 09:00-14:00, 18:00-05:00. You can get Leberkäse pretty much in every supermarket, but it's hard to find a place that serves as tasty and as various ones as here. It is a bit more expensive than in supermarkets, but the bread roll with Leberkäse is still low-priced. There is another store in the central train station.
- 2 Big Joe Falafel, Graben 28. Serving tasty falafel sandwiches. The other food of the menu is terrific too. In addition, the operators are super nice.
- 3 Gösserkeller, Pfarrgasse 8. Classic Austrian dishes like Beuschel, roast pork and schnitzel. The host very friendly.
- 4 Don, Graben 32b. Very good sushi restaurant. Also has other good Chinese food. The portions are quite large.
- 5 Linzer Heuriger, Lederergasse 15. Rustic restaurant with good home cooking. Choice to eat either outdoors and inside the restaurant. Nice guest garden with a large chestnut tree.
- 6 Wokman, Graben 36. Great Japanese and Chinese food. Simply furnished, pleasant place. The service is fast and kind. The menu is delicious.
- 7 Schadzi Cafe, Mozartstraße 19. Great vegetarian and vegan dishes. Gluten-free options. High quality slow food ingredients. A breakfast here is special because it explicitly has oriental influences. Very nice, green guest garden in the backyard. Such a relaxed vibe.
Mid-range
- 8 Jindrak, Herrenstraße 22-24, ☏ +43 732 779258. M-Sa 8AM-6PM. A pastry shop serving the local speciality Linzer Torte (a cake).
- 9 Gelbes Krokodil, OK Platz 1, ☏ +43 732 784182. M W-F 12:00-15:00 17:00-23:30, Tu 12:00-15:00 18:00-23:30, Sa Su 16:00-23:30. The Yellow Crocodile is next to/a part of the Moviemento Cinema, downstairs below street level. It has special vegetarian plates.
- 10 Stadtbräu Josef, Landstraße 49. Daily 10:00-16:00.
- 11 Alte Welt, Hauptplatz 4. The name ("Old World") suits this restaurant and bar perfectly. The entrance is in a small courtyard, with seemingly uncontrolled growing plants. The inside reminds of an inn from former times. The often changing menu ranges from typical Austrian dishes to mediterranean cuisine, at a reasonable price. A variety of cultural events take place in the wine cellar. €7 for lunch.
Splurge
- 12 Verdi-Restaurant-Einkehr, Pachmayrstraße 137.
Drink
Drinking in Linz is varied and not that cheap; although if you drink outside of the city centre you will find that the cost of drinks are less than in the centre.
Local beers and warm "Glühwein" (hot, spiced/mulled wine) in winter. Upper-Austrian's "national drink" is Most (it´s cider but not fizzy), and Zipfer, Gösser, and Kaiser beer. There are many Austrian beers, of course.
Keep in mind that, contrary to almost the entire rest of the civilised world, smoking is still very common in Austrian bars and pubs.
- 1 Walker, Hauptplatz/Main Square. Open daily. A large bar/burger restaurant. Games room and occasional live music. Good breakfast menus. Great burgers.
- 2 Chelsea Pub, Domgasse 5, ☏ +43 732 779 409. Open daily. In 2006, it came second in "The Best Irish Pub" competition in Austria. An English-named Irish pub that serves Guinness, and has a friendly atmosphere for Austrians and English native-speakers. Large open-sandwiches and occasionally has English or Irish crisps. Shows sports programmes on a daily basis.
- Remembar, Passage Kaufhaus. Large and airy, on two floors, with enough "hip/cool" clientele to satisfy the needs of people with enough money to spend.
- 3 Stadtwerkstatt, Kirchengasse 4 (close to the Ars Electonica Center). Has a nice cafe and live dj's (reggae,house,world music,hiphop) in the evening (daily starting at 22:00) Local bands (rock, punk, hiphop) appear at weekends. Concerts take place in a stage area upstairs (away from the bar) and are around €10. DJs in the bar.
- 4 Smaragd, Altstadt 2. Regular live-concerts in the dance cellar and a beer garden on the street in summer.
- 5 [dead link] Eiskönig Landstraße, Landstraße 31 (next to the U-Hof). Mar-Sep: M-Sa 10:00-22:00, open holidays; closed Oct-Feb. You shouldn't miss Upper Austria's best Italian ice cream store. They have a multiplicity of ice cream flavours, something for every taste. You will also get coffee and Austrian specialities like Apfelstrudel or Topfenpalatschinken. Smoke-free.
- 6 Thüsen Tak, Waltherstraße 21. A small hard rock pub. Books and posters lining the walls. Be prepared for cigarette haze and talkative, not-always-sober regulars of all ages. Mike, the friendly owner, occasionally serves a hearty meal for a reasonable price.
- 7 Exxtrablatt, Spittelwiese. until 02:00. Cosy cafe and bar. Sit outside in the summer until 23:00, or walk down the stairs into a large room. You'll notice typical (for Austria) coffee house tables and stools, and classic movie posters covering the walls. You get a good selection of beers and wines, and the usual long drinks/cocktails. They serve burgers and snacks, including some vegetarian. For dessert, there's a delicious chocolate cake.
- Chay, Hauptplatz 15/16, ☏ +43 732781014. Mar-Oct: M-F 09:30-18:00, Sa 09:30-13:00; Nov-Feb: M-F 09:30-18:00, Sa 09:30-16:00. Austria is famous for coffee but this small shop serves astonishingly good tea in many shapes. Split in a shop and a teahouse right beside to each other the menu offers tons of teas of excellent quality.
- 8 Roter Krebs (Grand Hotel Café zum Rothen Krebsen), Obere Donaulände 11, 4020 (3 minutes from the Niebelungenbrücke or the Hauptplatz.), ☏ +43 732 946 557. Tu-Th 18:00-02:00, F 18:00-04:00, Sa 18:00-03:00. Founded and run by artists, frequented mostly by students from the nearby art school.
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Motel Pension Rosenhof, Wegscheiderstrasse 76 4020, ☏ +43 732387069. It's a lovely hotel with good rooms and a nice view, and there is a bus stop about 100 meters away between St. Isidor and Hart.
- Das Park Hotel, Rodlpark, Ottensheim (10 km west from Linz). Completely automated concrete drain tubes with beds inside, you book (through website) and you're given a code for the door. From May through October. Honour based system; contribute as much as you wish to the project.
- 2 Ibis Linz City.
- 3 ibis Styles Linz.
Mid-range
- 4 Hotel Mühlviertlerhof, ☏ +43 70 772268. Graben 24-26.
- 5 Austria Trend Hotel Schillerpark.
- 6 Park Inn by Radisson Linz.
- 7 Courtyard by Marriott Linz.
- 8 Arcotel Nike.
- 9 Spitz Hotel, Fiedlerstrasse 6.
- 10 Austria Classic Hotel Wolfinger, Hauptplatz 19.
- 11 Hotel zum schwarzen Bären, Herrenstraße 9-11.
Splurge
- 12 Hotel Am Domplatz, Stifterstraße 4 (city center), ☏ +43 732 773000. Business hotel direct in the city center with modern and well furbished rooms.
- 13 Steigenberger Linz, Am Winterhafen 13, ☏ +43 732 78990. Direct at the danube and close to the A7/E55 Autobahn this four star hotel is good located in the industrial area of Linz. Rooms are spacious and breakfast is good.
Connect
Linz has 4G from all Austrian carriers. As of Sept 2021, some areas of the city have 5G but it's patchy.
Cope
Consulates
Romania, Poschacherstrasse, 35, ☏ +43 732 662233, fax: +43 732 69512560, wolfgang@berger-vogel.at. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in Vienna.).
Go next
To the south you can travel by train or car to the wonderful region of Salzkammergut, with its picturesque lakes and mountains. Some nice towns are: Gmunden, Bad Ischl, Hallstatt, Bad Aussee, and many more. To the west is Salzburg.
Linz is a good stepping-off point for a trip into Southern Bohemian region of Czech Republic. Trains go to České Budějovice and on to Prague.
| Routes through Linz |
| Salzburg ← Vöcklabruck ← | W  E |
→ Amstetten → St. Pölten |
Ends at  ← |
S  E |
→ becomes 310 → Freistadt |
| Vöcklabruck ← Wels ← | W  E |
→ Amstetten → St. Pölten |
Ends at  ← |
W  E |
→ Ybbs → St. Pölten |