In this article, we’ve compiled the most important information for visiting Linz.
Table of Contents
- The Story of Linz
- Weather in Linz
- Main Attractions in Linz
- The Old Town
- Other Interesting Buildings
- Mozart’s House
- Pöstlingberg Church (Pöstlingberg-Kirche)
- The Botanical Garden
- Ars Electronica Museum – The Museum of the Future
- Linz Castle Museum – The Provincial Museum
- Shopping in Linz
- The Linz Discount Card
- Recommended Hotels in Linz
- How to Get from Vienna to Linz
- Additional Essential Information
- Attractions in the Area
The Story of Linz
The city’s origins began when the Roman Empire ruled the area. The city was founded by the Romans in the 8th century AD and was called Lentia. The city’s strategic location near the Danube River and several ancient trade routes made it an important point on the East-West and North-South trade axis. For a short period, it was even more important in the Holy Roman Empire than Vienna and Prague.
Linz became famous for rather unfortunate reasons. The oppressor Adolf Hitler was born in the small village of Braunau, not far from Linz. In his youth, he lived with his family in the Linz area until he moved to Vienna. Hitler considered Linz his hometown, and he planned to turn it into a cultural center and the most important city in the entire Third Reich. His goals were ambitious, and he helped industry in Linz flourish, especially during the World War.
After the war, the city decided to confront and commemorate the memory of the Holocaust rather than suppress it, unlike many other places in Austria. Many streets were named after Holocaust victims, memorial monuments were erected, and a prestigious award was given to Simon Wiesenthal, who established the first Holocaust documentation center in the city in 1945.
Today, the city is considered one of Austria’s main industrial and commercial centers. There are several large companies operating in Linz, and there is a large port, one of Austria’s four main ports.
In 2009, the city was chosen to be the European Capital of Culture. The old town center is pleasant, with ancient buildings from the Middle Ages. In addition, there are various museums and cultural sites located a short distance from each other.
Weather in Linz
The city’s weather is characterized by cold winters and pleasant summers. In the winter months, temperatures hover around 0 degrees Celsius, but can also drop to -10 degrees Celsius. In the summer months, the weather is comfortable and can even be very hot. Typically, you can expect temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius, but in recent years, summer weather has been hotter, sometimes exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. The summer months have many hours of daylight (light until 9:00 PM).
Typical for Austria, summer months are rainier than winter months. There are an average of 12 rainy days in summer. In winter, you can expect an average of 9 rainy days. October is the driest month.
Main Attractions in Linz
Although Linz is not really considered a popular tourist destination, neither among locals nor tourists, it still offers a variety of interesting and enjoyable attractions. We have compiled the most important information about the city’s most recommended attractions here:
The Old Town
At the heart of Linz lies the Old Town. The main square (Hauptplatz) was built in the 13th century and symbolizes the center of the Old Town. This square is surrounded on all sides by ancient buildings and is considered one of the largest enclosed squares in Austria. In the center of the square, there is a memorial column – the Holy Trinity Column (Dreifaltigkeitssäule) – built in the 18th century after the plague struck the area. Among the ancient buildings surrounding the square, you can see the Old City Hall (Rathaus), which still functions as the mayor’s seat. Additionally, there is the building of the University of Art Linz and the Feichtinger House, which houses the “Glockenspiel” that plays various melodies throughout the year. At the edge of the main square is the Old Cathedral (Alter Dom), built in the 17th century and wonderfully preserved.
West of the main square is the old quarter, with beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings. In addition, there is a beautiful green park where a castle once stood, which served as the residence of the nobility who lived in the city. The place now serves as the main history museum of Upper Austria (Schlossmuseum Linz).
In the southern part of the Old Town is Linz’s large church called St. Mary’s Cathedral (Maria-Empfängnis-Dom) or the New Cathedral (Neuer Dom). The church was built between 1862 and 1924 and is considered the largest in Austria, though not the tallest in Austria (the tallest church is St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna). The church building is impressively beautiful and is strikingly designed with huge towers and windows.
- Address of St. Mary’s Cathedral: Herrenstraße 26, 4020 Linz
A view of the Old Town.
Other Interesting Buildings are:
Mozart’s House
As in every large Austrian city, Linz also has a place in memory of Mozart. In this house in the city center, Mozart stayed for three days and composed his works, the Linz Symphony and the Linz Sonata. You can visit the courtyard of the house, but not enter it.
- Address: Altstadt 17
Pöstlingberg Church (Pöstlingberg-Kirche)
On top of Pöstlingberg hill, overlooking Linz, stands an ancient church from the 18th century. This church is a regional pilgrimage site. Many travelers come to the area especially to enjoy wonderful views and an observation point over the city and the entire region. You can get there by the old electric train called Pöstlingbergbahn – line number 50.
- Address: Am Pöstlingberg 1, 4040 Linz
The Botanical Garden
In the west of the city, there is a large botanical garden with about 10,000 different types of plants. The garden area includes a variety of designed gardens and 5 greenhouses with exotic plants.
Opening Hours:
Outdoor Gardens:
- March: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- April to September: Daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- October: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- November to February: Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Greenhouses:
- March to October: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- November to February: Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Cost:
- Adult: €4.10
- Child: €3
- Family ticket: €7.30
- Child under 6 years old: Free
- Official Website (opens in new tab)
- Address: Roseggerstraße 20, 4020 Linz
Ars Electronica Museum – The Museum of the Future
In the northern part of Linz, on the banks of the Danube River, there is an extraordinary and futuristic museum. The museum is operated by the Austrian institution for culture, education, and science called Ars Electronica. This museum deals with a variety of electronic art creations, and you can experience cool and interesting technologies here. As part of the museum’s activities, you can control robots, clone plants, talk on the phone with an android, isolate your DNA, or experience a new dimension on a journey through space and time. There’s no doubt that the museum is extremely experiential and interactive.
See for yourself what happens there:
Essential Additional Information for Visiting the Museum
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Closed on Mondays.
- Closed on Christmas, New Year, and Labor Day (May 1st).
Cost:
- Adult: €14
- Pensioner, student, pupil: €11.50
- Free admission for children up to 6 years old.
- Child over 6 years old accompanied by an adult: €5.50
- Official Website (opens in new tab)
- Address: Ars-Electronica-Straße 1
- Map
Linz Castle Museum – The Provincial Museum
This museum is located in the place where a medieval castle once stood, which served the nobility who lived in Linz (later it was used as a hospital and prison), hence its name, Castle Museum (Schlossmuseum).
This comprehensive museum includes diverse displays on the natural history, culture, and art of Upper Austria. The exhibits in the museum are spread across 37 exhibition rooms and describe the regional development over the last thousands of years.
Opening Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday, and on holidays, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Closed on Mondays.
Cost:
- Adult: €6.50
- Child/Youth: €3
- Free admission for children under 6 years old.
- Official Website
- Address: Schlossberg 1
- Map
Shopping in Linz
The city center is packed with enjoyable shopping opportunities. Landstraße street in the city center is one of Austria’s largest and most famous shopping streets. In fact, the entire area is full of shops, so it’s also worth walking on the side streets and discovering small and interesting boutique stores. In the city center, you’ll find the best-known brands. There are three large shopping centers in the city center with many shops: Passage Linz, LentiaCity, and Atrium City Center.
Shops in the Old Town are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on Saturdays until 5:00 PM. Shopping centers are generally open until 7:00 PM in the evening and on Saturdays until 6:00 PM. All shops are closed on Sundays.
The Linz Discount Card
Similar to many cities in Austria, Linz offers a discount card for travelers. With this card, you can enter the city’s main attractions for free or receive significant discounts. For example, for cardholders, admission to the Museum of the Future and the Castle Museum will be free. The card also includes free public transportation within the city.
The card can be purchased at the city’s visitor center, located in the main square in the heart of the Old Town.
Card Cost:
- One day: €18
- 3 days: €39
- Children receive a discount, and the card price for them is €10 for one day or €20 for 3 days.
More information about the Linz Discount Card.
Recommended Hotels in Linz
In the Old Town, there are many hotels for the convenience of visitors. Some stand out for their quality and are worth checking out if you’re visiting the city:
- Austria Classic Hotel Wolfinger Linz : A 3-star hotel in an ancient building from the 15th century. It is located a short walk from the Danube and the main attractions of the Old Town. Click here for more information about the hotel, photos, reviews, and booking.
- Art & Style Spitz Hotel : A modern 4-star hotel in the north of the city. It includes a bar, gym, and sauna. Click here for more information about the hotel, photos, reviews, and booking.
- Park Inn by Radisson Linz Hotel : A quality hotel from the large Radisson chain. It is located a 10-minute walk from all the attractions of the Old Town. Click here for more information about the hotel, photos, reviews, and booking.
- Hotel Am Domplatz : An adults-only hotel. This is an artistic hotel located opposite the impressive St. Mary’s Church. Rated 4 stars. Click here for more information about the hotel, photos, reviews, and booking.
- Comfort Hotel Star Inn Linz Promenadengalerien : A pleasant and simple hotel located in the old quarter, close to all the main attractions. This is a 3-star hotel. Click here for more information about the hotel, photos, reviews, and booking.
How to Get from Vienna to Linz
The journey from Vienna to Linz is very simple and takes about two hours. There are several trains that travel between Vienna and Linz every day. You can take a train from Vienna Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) and Vienna West Station (Westbahnhof). Trains depart several times an hour.
- Check timetables and travel prices from Vienna Central Station.
- Check timetables and travel prices from Vienna West Station.
Additional Essential Information for Visiting Linz
Attractions in the Linz Area
Around the city of Linz, there are several recommended attractions that can be combined into your trip if you are visiting the city:
- Mauthausen Memorial (Concentration Camp Memorial Site): 25 minutes drive towards Vienna.
- Wels City and Free Zoo: 40 minutes drive.
- Schmiding Zoo: 35 minutes drive.
