Linz Attractions - Top 10 Popular Attractions

A city trip to the Austrian city of Linz surprises with the variety found here. While the capital of Upper Austria may lack the classic beauty of Vienna or Salzburg, it offers a unique charm that excitingly intertwines nature, culture, and industry.

What you can experience in this Danube city is showcased here with the 10 most beautiful attractions in Linz.

In Linz's historic old town, you'll find the largest universal museum in Upper Austria. The exhibitions cover a wide range of topics in the fields of nature and technology, as well as the cultural history of the region.

The Linz Castle

The museum is located in Linz Castle, which overlooks the city. The historic building also features some modern elements that make it just as impressive. From the castle terrace, you have a wonderful view of Linz and the Danube.

Address:

Schlossberg 1

4020 Linz

Pöstlingberg rises a whole 539 m above Linz. The summit of Linz's local mountain, which is a landmark of the city, can be reached most stylishly by the Pöstlingberg Railway. In about 20 minutes, this historic adhesion railway, one of the oldest in Europe, takes you to the viewing platform at the summit.

More than just a great view

From Pöstlingberg, you overlook Linz and the surrounding area as well as the Danube. Additionally, you can admire the photo gallery located on the viewing terrace, which primarily promotes amateur photographers and photo clubs. From the viewing platform, you also reach the striking pink and white pilgrimage basilica of 1748.

Grotto Railway and Fairy Tale World

The Pöstlingberg Adventure World also includes the historic, over-a-century-old Grotto Railway. The Dragon Express takes you through the world of dwarves, forest animals, and fairy tales. Afterward, you can admire a lovingly crafted miniature version of Linz, where scenes from well-known fairy tales play out in its side alleys.

The Mariendom, also known as the New Cathedral, is not the tallest church in Austria, but it is the largest. It was completed only in 1924 and now towers over Linz's old town. The view from the tower is accordingly phenomenal!

Interesting Tours

Of course, you can simply visit the cathedral on your own. However, there are also numerous exciting tours available. In the evenings, flashlight tours are offered, which take you into the crypt and up to the church's attic. Another tour focuses specifically on the magnificent stained glass windows of the cathedral.

Address:

Herrenstraße 26

4020 Linz

The Linz Museum of Contemporary Art houses one of the best art collections in the country. The artworks date from the 19th to the 21st century and range from classical modernism to expressionism to contemporary creations.

View from the new to the old landmark

The stunning architecture of the Lentos Art Museum shapes the cityscape of Linz, especially in the evening. Then the glass façade shines in dazzling colors, reflecting in the directly adjacent Danube. Also notable is the oversized picture frame that opens the museum toward the Mühlviertel and reveals the view of Pöstlingberg.

Address:

Ernst-Koref-Promenade 1

4020 Linz

The main square in the center of Linz showcases the historical face of the city. Surrounding it are the baroque façades of the old town houses, and in its center stands the marble Trinity Column from 1723.

Famous Buildings

The city hall is located in the main square, as is the tourist information center. At the historic Feichtinger House, the Linz carillon plays three times a day to changing melodies, where tourists and locals gather in the largest town square in Europe. Numerous events also take place here, especially in summer, such as:

Once, the Main Square served as the marketplace of the city. Today, it is the ideal starting point for shopping tours. Among other things, it leads directly to Landstraße, the second-longest shopping street in Austria. There are also numerous restaurants and cafés at the square. Additionally, the city tour with the Linz City Express starts at the Main Square.

Address:

Main Square

4020 Linz

At the Ars Electronica Center, a future and technology museum, everything revolves around experimenting and discovering. The interactive exhibitions create a connection between everyday life and digital art and technology. Here, you can control robots or take a photo of your retina.

A striking building

The 'Museum of the Future,' as it is also called, is located right on the Danube. The exterior façade features a brightly illuminated LED animation that lights up in rhythm with the music in the evening, competing with the Lentos Art Museum across the way.

Annual Festival

Every September, the Ars Electronica Center hosts a renowned festival that spans across Linz, attracting visionary artists from around the world. But even outside of this event, the museum frequently offers changing weekend themes or informational events.

Address:

Ars-Electronica-Straße 1

4040 Linz

Linz is one of the most important industrial locations in Austria. The largest steel producer on site is the company Voest Alpine. To make the industry accessible to visitors, the company opened the Voestalpine Steel World in its Linz plants, an interactive experience museum about steel.

Encountering human and technology

The museum informs about steel production technologies and the complex manufacturing process. Many exhibits in the multimedia exhibition can be touched and viewed up close.

Inspired by the steelworks

Even the design of the museum is inspired by steel production. You walk through a giant crucible while massive chrome balls hang above you from the ceiling. The exhibition is complemented by sounds from steel production.

Address:

voestalpine-Straße 4

4020 Linz

A unique art exhibition can be found in Linz's so-called Mural Harbour. Over one hundred partly oversized and artistically crafted graffiti decorate the walls in the Linz harbor, forming the largest contiguous graffiti gallery in Europe.

Constantly changing artworks

The Mural Harbour began with a decision by the city to beautify the gray façades of the old industrial buildings in the harbor. Street artists from around 25 nations responded to the call to Linz. Today, all the walls around the three water basins are adorned with colorful street art, which is supplemented and expanded each year with new works.

Spray it yourself

Of course, you can roam the harbor area on your own and admire the many street artworks. But various tours through the Mural Harbour are also offered for interested persons. Many of these include the opportunity to create your own small artwork on one of the façades after a graffiti crash course at the end of the tour.

Address:

Industriezeile 40

4020 Linz

The parkland along the Danube is colloquially known as Danube Park. It serves as a place of relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as a venue for numerous cultural events and concerts in the summer.

International Art Exhibition

In 1977, the Forum Metall took place at Donaulände, where national and international artists erected different large sculptures to draw attention to Linz's role as an industrial site and simultaneously emerging art metropolis. Today, nearly a dozen of these sculptures are still preserved in the park.

Cultural Institutions

Culture enthusiasts will find several interesting institutions at Donaulände. The Lentos Art Museum is located on the grounds, as well as the Brucknerhaus, a first-class concert hall where many internationally renowned orchestras perform for guest appearances.

Address:

Untere Donaulände 9

4020 Linz

The Linz Music Theater is one of the most modern opera houses in Europe. It was opened only in April 2013 and quickly became a cultural highlight of the city.

Versatile Program

Located directly at Volksgarten, the Linz Music Theater offers a colorful mix of opera, operetta, ballet, and musical. In other words, there is something for every musical taste. The Music Theater has several stages of various sizes to adapt to the needs of changing productions.

Behind the Scenes

Outside of performances, the theater can also be visited through a backstage tour. Here, you will receive information about the development of the Music Theater, the different departments, and current productions.

Address:

Am Volksgarten 1

4020 Linz

Linz isn't a typical beauty; instead, the city fascinates with its unique mix of industry, art, and culture. Everywhere you encounter historical sites that have been modernized in exciting ways, making them all the more interesting. This uniqueness makes Linz a perfect destination for a city trip in Europe.