Where to stay in Linz — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Linz is Austria's third-largest city, capital of Upper Austria, straddling the River Danube. Once an industrial town, it has transformed into a city of digital media art and was named a UNESCO City of Media Arts. The highlights are the Ars Electronica Center and the Lentos museum by the water, while the main square, Hauptplatz, retains its Baroque old-town charm, and a steep hill tram climbs Pöstlingberg for views over the city.
Why stay in Linz
Ars Electronica Center
A museum of the future and digital media art on the Danube, showcasing AI, robotics, and cutting-edge light art of world renown.
Pöstlingberg hill tram
One of the steepest tram lines in Europe, taking you up Pöstlingberg hill for the pilgrimage basilica and a panorama of the city on the Danube.
Riverside art museum
The Lentos museum, a glowing glass building by the river, displays modern art and is most beautiful at night when its lights change colour.
Main square and old town
Hauptplatz, a large Baroque square with a marble Trinity column, ringed by pastel buildings and cafes.
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Local dishes to try in Linz
- 1🍰
Linzer Torte
Linzer Torte, a lattice-topped red jam tart sprinkled with nuts, believed to have the oldest recorded cake recipe in the world — the city's signature.
📍 Old cafes - 2🍖
Schnitzel and beef stew
Crispy fried schnitzel and Austrian beef stew at old-town restaurants — warming flavours that go well with local beer.
📍 Traditional eateries - 3🥟
Knödel dumplings
Knödel, Upper Austrian dumplings both savoury and sweet, served with stew or a sweet sauce — hearty home cooking.
📍 City eateries - 4☕
Cafes by the main square
Austrian cafe culture along Hauptplatz — sip coffee with a Linzer Torte and watch city life by the river.
📍 Old town
- 1🤖
Ars Electronica Center
A museum of the future and digital media art, its walls a giant LED light display, showcasing AI, robotics, and cutting-edge innovation.
📍 North bank of the Danube - 2🎨
Lentos Art Museum
A modern art museum in a glowing glass building by the water, changing colour at night to become a landmark of the city.
📍 By the River Danube - 3🚋
Pöstlingberg
A hill above the city with a twin-towered pilgrimage basilica, reached by a historic tram, with sweeping views of the city and the Danube.
📍 West of the city - 4⛪
New Cathedral (Mariendom)
The largest cathedral in Austria by capacity, neo-Gothic with beautiful stained-glass windows and a tower rising over the city.
📍 City centre - 5🟦
Hauptplatz
One of the largest Baroque squares in Central Europe, with a white marble Trinity column and pastel buildings all around.
📍 Old town
Things to do in Linz
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Linz — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Linz hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 8.8Upper-midAustria Classic Hotel Wolfinger
Historic 15th-century building on the main square
★ 8.7Upper-midHotel Am Domplatz - Adult Only
Adults-only design hotel with cathedral views
★ 8.4Upper-midโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในLinz
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🚆 Getting around Linz
Trams in the city
The tram network covers the whole city, running from the train station through the main square and across the Danube with ease.
Pöstlingberg tram
A special steep tram from the city centre up Pöstlingberg hill — one of the steepest mountain tram lines in the world.
Walk the old town
The main square, pedestrian streets, and riverside museums are close together, an easy walk across the bridge to see both banks of the Danube.
Train from Vienna–Salzburg
Linz is on the main rail line between Vienna and Salzburg, just about 1.25 hours from Vienna — perfect for a stop.
Where to go next near Linz
ViennaOne of Europe's most opulent imperial capitals, birthplace of the waltz, home of the Habsburgs and World Heritage coffee-house culture.
See this city's guide →
SalzburgA World Heritage Baroque city by the Alps, birthplace of Mozart and filming location of The Sound of Music, with a hilltop fortress.
See this city's guide →
InnsbruckA city in the embrace of Tyrol's snowy mountains, blending a medieval old town and the Golden Roof with Olympic-level ski slopes right by town.
See this city's guide →
GrazAustria's second-largest city, a World Heritage old town that blends a medieval clock tower with cutting-edge architecture.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Linz
Is Linz worth visiting?+
Worth it for those into art and technology — the highlights are the Ars Electronica Center, the riverside museums, and the Baroque old town. Good for a one-day stop between Vienna and Salzburg.
How many days do I need in Linz?+
One day is about right — enough to walk the old town, see the riverside art museums, and ride the tram up Pöstlingberg for the view. Add half a day if you're deeply into media art.
What is Linzer Torte?+
Linzer Torte is Linz's lattice-topped red jam tart sprinkled with ground nuts, considered to have the oldest recorded cake recipe in the world — the city's famous gift and dessert.
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