Linz is a city a lot of people skip, but once you arrive you tend to wonder why you didn't come sooner. This is the city UNESCO recognized as a City of Media Arts, paired with a Baroque cathedral and a handsome central square. The Danube cuts straight through the middle of town, the Ars Electronica Center lights up with LEDs after dark, and Pöstlingberg looks down over the whole city. Linz doesn't show off — it just delivers what you didn't expect.
#1 Ars Electronica Center
The museum of the future that earned Linz its UNESCO City of Media Arts title. The giant glass building shifts color across its whole facade at night through more than 40,000 LEDs. Inside, the exhibitions cover AI, robotics, biotechnology and interactive digital art, plus a Deep Space zone that projects stunning giant 3D images. It works for adults and kids alike, and even if you're not a tech person you'll still have fun, because everything is designed to be touched and tried for real.
- You can buy tickets online in advance. Open 10:00-17:00 (Thursdays until 21:00), closed Mondays
- Deep Space 8K is the highlight worth checking the screening schedule for — some sessions are free for visitors
- The rooftop has the best view of the Danube and the city, and you can go up without buying an extra ticket
#2 Pöstlingberg
The hill that symbolizes Linz, and the one locals love most. The summit holds a white twin-towered Baroque church that stands out from across the city, and the panorama from the top takes in Linz, the Danube and the Alps on a clear day. Getting up there on the Pöstlingbergbahn — one of the steepest tramways in the world — is a memorable experience in itself. It isn't just a viewpoint; it's the heart of the Linz community.
- The Pöstlingbergbahn (the hill tram) is included in the Linz Card, or you can buy single tickets at the stop. It runs every 30 minutes
- The Grottenbahn on the hill is a small underground tram for kids that's been running for more than 70 years — parents with little ones shouldn't miss it
- Go up early, 8-9am, before the crowds, when mist still hangs over the city and the views are gorgeous
#3 New Cathedral
The largest cathedral in Austria, built over more than 60 years (1855-1924) in a soaring neo-Gothic style. The tower was deliberately built one metre lower than St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, on the wishes of the Emperor. There are 54 large stained-glass windows, the standout being the Linz Window, which shows the city's history from the past to the present. Inside, it can hold more than 20,000 worshippers.
- Free to enter, open daily 07:30-19:00. The atmosphere is especially special during Sunday morning Mass
- Buy a ticket to climb the tower for the view — it's inexpensive, and the view of Linz from up there is a different angle from Pöstlingberg
- Sit in the nave for a while even if you're not religious; the light through the stained glass falling on the stone floor is breathtaking
#4 Hauptplatz
The heart of Linz since the Middle Ages, a large rectangular square ringed by brightly colored Baroque and Renaissance buildings. The Trinity Column, a white marble column in the centre, was raised to honor those who died from plague and war in the 17th century. Markets and festivals run on this square all year, especially the Advent Christmas market that's famous across Austria. Around the square are several cafes and restaurants that have been open for hundreds of years.
- Cafe Traxlmayr on the square has been open since 1847 and is one of the oldest cafes in Austria — worth sitting down for
- The Bauernmarkt farmers' market runs every Friday 7:00-13:00 with fruit, cheese and local treats from nearby farms
- Carry on exploring the Old Town from the square down Landstraße, the main shopping street running more than 1 km
#5 Linz Castle
An old castle on the hill that has stood above Linz for more than 1,500 years. It was once the residence of Emperor Friedrich III of the Habsburg dynasty, and today it houses the Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum, one of the most comprehensive museums in Upper Austria. The displays run from prehistoric antiquities and Baroque art to local history from the World War era. The outer castle courtyard is free to enter and comes with a lovely view over the city.
- Museum admission is about 9 euros, included in the Linz Card. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-18:00
- The outer castle courtyard is free all day — a good spot to rest and take in the view without buying a ticket
- Walk up from Hauptplatz via Schlossberg, about 10 minutes; the path climbs a little but is an easy walk
#6 Lentos Art Museum
A museum of modern and contemporary art with more than 1,800 first-rate works, from Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka to contemporary Austrian artists. The building, designed by Weber Hofer Architekten, is a long glass box by the water that looks beautiful by day and by night. Across the river you can see the Ars Electronica Center, and both buildings reflect one another in the Danube — an image that's become a symbol of modern Linz.
- Admission is about 9 euros, included in the Linz Card. Open daily except Mondays 10:00-18:00 (Thursdays 10:00-21:00)
- The waterfront terrace in front of the building is free to walk, and it's the best spot to photograph both buildings on either side of the river
- Combine a visit to Lentos with Ars Electronica on the same day since they're close — just across the bridge
Where to stay in Linz for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Linz — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Austria Classic Hotel Wolfinger
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Hotel Am Domplatz - Adult Only
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Park Inn by Radisson Linz
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Star Inn Hotel Linz Promenadengalerien
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Tours, tickets & activities in Linz
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Linz — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Before You Pack
Linz is comfortable to see in 2 days. Spend the first walking the old town, Hauptplatz and the New Cathedral; on the second, go up Pöstlingberg in the morning and shop on Landstraße before finishing at Ars Electronica after dark. In winter, the Advent season brings a Christmas market on the square that's well known across Austria, and in summer the weather is good for walking everywhere.