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Austria
Things to do in Linz
152 attractions · Austria
Photo: Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0
Upper Austria, Austria · 48.300, 14.283
About Linz
Linz serves as the capital of Upper Austria and stands as a primary industrial and technological hub along the Danube River. The city blends its historical significance with a forward-looking digital culture, most visible at the Ars Electronica Center. Visitors can explore the vast Linz’s main square or experience the distinct contrast between the traditional architecture of the New Cathedral and the modern aesthetic of the Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz. The city also hosts the innovative Musiktheater, cementing its reputation as a center for contemporary arts.
Good to know
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Linz is home to the world's oldest document mentioning a city's name, specifically referring to 'Lentia' in a Roman context.
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The city is famous for the Linzer Torte, which holds the record as the oldest known cake recipe in the world, dating back to 1653.
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Johannes Kepler lived in Linz for several years, where he discovered the third law of planetary motion in 1618.
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During the National Socialist era, the city was intended to be developed into one of the 'Führermuseen' cultural centers for the Third Reich.
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Linz hosts the annual Ars Electronica Festival, one of the world's most significant forums for media arts and technology.
Plan your visit to Linz
Best time to visit
May to September, when the mild climate along the Danube facilitates outdoor exploration and riverfront activities.
How many days
2-3 days to explore the historical center, museum quarter, and local parks.
Getting around
The city features a highly efficient public tram and bus network; the central district is compact and highly walkable.
Where to stay
The area surrounding the main square provides easy access to historical sites, while the bank of the Danube offers proximity to the modern arts district.
Budget
Mid-range; prices for dining and accommodation are standard for Austrian urban centers.
Highlights of Linz
The places our editors single out - and why they're worth your time.
Linz’s main square
This expansive urban space is one of the largest enclosed town squares in Europe and features the iconic Trinity Column.
The New Cathedral
As the largest church in Austria by capacity, its neo-Gothic spire dominates the city skyline.
Ars Electronica Center
This museum offers interactive exhibits focused on the intersection of art, technology, and society.
Landestheater Linz - Musiktheater
An architectural landmark, this venue is recognized for its state-of-the-art stage technology and acoustics.
Linz Botanical Garden
The garden contains a diverse collection of flora, including an extensive cactus house and specialized botanical greenhouses.
Grottenbahn
Located within Pöstlingberg, this attraction takes visitors through a mystical grotto world populated by mechanical fairy-tale figures.
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
The building is renowned for its glass facade that glows with artistic light installations after dark.
Schlossmuseum Linz
Situated in the historic castle, this museum houses the largest collection of artifacts related to the cultural and social history of Upper Austria.
Top things to do in Linz
The 152 most popular places in Linz.
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1
Places of interest Popular
Linz’s main square
Hauptplatz is one of the largest enclosed city squares in Central Europe, spanning approximately 13,200 square meters. I...
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2
Temples Popular
The New Cathedral
The New Cathedral, officially the Mariendom, is Austria's largest church by seating capacity, accommodating up to 20,000...
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3
Museums Popular
Ars Electronica Center
The Ars Electronica Center serves as a laboratory and museum dedicated to the intersection of art, technology, and socie...
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4
Venues Popular
Landestheater Linz - Musiktheater
The Musiktheater am Volksgarten is one of Europe's most modern opera houses, opened in 2013 as an extension of the Lande...
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5
Zoos Popular
Zoo Linz
Zoo Linz is a compact, family-oriented zoological garden situated on the Pöstlingberg hill overlooking the city of Linz....
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6
Places of interest Popular
Grottenbahn
The Grottenbahn is a historic miniature railway located inside the fortress towers of the Pöstlingberg in Linz. Passenge...
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7
Parks Popular
Linz Botanical Garden
Linz Botanical Garden is a renowned horticultural site featuring over 10,000 plant species spread across 4.2 hectares. T...
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8
Parks Popular
Donaulände
Donaulände is a linear park stretching along the south bank of the Danube river in Linz, serving as a primary cultural a...
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9
Venues Popular
Brucknerhaus Linz
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10
Museums Popular
Schlossmuseum Linz
Schlossmuseum Linz is the largest universal museum in Austria, housed within a historic castle overlooking the Danube. T...
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11
Museums Popular
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
The Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz is defined by its translucent glass facade, which glows at night to act as a visual landmark...
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12
Museums Popular
voestalpine Stahlwelt - Ausstellung & Museum
voestalpine Stahlwelt is an interactive industrial museum located on the grounds of the massive voestalpine steelworks i...
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13
Venues Popular
Raiffeisen Arena
The Raiffeisen Arena is a modern football stadium in Linz, serving as the official home ground for the Austrian Bundesli...
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14
Amusement parks Popular
JUMP DOME Linz
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15
Historical places Known locally
Dreifaltigkeitssäule
The Dreifaltigkeitssäule, or Trinity Column, is a 20-meter-high Baroque plague monument located in the center of Linz's...
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16
Museums Known locally
OK Center for Contemporary Art Austria
The OK Center for Contemporary Art (OÖ Kulturquartier) in Linz serves as a laboratory for contemporary art, focusing on...
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17
Parks Known locally
Erlebnisoase Schörgenhub
Erlebnisoase Schörgenhub is a multi-functional recreational facility in Linz that integrates both indoor and outdoor aqu...
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18
Temples Known locally
Wilhering Abbey
Wilhering Abbey is a Cistercian monastery located on the Danube river, renowned as one of the most significant examples...
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19
Parks Known locally
Schillerpark
Schillerpark is a central urban green space located directly on Landstraße, the primary shopping artery of Linz. The par...
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20
Playgrounds Known locally
LolliPark Pasching
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21
Venues Known locally
Landestheater Linz
Landestheater Linz is the primary multi-genre performing arts venue in Upper Austria, hosting opera, ballet, drama, and...
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22
Parks Known locally
Wasserwald - Wasserschutzgebiet Scharlinz
Wasserwald, located in the Scharlinz district of Linz, serves as a vital protected groundwater zone that provides high-q...
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23
Historical places Known locally
Pöstlingbergbahn Bergstation - Turm IV (Maria)
Turm IV, also known as 'Maria', is one of the surviving Maximilian towers that originally formed the fortification ring...
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24
Places of interest Known locally
Aussichtsplattform - Turm V (Euphemia)
Aussichtsplattform - Turm V, also known as Euphemia, is a historic defensive tower situated on the Pöstlingberg hill in...
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25
Places of interest Known locally
Franz-Josefs-Warte
The Franz-Josefs-Warte is a historic stone observation tower situated on the Freinberg hill in Linz, Austria. Built in 1...
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26
Venues Known locally
Theater in downtown
Theater in der Innenstadt is a centrally located, intimate performance space in Linz, Austria, known for its focus on co...
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27
Parks Known locally
Schlosspark
Schlosspark is a historic hilltop green space surrounding Linz Castle, situated on a natural plateau overlooking the Dan...
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28
Amusement parks Known locally
Tagaluba Abenteuerland Hörsching
Tagaluba Abenteuerland is an indoor playground located in Hörsching, near Linz, designed specifically for children's act...
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29
Natural attractions Known locally
Pleschinger See
Pleschinger See is a prominent 13-hectare artificial lake situated in the north of Linz, Austria, created during the con...
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30
Temples Known locally
Wallfahrtsbasilika Sieben Schmerzen Mariae
The Wallfahrtsbasilika Sieben Schmerzen Mariae is a prominent pilgrimage church situated on the summit of Pöstlingberg h...
Around Linz
Worth the short trip out of the city.
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Linz on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Frequently asked
How many attractions are there in Linz?
Aventuro lists 152 curated attractions in and around Linz, sorted by popularity.
What's the top attraction in Linz?
Linz’s main square is the most popular place to visit in Linz right now.
What kind of attractions does Linz have?
The largest category is temples, with 38 places to explore.
Which other cities are worth visiting nearby?
Travellers also explore Vienna, Graz, Salzburg.
Explore more of Austria
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
