Linz

Culture in Linz is extraordinarily diverse. There’s interactive art in the virtual worlds of the Ars Electronica Center, which is now housed in a fabulous new facility. On the opposite bank of the Danube, masterpieces of the 19th and 20th centuries are on display in the striking glass-and-steel Lentos Museum of Art. Plus, you can enjoy world-class music and drama in the Brucknerhaus and the Landestheater, leading-edge offerings in the OK Offenes Kulturhaus Oberösterreich, and exhibitions in the Museums of the Province of Upper Austria. Big events highlight the cultural calendar in Linz: the Pflasterspektakel Festival of Street Art, Danube Summer, Ars Electronica Festival, Linzer Klangwolken (Cloud of Sound), Brucknerfest, Linzer Advent and Winter Culture offer regional and international art and culture for every taste.

Linz’s Old City is the ideal setting for strolls through charming cobblestone streets and past centuries-old architecture. Its spacious Main Square is one of the largest in Central Europe. The continent’s steepest traction railway takes you on a leisurely ride up Pöstlingberg for a panoramic view of the city; when the visibility’s good, you can see all the way to the Alps. And what better way to follow that up than with a boat ride on the beautiful blue Danube? Needless to say, culture and scenery aren’t all that Linz has to offer. One of Austria's most popular shopping districts is right in the heart of downtown Linz. And when you’re ready for a refreshing break, consider dropping in on one of Linz’s many gemütliche cafés and trying a world-famous Linzer Torte!