Linz

Edgy and Authentic

Linz is a little bit different. This “City of Smart Tourism” has historic beauty aplenty: its expansive main square – located right by the Danube, and one of the largest in Central Europe – and its quaint Old Town have a relaxed and authentic feel. Linz’s Old City is ideal for a stroll through charming cobblestone streets, past centuries-old architecture. One of Europe's steepest traction railways takes you on a leisurely ride up Pöstlingberg for a panoramic view of the city with sweeping views of the Alps, and afterwards you can take a boat ride on the beautiful Danube river.

But despite this historic charm, Linz is also defined by a constant desire for change and innovation. Once primarily an industrial centre, Linz has become a pioneer when it comes to culture, art, and technology. Home to a harbour that doubles as one of Europe’s biggest graffiti galleries and the cutting-edge art-slash-technology museum Ars Electronica Center, Linz is a destination for travellers looking for the unfamiliar.

Culture in Linz is extraordinarily diverse. Across the Danube from the Ars Electronica Center, architectural masterpieces of the 19th and 20th centuries are on display in the striking glass-and-steel Lentos Museum of Art. Enjoy world-class music and performances 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. In addition, in April 2013, the new Musiktheater lifted the curtain as Europe's most advanced opera house.

Linz offers international art and culture for every taste.

Big events highlight the cultural calendar in Linz:

• Pflasterspektakel Festival of Street Art
• Ars Electronica Festival
• Linzer Klangwolken (Cloud of Sound)
• Brucknerfest

Culture and scenery aren’t all that Linz has to offer. Linz is home to great food, including the world-famous Linzer Torte!

Top Restaurants

• Restaurant Verdi
• Pöstlingbergschlössl
• by Preslmayer
• Die Donauwirtinnen
• Schloss Brasserie

Two Brits in Linz: In Search of the Perfect Selfie

We sent BFFs Joanna and Emily from London on a mission: visit Linz and bring back the perfect selfie. But their visit turned into much more than that – they discovered a city full of creative energy and surprises. See for yourself (and find out more about the places they visited here).

For further information on visiting Linz, go to: www.linz.at