Linz
Linz is Upper Austria's Danube city, known for media art, a hilltop view reached by historic tram, and an old town around the Hauptplatz.
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Linz is the capital of Upper Austria, a city on the Danube in the north of the country and a train ride west of Vienna. It is best known for media art. The Ars Electronica Center is a museum of technology and art, and the Lentos Art Museum on the river shows modern and contemporary work. The Old Town centers on the Hauptplatz, where the Trinity Column stands, and the neo-Gothic Mariendom cathedral is close by. The Danube runs between the Old Town and the Urfahr bank, so the city is small enough to cover on foot in the center.
Plan a day or two. Spend one on the museums and the Old Town, and one on the Pöstlingberg, the hill above the city. A historic tram climbs to the pilgrimage church at the top, which has a wide view over the river and the city. Linz also suits a short break or a stop on a longer Danube trip. Walks along the river and up the hill are easiest in spring and early autumn.
Linz in five
- Price the Linz-Card against single ticketsThe 2026 Linz-Card is €18 for 24 hours, €30 for 48 and €39 for 72, and opens the city's museums free. Only the 48 and 72-hour cards include the Pöstlingberg tram, listed at €9 otherwise.Are city passes worth it?
- Break the Vienna to Salzburg ride hereWestbahn trains run from Vienna Westbahnhof via St. Pölten, Linz and Salzburg, so a night in Linz costs no detour. Direct services also reach Graz from Linz.Salzburg
- Collect the card at Hauptplatz 1The Tourist Information in the old town hall at Hauptplatz 1 is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 and sells the Linz-Card, which can also be bought online and in selected museums and hotels.
- Treat festival weeks as a booking triggerThe Ars Electronica Festival is listed by Linz Tourism among the city's top events. Its dates change each year, so confirm them on the official site before you book a room.
- Add the Danube valley or the lakesLinz is a gateway for the Wachau downstream and, via Attnang-Puchheim, for the Salzkammergut lakes. Decide which side trip earns the extra night.The Danube Valley
Need to know
- Airport
- Linz (LNZ), a small regional airport; Vienna (VIE) is the main gateway
- Getting there
- On the Westbahn and ÖBB line between Vienna and Salzburg
- Getting around
- Walk the center; tram and bus, with a tram to the Pöstlingberg
- Best base
- The old town around Hauptplatz, or near the station
- Time needed
- 1 night; 2 days with a Danube or lakes trip
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh3°Low-2°Cold, foggyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low0°Cold, dryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Cool, early springMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, early spring
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Mild, blossomAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, blossom
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low14°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Hot, Danube daysJulyRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Danube days
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Hot, stormsAugustRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Warm, quieterSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quieter
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cool, foggyNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, foggy
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-1°Advent marketsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Advent markets
Average daily high and low in Linz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Sep Ars Electronica
Right now in Linz
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 13%
Linz
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°7°13%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Tue8°6°18%Tuesday: Rain. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Wed8°5°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri9°1°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat9°1°0%Saturday: Clear. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun6°0°8%Sunday: Fog. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 09:25 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- SepArs ElectronicaLinz
Day trips by train
- The Salzkammergut lakeschange at Attnang-Puchheim; Bad Ischl 50 to 60 min onGmunden on the Traunsee is about 15 minutes beyond Attnang-Puchheim by train.Read the guide
- The Danube Valleyby train via St. Pölten, or boat in seasonThe Wachau, a UNESCO-listed stretch of vineyards and abbeys, lies downstream of Linz.Read the guide
- Salzburgon the same Westbahn lineA baroque old town and fortress, best with a night rather than a day.Read the guide
Before you go to Linz
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Plan around Linz
Wachau boats, ferries and cycle paths downstream
Read the guideThe SalzkammergutLakes an hour or two away by train and bus
Read the guideSalzburgThe next big stop on the Westbahn line
Read the guideViennaThe capital, east along the same line
Read the guideGrazStyria's capital, with direct trains from Linz
Read the guideAre city passes worth it?How to test a Linz-Card before buying
Read the guideAll of AustriaThe wider route from Vienna to the Alps
Read the guideLinz FAQ
Is Linz worth visiting?
Yes as a one-night stop with a modern art and media focus: the Ars Electronica Center, the Lentos museum and the Danube riverfront. It is less of a postcard city than Salzburg, so judge it by the museums.
Is the Linz-Card worth it?
A day card is €18, two days €30 and three days €39 in 2026, with free museum entry. It pays when you visit several museums, and the 48 and 72-hour cards add a Pöstlingberg tram ride listed at €9.
How many days do you need in Linz?
One night covers the old town, a museum and the Pöstlingberg. Add a second day for the Danube valley downstream or the Salzkammergut lakes via Attnang-Puchheim.
Is Linz on the way from Vienna to Salzburg?
Yes. Westbahn services run from Vienna Westbahnhof via St. Pölten, Linz and Salzburg, so Linz works as a break in the journey without leaving the main line.
Where is the tourist office in Linz?
At Hauptplatz 1 in the old town hall, open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. It sells the Linz-Card.