Visit Linz in Austria to see both interesting architecture and a modern industrial harbor with street art. Extra tip: visit the St. Florian Monastery nearby.
Linz is the third biggest city in Austria after Vienna and Graz. Though what is big? With around 200,000 residents it is still a rather small city compared to many other cities in the world.
The city of Linz is the most important industrial city in Austria. For tourists, it is probably more interesting to know that Linz was named the cultural capital of Europe in 2009. And it shows.
Sights in Linz
These are the must-see sights in Linz.
Old Town of Linz
You can’t go wrong if you decide to take a walk in the city center of Linz. As you wander, you will see many interesting buildings, illustrating much of Linz’s significance in earlier times. Some buildings are beautiful and majestic, while others are more charming or modern. But overall, you can’t help but notice that Linz is a city with a good atmosphere. The outdoor terraces of cafes are very popular and show that this is a city where people like to go to enjoy themselves.
Location: Altstadt, 4020 Linz, Austria
Trinity Column and Main Square
The Trinity Column is a baroque column that was erected on Linz’s Main Square to commemorate the nearing end of the pest epidemic. You might want to skip this area in the morning, as the flea market around the Trinity Column is less than impressive.
Location: Hauptpl., 4020 Linz, Austria
Landstrasse shopping street
Next to the historic city center lies the modern shopping street Landstrasse. You can access this street from Linz’s Main Square.
Location: Landstraße 4020 Linz, Austria
Landhaus
The Landhaus is housed in a former monastery that was turned into a government building in 1563. It became an important political site. You can see the many different building styles that resulted from rebuilding (after an invasion) and extension. Especially the Arkadenhof, Landhausbrunnen, Landhausturm, and Nordportal are worth exploring.
Location: Landhausplatz 1, 4020 Linz, Austria
Kremsmünstererhaus
An interesting building from both an architectural perspective and a historical perspective. In 1507 the Kremsmünster got possession of this renaissance building from the 1500s. Before that, it was used as a residence by emperor Friedrich III, whose memorial you can find inside.
The onion-shaped towers set this building apart from other buildings in the Old Town of Linz (though it reminds me of Schloss Liebburg in Lienz). Above the massive arched portal, you can see the Kremsmünster monastery coat of arms.
Location: Altstadt 10, 4020 Linz, Austria
Ignatiuschurch “Old Dom”
This Baroque building (first picture) was the Old Dom of Linz until the end of the 19th century. After that, it was replaced by a new cathedral, the ‘New Dom”. When you see the narrow streets surrounding the Old Dom, you will understand why they built a new Dom when the city grew in size.
Location Old Dom: Domgasse 3, 4020 Linz, Austria
Location New Dom: Herrenstraße 26, 4020 Linz, Austria
OÖ Kulturquartier
The OÖ Kulturquartier is worth mentioning because of the cultural events taking place here. Perhaps there is a nice exhibition when you visit, but if not, you can still have a drink in the courtyard.
Location: Landstraße 31, 4020 Linz, Austria
Ars Electronica Center
This experience center combines Art, Technology, and Society. When you visit the Ars Electronica Center you will see innovative and groundbreaking technology as well as new forms of artistic expression. Feel amazed in the Deep Space 8k and take a step into the future.
Location: Ars-Electronica-Straße 1, 4040 Linz, Austria
Mural Harbor
After sightseeing in the Old Town and exploring the beautiful buildings there, it is time to visit something completely different, namely the Mural Harbor of Linz. In this harbor, you will find one of the biggest open-air exhibitions in Europe. Free art and plenty of open space against a unique background all ready for you to explore.
It is really impressive to see the art that some people can create on irregular backgrounds. The murals are beautiful and the colorful cranes and sea containers that belong in the harbor add more flavor and identity to the scenery.
Instead of describing the various murals and telling you how much I liked them, I’ll show you more pictures so that you can judge for yourself.
Location: Mural Harbor, Industriezeile 40, 4020 Linz, Austria
How to get to Linz?
Linz lies in the northern part of Austria. The nearest big city is Salzburg, an hour and a half’s drive away. From Vienna or Hallstatt it takes about two hours to get to Linz by car.
A good parking garage near the city center is Garage Promenade Linz.
Location parking garage: Promenade, 4020 Linz, Austria
If you find yourself near Linz, do visit the city even if it is only for half a day; that’s plenty of time to see all sights that I described above, except for the museums.
Extra: St. Florian Monastery
You can combine a visit to Linz with a visit to the St. Florian Monastery nearby. From Linz, you can get to St. Florian in less than half an hour.
St. Florian is the largest monastery in the province of Upper Austria. It was founded in the early ninth century and refounded by the Augustinians in the 11th century. Built on a higher elevation than the rest of the town, this impressive Baroque building feels like a quiet place that oversees it all. When you approach the monastery, you can see it from far away. Take a walk around the building and explore the hallways and courtyard. If your timing is right, you can join a tour and take a look at the impressive library inside.
Location: Augustiner Chorherrenstift St. Florian, Stiftstraße 1, 4490 St. Florian, Austria
