LINZ, AUSTRIA FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

GUESTPOST BY ANNA-SOPHIE FROM COLLEGEBLOCKSTORIES
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have you ever been to a city that’s said to be a cultural and industrial capital at the same time?

if not, then linz in upper austria is definitely worth a visit!  

the third-largest city in austria lies alongside the danube river and counts a population of about 200.000 people. i grew up in a suburb just 10 minutes outside of linz, but since it’s the capital and probably the only well-known city in the federal state of upper austria, i happen to always say that I am from Linz itself.

if you ever get the chance to stop by this beautiful town, here are some tips on what to see, do and eat ;-)

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LOCAL FOOD

i have to admit that there isn’t a special dish associated with linz, but there are some really nice local restaurants where you can get proper austrian food. my favorite one is situated on landstraße and it’s called JOSEF. it’s also famous for its homemade beer and the public viewing events for example during soccer competitions.

 

© JOSEF

© JOSEF

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COFFEE & SWEET TREATS

there are some amazing cafes and brunch spots all across the city. TIKTAK is quite new but popular for brunch, whereas CUBUS and SKYGARDEN offer amazing views from their rooftop terrace. if you are looking for the oldest cake ever listed in a cookbook, the linzer torte is the one! it goes back more than 300 years in time and you can taste the original one at the JINDRAK CAFÈ in the city center. one of my favorite spots for a coffee date with an amazing view over the city is jindrak’s branch on linz’s famous pöstlingberg.

 

© TIKTAK

© CUBUS

© SKYGARDEN

© JINDRAK

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MUST-DOS

getting around in linz is easy for first-time visitors. the main shopping street landstraße runs from the railway station down to the main square and across the danube river. you can either buy a public transport ticket (4,5€/24h) or enjoy a stroll while checking out shops and parks.

walking down landstraße already gives you a good first impression of the city. you will end up at the main square, where in summer i like to gather with my friends, get some ice cream and head on to the shore of the danube river, which locals call donaulände. in this area you can also find the LENTOS ART MUSEUM and the ARS ELECTRONICA, my favorite museum about digital art and interactive exhibitions. moreover, I can recommend hiking up the pöstlingberg or if you prefer getting up there the easy way you can take the PÖSTLINGBERGBAHN departing from the main square. as a kid my parents always let me ride the dragon train inside the cave, which is great fun for little ones. for all those interested in Theater, the MUSIKTHEATER was just opened in 2013 and offers a wide range of excellent plays.

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THINGS TO DO FOR FREE

if you happen to be in Linz during summer, you should schedule to attend some really cool and free events like the PFLASTERSPEKTAKEL or the LINZER KRONEFEST. also, the LINZ MARATHON counts as one of the biggest occasions in the city and might not be free to participate, but watching and cheering as well as attending the side events is always great fun! when it comes to nightlife, the old part of the city offers a lot of little bars free of charge, which you should check out on fridays or saturdays. other than that for people interested in history, i can recommend to check out the beautiful churches that are spread across linz.

 

© http://www.linz.at

© http://www.kronefest.at/

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as you can tell, linz offers quite a lot to do and see and i honestly love coming back there every once in a while and be a tourist myself.

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THIS POST IS PART OF MY “AUSTRIA FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS” SERIES AND WAS WRITTEN BY MY FRIEND ANNA-SOPHIE FROM COLLEGEBLOCKSTORIES. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS!