Introduction
I visited Linz, Austria’s third-largest city.
Although it is not as well known in Japan as Vienna, Salzburg, or Hallstatt, Linz is known within Austria as an important industrial and economic center.
After walking around the city myself, I found that it has a very different atmosphere from Graz.
There are high-rise buildings and modern office buildings around the main station, and although the old town remains, I got the impression that Linz is more of an economic and industrial center than a “city of history.”
Of course, Linz also has plenty of attractions, including its famous local specialty, the “Linzer Torte,” and its magnificent cathedral.
In this article, I will share my impressions after exploring Linz on foot.
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What Is Linz Like?
Linz is a city of around 200,000 people located along the Danube River in northern Austria.
It is Austria’s third-largest city after Vienna and Graz, and it developed as an industrial city, particularly through its steel industry. At the same time, Linz has increasingly focused on establishing itself as a cultural city, and in 2009 it was selected as a “European Capital of Culture.”
And, of course, one of the city’s most famous specialties is the Linzer Torte.
It is said to be one of the cakes with the oldest surviving recipe in the world and has become one of Linz’s signature specialties.
Getting to Linz
Linz is an important transportation hub for western Austria and is located roughly halfway between Vienna and Salzburg. As a result, it is easy to reach by train from either city, making Linz a good destination for a day trip.
From Vienna
From Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof), ÖBB Railjet (RJ) and Westbahn services run frequently.
By Railjet, the journey takes around 1 hour 15–30 minutes. Trains run at least once an hour in most cases, so it is a very convenient route.
From Salzburg
From Salzburg Central Station (Salzburg Hauptbahnhof), you can also reach Linz by Railjet or Westbahn in around 1 hour 10–20 minutes.
From Graz
Direct Railjet services operate from Graz, taking around 3 hours 30 minutes.
The journey takes a little longer, but since there is no need to change trains, it is still quite easy to get there.
Public Transportation
LinzLinien uses a shared fare system for trams and buses.
- Adult 1-hour ticket (1h-Ticket): €3.20
- 24-hour ticket (MAXI): €6.40
- 7-day ticket (Wochenkarte): €20.30
- Short-distance ticket within 4 stops (MINI): €1.60
- Children’s fare within 4 stops: €0.80
- Regular children’s fare (under 15): €1.60 (also valid as a 24-hour ticket)
One particularly interesting feature is that even adults can travel for just €1.60 if the journey is within 4 stops. Graz does not have this type of fare, so I found it very convenient for short trips.
Tickets are purchased from ticket machines, but be careful because there are no ticket machines on board. Ticket machines are generally installed at major tram and bus stops, so you need to purchase your ticket before boarding.
Another thing that surprised me when I first used the system was that there are no ticket validation machines on board.
I wondered, “Is this really enough?” at first, but the ticket’s start time is printed when you purchase it from the ticket machine, so you can simply board. Except for certain types of unused tickets purchased in advance, additional validation is generally not required. In Vienna, there are cases where you need to validate a ticket after purchasing it, so this was a little confusing at first.
If you are sightseeing around the city for a full day, I recommend the 24-hour ticket (€6.40). On the other hand, if you are only visiting central attractions such as the New Cathedral and Old Cathedral, the city center is compact enough to explore on foot, so you may only need a short-distance ticket.
New Cathedral (Mariendom)
The first place I recommend visiting when sightseeing in Linz is the New Cathedral (Mariendom).
This enormous Neo-Gothic church was built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries and can accommodate around 20,000 people. It is known as one of the largest churches in Austria.
In fact, when it was being planned, there was an idea to make it
“taller than St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.”
However, imperial permission prohibited the construction of a building taller than St. Stephen’s Cathedral, so the New Cathedral was built slightly shorter, at around 134 meters. It remains the second-tallest church in Austria.
Plenty to See Inside
The interior features magnificent Neo-Gothic architecture.
What I found particularly impressive was that:
- Multiple pipe organs are installed
- The stained-glass windows are exceptionally beautiful
- There is a digital exhibit that allows you to display your own photo in a stained-glass style
- The crypt is open to visitors
These are some of the highlights.
The crypt in particular feels like a completely different world from the rest of the cathedral.
Even in summer, it is quite cool inside, and it was introduced as a place to escape the heat in the city.
Another advantage is that there are few tall buildings around it, making it easier to capture the entire cathedral in a photo than St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.
Konditorei Jindrak
One place that could easily be called a highlight of sightseeing in Linz is
Konditorei Jindrak
the famous pastry shop.
Founded in 1929, this long-established pastry shop is famous for its Linzer Torte.
Trying Linzer Torte
To be honest, I am not particularly fond of sweets made with almonds or nuts.
So I did not have particularly high expectations for Linzer Torte either.
However…
This was absolutely delicious!
The tart crust is generously made with various nuts, giving it a wonderfully fragrant flavor.
The raspberry jam inside is also rich, with an excellent balance of sweetness and tartness.
After just one bite,
“I had no idea Linzer Torte could be this delicious!”
My impression completely changed.
Honestly,
I was even more impressed by it than Vienna’s Sachertorte.
And the price is only €3.80 per slice.
For an Austrian café, that is a very reasonable price.
The Other Cakes Are Also Excellent
This time, I also ordered:
- Strawberry Omelet (€4.80)
- Strawberry Yogurt Tart (€4.80)
as well.
Both had a rich fruit flavor and were absolutely delicious.
Not only the Linzer Torte, but the quality of the cakes in general is extremely high, so I highly recommend stopping by this shop when visiting Linz.
I did not order one, but it looks like they also have parfaits.
Old Cathedral
The next place I visited was the Old Cathedral.
This historic church stands near Hauptplatz, but because it has been carefully restored, I had the curious impression that
“Despite being called the Old Cathedral, it looks newer than the New Cathedral.”
It was a rather unexpected impression.
The interior is beautifully decorated in the Baroque style.
However, because it is surrounded by other buildings, it is a little difficult to capture the entire church in a photo compared with the New Cathedral.
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Conclusion
As Austria’s third-largest city, Linz is a place where modern urban infrastructure and historic streetscapes coexist.
Although it does not have as many tourist attractions as Vienna,
- The magnificent New Cathedral
- The historic Old Cathedral
- Authentic Linzer Torte
- The peaceful old town
make it a destination that you can enjoy even on a day trip.
And the thing that left the strongest impression on me was the Linzer Torte at Konditorei Jindrak.
Even if you have had Linzer Torte before, I would say the one you eat in its hometown is so delicious that it feels like a completely different experience.
If you want to explore Austria beyond just Vienna and Salzburg and discover its cities on a deeper level, Linz is definitely a city I recommend visiting.
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