The third-largest city in Austria stands on the banks of the famous Danube River. It is known for its fine cultural attractions, with a wealth of art galleries, museums and beautiful old buildings. You can also use it as a gateway for exploring the surrounding area, with the river providing the opportunity to try a number of fun water activities.
Linz Schloss, the city's castle, is an imposing building right beside the river. A castle was first built on this site in the 9th century, but the current building was started in the 16th century. Today it houses a museum that contains a number of eclectic artifacts from the history of Linz. You can see exhibits from the days of the Romans and the medieval period. With artworks, armor, weapons and other items on display, the castle museum is a great way to spend a morning.
There are many art galleries around Linz, but perhaps the best is the Lentos Kunstmuseum, with over 1,500 pieces on display. There are works by great Austrian artists like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, as well as painters from other countries.
For something entirely different, go to the Ars Electronica Center. While most of the city of Linz consists of charming old buildings, this cutting-edge museum is totally modern. In fact, it's been called the Museum of the Future. Here you can see exhibits about technology, climate change, robotics and space exploration. It's a fascinating place to visit, but even if you're not into the exhibits, you can enjoy it. Come after dark to see the center's colorful illuminations for an evening light show on the banks of the Danube.
Car rental in Linz allows you to see interesting nearby places outside the city. For example, the St Florian Abbey, an old Augustinian abbey, is 20 minutes' drive away. St Florian, martyred in the year 304, is buried here, and a religious community in his honor first flourished in the early 9th century. The present building was completed in the year 1751. It is still in use and is famous for its choir. If you time your visit right, you can take in a concert. If not, you can still spend a few hours admiring the beautiful Baroque architecture and artwork.
Another excellent day trip you can enjoy via car or van rental in Linz will take you to Wels. This charming old town is known for being one of the best examples of traditional Austrian architecture. It is packed with old Baroque buildings and has delightful artisan stores and restaurants in traditional shopfronts. While in the area, you might want to continue south to Windischgarsten, a lovely town with facilities for winter sports and lots of spas and wellness centers.
