LINZ FAQ`S
Linz is serviced by its own airport, The Blue
Danube Airport, located just 20 minutes away from the city center of Linz.
There are direct flights offered from
Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, London, Salzburg and Vienna.
If
you have not booked a private transfer through us, you have a few options such
as bus, train and taxi. There is a direct shuttle bus service, bus 601, that
connects the Hauptbahnhof (about €3.20, 22 minutes) with the airport hourly from
5am to 8:30pm Monday to Friday, with fewer services on
weekends. Alternatively, there are hourly train connections between Linz
and horsching (10 minutes, about €2.30).
There is a three minute ride from the airport by free shuttle bus to get to the
train station. The shuttle service is very reliable and runs daily from 5am to
11pm. There is also the option of taking a taxi which will run you around
€25-35.
Alternatively, you can fly to the
better-connected Vienna airport and take the train to Linz.
The main train station in Linz, the Hauptbahnhof/hbf is located on
the southern edge of the city center. The station is connected to the
heart of Linz by a frequent tram service - all four lines in the city (1 - 4)
connect Linz Hbf to the city center.
The main city center stop is Hauptplatz, its located near south bank of The
Danube. Hauptplatz is 6 stops from the Hauptbahhof.
Linz sits directly along the rail lines that connect Salzburg
with Vienna, and on those that connect Prague to Graz and the major cities of
Slovenia and Croatia. Trains, many of them express, depart at hourly intervals
throughout the day and night from Vienna`s Westbahnhof (trip time is 2 hours)
and from Salzburg`s main station (1 1/4 hours). One train every 2 hours
throughout the day departs from Graz for Linz (3 1/2 hours). For rail
information visit www.oebb.at.
The train station is located south of the city center at Bahnhofplatz.
The main station is close
to the center and directly linked to all major transport routes. It`s about a 20-30 minute walk from the train station
to the town center. If you’re staying in the area, Linz is well connected to the center by a
frequent tram service - all four lines in the city (1 - 4) connect Linz Hbf to
the city center.
Most visitors limit their
exposure in Linz to the city's historic core, most of which is a pedestrian
zone centered on the Hauptplatz. Expect lots of shopping possibilities, lots of
cafes, and access via tram numbers 1 and 3 and bus numbers 19 and 19A, any of which
make access to the center from the surrounding area. Buses and trams operate
daily from 5am to midnight and cost about €1.60 per ride; paying around €4 can
buy a ticket for a single day which allows access between any points in Greater
Linz. Tickets can be purchased from the electronic vending machines at each
stop, as well as tobacco and newspaper shops.
Linz Card: The Linz
Card (1-day: Around €18, 3-day: Around
€30) provides free public transport through the city, and free
or discounted admission to two dozen museums, galleries and tours. It is
available at the Tourist Office and in many hotels.
Taxis are another option for getting around the immediate city of Linz. Generally, taxis will be waiting outside of major public areas such as the airport, train station, bus stations, and large hotels. If outside of these areas, the best way to get a taxi is to call one of the agencies ahead of time to arrange for a pick-up. Most hotels, restaurants, and bars will be happy to make this call for their customers. Because many drivers do not speak English, it is a wise idea to bring along a map with the desired destination circled.
Is Linz a walking city?As with many European cities, Linz features a stunning Old Town district with great architecture, fascinating attractions and historic sites. Many of the city`s most significant sites can be found in this historic district and walking is the best way to discover this area.
How can I get around by bicycle?Bicycling around the city remains a favorite mode of transportation for many locals. Visitors can rent bicycles around town for a daily rental cost of about €10. Donau Touristik on Lederergasse street is considered to be one of the most popular bike rental locations.
If I have a car in Linz, where can I park?
Visitors
who are interested in seeing landmarks outside of the city, in the surrounding
areas, you may want to rent a car. Avis, Denzel Drive, Hertz and LaudaMotion
are the most popular and reputable centers. Cars can be rented at the
Hauptplatz train station. You need a valid driving license along with your
passport and you must be 18 or above to drive in Austria.
The
city center is mainly a short term parking zone. Long term parking can only be
done in one of the (multi-storey) car parks or on one of the free parking lots
on the outskirts of Linz. The parking fares are reasonable.
On-street parking in Linz: Paid parking applies in the center of Linz on
Monday-Friday from 8:00am-6:30pm and Saturday from 8:00am-12:00pm. Maximum stay
is 1.5 hour and 3 hours at the edge of the center. Parking rate is around €1.00
per 30 min.
Around the Central Railway station paid parking
is available from 8:00am to 6:30pm.
Free parking lots in
Linz:
-Urnenfriedhof (Freistädter Straße 143)
-Heilham (Kreuzung Linke
Brückenstraße/Ferihumerstraße 62)
-Ebelsberg (Kremsmünsterer Straße 23)
-Urfahraner Jahrmarktgelände
(Ars-Electronica-Straße)
-Stadtfriedhof St. Martin (Wiener Bundesstraße
105)
-Stadionparkplatz (Ziegeleistraße 65)
If
you prefer long-term parking in the city center, the car parks are the best
options. The parking rates are around €1.30 per 30 min. Special cheap rates
apply for evening and overnight parking.
Can
The currency in Austria
is the euro (€). Once
you`re in Austria you`ll have to use the euro in most places. It is recommended to exchange at least some
money before you leave home so that you can avoid lines at airport ATMs.
We recommend that you exchange a small amount of cash prior to your trip, enough for a cab ride or basic spending on arrival. It is also useful to remind your bank and credit card company that you will be travelling to make sure your cards will work while in France. We recommend you record all your credit card numbers, as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen.
Under the euro system, there are seven notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes are the same for all countries. There are eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.
The weather in Linz is temperate, which means that the city
experiences four, distinct season changes. Although it can be visited
throughout the year, certain months can be much more comfortable than others.
The high tourist season is from May to October. At this time, the most favorable
weather prevails. The temperature rarely drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and
rains are rare. Visitors who plan to visit Linz at this time are advised to
book a room in advance.
Summers in Linz are fairly mild. On average, the hottest
months of the year are July and August, during which time the daily high
temperatures will generally hover in the upper 70`s. Extremely warm days
see temperatures in the 80`s, but this is as hot as it typically ever gets. The
nighttime temperatures during these months will generally drop to the mid to
upper 50`s.
The winter months in Linz can be mild, but they are generally
fairly cold. The coldest months of the year on average are December and
January, during which time the daily high temperatures will reach the mid to
upper 30`s. The nighttime temperatures during these months will generally
fall below freezing, and hover around the 20`s.
Linz
is a known for variety of events that is found at open air venues, in bars and
restaurants and in the theatre and on concert stages of the city. In late
April, the yearly Crossing Europe film festival for young
European film makers features works with unconventional, courageous filmic positions.
At Whitsun, the Linz Festival takes place, a cultural open-air
festival in the Danube park. July offers the international `Pflasterspektakel` that brings over 500
clowns, acrobats and mimes to the city`s streets. In addition, September brings
the musical `Cloud of Sounds` in the Donaupark, the Ars
Electronica Festival and the Bruckner Festival.
The
Linz markets offers an opportunity to browse stalls, and sample foods, whether at the weekly
markets or the twice yearly Fair/Carneval Urfahraner Jahrmarkt,
which is Austria`s oldest public festival.
The official language of
Austria is German and is widely spoken by everyone in Linz as well. This
is the language predominantly used in different official publications as well
as in schools However, English is also understood by the people of the city and
most restaurants have menu cards printed in English.
Most of the employees
working for hotels,
restaurants, and shops that are aimed at tourists can speak the English
language at a competent level. We suggest you get a good English-German
guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye,
excuse me and numbers 1-10.
There is a huge range of dining places in
Linz. Many famous restaurants are serving customers for more than a dozen years
and are known far beyond the borders of the city. Bakeries are everywhere in the city; around each corner you`ll
find one selling the famous Linzer Torte, a lattice cake of nuts and redcurrant
jam, made to a 315-year old recipe.
Traditional Austrian food is marked by rich flavors and
dominated by meats and carb dense foods like pastries and breads. From the
fried Schnitzel to the hearty goulash, there is an Austrian delicacy for every
meal. Some highlights you`ll find in the region are Wiener Schnitzel, one of
the national food dishes typically served with a side of fried potatoes, and
sour cream and onions; Vienna Sausage, this type of sausage is parboiled made
of pork and beef and then smoked at low temperatures; Knodel, a form of
dumpling that is popular all across Eastern Europe; Tafelspitz, a typical
Austrian food that is found as a main course in many restaurants, made up of
beef boiled in a broth of vegetables and spices; Tiroler Grostle, a rich dish
of pan-fried egg; Kasespatzle, the Austria`s answer to Mac n` cheese; Potato
Gulasch, a hot soupy stew that comes in many varieties; Kaiserschmarrn, this
dish is basically fluffy shredded pancakes; and Buchteln, a delicious baked
food with sweet fillings of jam, ground poppy or sweet curds.
The nightlife in Linz offers plenty of cultural options, as well as a number of bars and restaurants to choose from. The central area of Linz presents itself as the meeting-place for locals and visitors alike. From legendary bars to modern lifestyle bars, everything is to be found in this area. The Linz `Bermuda Triangle` of its old town is probably the most widely-known bar district in the city, and it offers something to suit every musical taste.
What are the best areas for shopping?
The Linzer Landstrasse is one of the most-frequented shopping
streets in Austria. Here, and in the side-streets leading off it, stores invite
visitors to window-shop, and shopping passages offer something to suit every
taste. Both global brands and small stores for tasting and rummaging through
are represented - Linz stands out for this mix of traditional and modern. The
Linz City Ring organizes regular store shopping evenings and Land-themed events
on a regular basis.
Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is 20% in Austria
which applies to supplies of goods or services registered in Austria, including
hotel and restaurant bills. There are no other special taxes.
Linz is a fairly safe place to visit. As always
when traveling, use common sense. Although
street crimes, burglaries, and petty thefts are not major concerns in Linz,
they occasionally happen. However, most of these situations can be avoided
using a few simple rules. Avoid carrying around large amounts of money or
looking extremely flashy. Drawing un-needed attention is never a good
idea. Lock all car doors and roll up windows and don`t leave valuables
behind in a car. Keep a close eye on valuables in crowded, public areas, as
these are the places where pickpockets generally operate.
In the case of an emergency while visiting Linz (or any of
Austria), from any phone, dial 133, for the police, and dial
144 for an ambulance. Or, dial 112 from
any mobile phone, as this is the European Mobile Emergency
number.
Landeskrankenhaus The Universitätklinik (University
Clinic) at the city’s main hospital has emergency services.
Euro-emergency number -
122
Police Emergency Number -
133
Ambulance / Medical Emergency - 144
Fire Department - 122