Where to stay in Linz
Linz is usually seen in a single day between Vienna and Salzburg, so where to sleep comes down to two questions: whether to stay at all, and if so, near the square or near the station.
- Who stays at all
- Anyone splitting the trip over two days
- Hostel
- €37–58 for a dorm bed
- 3-star hotel
- €37–41 per person in a twin room
Linz has no district chosen for a riverside view or an evening out. The usual question is simply whether the trip stops here overnight at all, or the city stays a one-day stop between Vienna and Salzburg. Anyone who does stay picks between the old town around the Hauptplatz, everything on foot, and the area near the Hauptbahnhof, more practical for an early train the next morning.
The old town, around the Hauptplatz
Everything in the one-day plan — the Hauptplatz, the Mariendom, the Ars Electronica Center across the bridge — sits within half a kilometre. Anyone staying here doesn't wait for a tram in the morning, just steps outside; the drawback is the same as in most old towns, narrower streets and, in older buildings, sometimes no lift.
Near the Hauptbahnhof
The station is 1.8 kilometres from the Hauptplatz in a straight line, with trains onward to Vienna and Salzburg. Staying here makes sense for a late arrival or an early departure; the same tram down the Landstraße reaches the centre as from the airport.
Whether to stay overnight at all
The city tour itself fits into 1 day, no overnight needed — anyone moving on the same day just leaves a bag at the station. Staying makes sense when the trip is split over two days, or when the onward train doesn't leave until the next morning.
- Check a 'central' address on the map. The old town is small; a few hundred metres beyond it is no longer within the walkable core.
- An early train wants to be near the station. The tram down the Landstraße runs the same timetable through the day, but early departures are less frequent.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Is it worth staying overnight in Linz at all?
Only if the trip is split over two days or the onward train doesn't leave until morning. The city tour itself fits into 1 day.
Which part of town sits closer to the sights?
The old town around the Hauptplatz — everything from the one-day plan is within half a kilometre.
How much does a bed cost in Linz?
€37–58 for a dorm, €37–41 per person for a 3-star hotel.
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