The BEST Places to Visit in Upper Austria: Discover Linz & Vitalwelt!

Looking for an authentic Austrian escape? You’ve come to the right place!

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to explore the city of Linz, and the nearby Vitalwelt region. Here we had the pleasure of exploring Austria’s third largest city, as well as the picturesque Austrian countryside.

Located in Upper Austria, Linz has a great mix of modern and Baroque, or of city life and nature. Vitalwelt is just 30 minutes by train, and it’s a great region to explore if you’re looking for a countryside escape, with amazing outdoors opportunities.

In this article I have outlined everything you need to know about visiting Linz and its surroundings. Starting with how to get there, where to stay, where to eat, and obviously the best things to do once there.

So what are you waiting for? Read on, and plan your perfect trip to Upper Austria!

About Linz

Located in Upper Austria, Linz is the third largest city in Austria, after Vienna and Graz. It’s nestled on the banks of the Danube River, and is a popular stop for river cruises.

It has a very picturesque Old Town, filled with Baroque architecture, as well as lots of green corners. But Linz isn’t just about history, it’s also a very modern and innovative city, which has gained it the title of UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts.

If you’re travelling from the UK, you can now fly to Linz directly from London Stansted, which makes it the perfect destination for a long weekend break.

About Vitalwelt

Vitalwelt is a small region, composed only of seven towns, but which is a true hidden gem, especially for all nature and wellness lovers. 

Here you will find idyllic countryside landscapes, with lush green orchards and quaint Austrian towns, as well as relaxing thermal spas and delicious local organic food.

There are loads of outdoors activities you can do here, from hiking and cycling to more adventurous ones like zip-line. It’s the perfect place to disconnect, spend time in nature and relax.

And the best part is that it’s just a 30-minute train away from Linz, so you can easily explore it during your Linz trip.

Want to see more of Linz and Vitalwelt? Check out my YouTube video about it!

Best things to do in Linz

Visit the Ars Electronica Centre

I’m a big fan of science museums, so I couldn’t have been happier to visit the Ars Electronica Centre in Linz. It’s known as the “Museum of the Future”, and it’s easy to see why.

The Ars Electronica Centre in Linz opened in 1996, and it’s a museum for media art and new technologies. It has lots of different exhibitions, where you can learn about AI, environmental systems, music and so much more.

One of the most noteworthy exhibitions is the “Deep Space 8K”, an immersive projection room with shows that change every time depending on the presenter.

Here you can fly through space, or admire the incredibly fine details of famous paintings from a very zoomed in perspective.

I also loved the AI exhibition, where you can learn about the methods used to train AI, and how different types of AI work.

Especially with the big buzz around AI right now, it was very interesting to learn about the science behind it, as well as its shortcomings.

Even if you’re not big on science museums, it’s an incredibly cool place, which you’re guaranteed to find interesting. You could easily spend a whole morning or afternoon exploring it.

Enjoy the view from Pöstlingberg

From the Linz city centre you can jump onboard the Pöstlingbergbahn, a vintage historic tram that will take you to the top of Pöstlingberg, a hill with beautiful sweeping views over Linz.

The tram journey itself is part of the experience, with historical carriages and picturesque snapshots over Linz as you climb up the hill. Once you reach the top, besides the view, there are other attractions.

Amongst them is the Pilgrimage Basilica, called the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. You can admire the unique interiors or the picturesque exterior architecture.

There is also the Dragon Express, a train journey targeted at children and families, which will take you through the Grottenbahn, the home of dwarves. It’s a themed train journey through a cave with fairytale decorations.

So whether you climb up Pöstlingberg for the view, the church or to enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants up there, it’s a great place to explore and spend some time.

Explore the Old Town

Linz has a beautiful Old Town, with historic buildings, unique architecture, plenty of shops and spacious pedestrian walking areas. 

Here you’ll also find Mariendom, the New Cathedral, which is actually the largest church in Austria. It’s a Neo-Gothic cathedral, with tall spires and stained glass windows.

From there it’s a short walk over to the main town square, with its restaurants, shopping promenades and Baroque architecture. It’s a great place to walk around for a while and take in the atmosphere of the city.

Relax at die Sandburg

Die Sandburg is a riverside beach bar located on the shore of the Danube River. Stepping inside feels like walking out of a city and into a beach bar, with sand and sunbeds to match the mood!

Locals come here to enjoy the good weather, and sip a drink while watching the sun go down over the Danube. They also have events all throughout the summer, like salsa nights and Zumba workouts.

After a long day walking around and exploring Linz, it’s the perfect place to visit to wind down, while still enjoying the unique atmosphere and vibe in Linz.

Go on a cruise on the Danube River

Linz is a very popular stop amongst Danube River cruises, and it’s easy to see why. If you’re staying in Linz you won’t have the full overnight cruise experience, but it’s still worth joining a boat tour along the Danube.

You can join a 45 minute cruise on the “MS Linzerin”, a ship that will take you past the Ars Electronica Centre, the Linz town centre and many other gorgeous sights. You just have to sit back on the top deck, relax and enjoy the views.

Watching the city cruise past, with the beautiful green hills surrounding it is pretty beautiful.

Enjoy the local cuisine

Linz has a very wide gastronomy offering. From traditional Austrian restaurants offering local products to innovative restaurants offering fusion dishes, in Linz you’ll find something for every taste.

One of the restaurants we tried in Linz is called “Lentos”, and is located right on the shores of the Danube. Here we had some delicious Mediterranean style dishes, with sweeping views over the river.

Another must eat while in Linz is the famous “Linzer Torte”. It’s a sweet cake with fruit filling and strips of dough on top. It’s even considered one of the oldest cakes named after a city!

Best things to do in Vitalwelt

From Linz we hopped on a train, and after 30 minutes arrived in Bad Schallerbach, one of the main towns in the Vitalwelt region. If you want to get out of the city and explore the Austrian countryside, it’s a great place to do so.

Go cycling

Vitalwelt is famous to over 300km of cycling paths, so going cycling amongst the Austrian countryside is a must-do activity while here.

We rented e-bikes from the tourist office in Bad Schallerbach, and did the “From Cure Park to Nature Park” cycling route.

It’s an easy 35km route with minimal incline (much easier than when we went cycling in St Anton in summer!), which takes you through rolling hills, lush fruit orchards and cute Austrian towns.

Part of the trail is in the Obst-Hügel-Land Nature Park, where you can admire the natural diversity of the region. It’s also very easy to follow, as there are signs all along the trail, so you won’t get lost.

This route could be done in 2-3 hours, but believe me when I say, it will take you longer. It’s just so beautiful that you will want to stop for photos and to enjoy the view at every corner.

We really enjoyed cycling this route, as it gave us a great introduction to the natural beauty of the area.

Relax at Eurotherme Resort Bad Schallerbach

Bad Schallerbach is home to Eurotherme, a massive thermal spa and water park. Depending on your mood, it can be both a very fun or relaxing place to spend an afternoon.

There are three spa areas inside Eurotherme Resort; Aquapulco, Tropicana and the AusZeit sauna village.

Aquapulco is primarily aimed at families. It’s pirate world themed, and is home to lots of fun slides and games for children, as well as a wave pool. Part of it is outdoors, with lots of sunbeds for parents to relax as the kids play.

Tropicana is a Caribbean-style spa world, with both an indoor and outdoors section. Here you will find palm trees, thermal water at 35°C, pool bars and an overall tropical atmosphere.

AusZeit is designed as an exclusive sauna mountain village. In this area there are over 40 sauna and relaxation attractions, as well as time specific events like Mostfassi infusions, where besides the sauna ritual, you also get to taste regional delicacies.

Just bear in mind that in AusZeit, like all Austrian saunas, you will be expected to be naked, not in a swimsuit. It’s part of the Austrian experience!

Relaxing on the sunbeds, soaking in the hot thermal water and enjoying a few fun waterslides was the perfect activity after the long 35km cycle we did in the morning.

Hike the Path of the Senses

There are around forty hiking trails in Vitalwelt, which will take you amongst forest paths, picturesque meadows, quaint Austrian villages and scenic hilly landscapes.

Going on a hike is one of the best ways to explore the incredible scenery of Vitalwelt. During our trip we did the “Path of the Senses” hike.

This is a 3.5km circular hike, which has interactive themed stations dotted throughout it. These stations are designed to engage the five senses; sight, hearing, touch and smell.

The trail itself is beautiful. You start by walking through the forest, surrounded by tall beech trees, and will reach the top of Waldschenke, from which you get incredible views across the Austrian countryside.

But besides the stunning natural beauty of the hike, the interactive stations make it even more fun, especially if you’re hiking with children. They’re all designed to make you stop, perform an activity, and further appreciate your surroundings.

Do the Forest High Ropes Course at GoRuck

During your Path of the Senses hike you will arrive at GoRuck, a zip-line and high ropes course built on the treetops. It’s a very fun activity, for children and adults alike.

When you first arrive you will be given your harness and receive an introduction and safety demonstration. Once that part is over, you’re ready to tackle the seven different levels of GoRuck!

Each level includes a variety of different courses. You can expect plenty of zip-lines, but you will also be scrambling and climbing across the trees. Some of the courses include things like sky surf, swings, climbing across nets, balance boards and more.

It’s very varied and great fun. The levels progressively increase in difficulty, and I have to admit that the final one was so hard I couldn’t do it, I just zip-lined across while trying to not crash into the obstacles.

It can take up to three hours to do all the courses, so make sure to plan accordingly. It’s a great way to get closer to nature, while also doing a very entertaining activity.

Eat your way around Vitalwelt

Austria has a big focus on sustainability and local food production, and this is very visible also in Vitalwelt. Here are some of the places we had the pleasure of eating at while in Vitalwelt.

Hofzeit Rottenbach

We loved our meal at Hofzeit Rottenbach because it’s so much more than just a restaurant. It’s an innovative community project by 12 families, which serve a brunch buffet on weekends.

They specialise in sustainable food production, and all the food you will eat comes from the nearby farms. They also have an aquaponics facility on site, which you can tour to learn how the closed ecological cycle between fish and vegetables works.

Here we tried a variety of regional products like cured meats, cured fish, cheeses, hot dishes and various desserts.

Grieskirchen Farmers Market

Every Saturday, in the town centre of Grieskirchen, you will find the local farmers market. It’s a great place to purchase fresh regional products and local delicacies directly from local farmers and producers.

It takes place just outside the cathedral, and under the famous Grieskirchen Net, an impressive artwork by Maria Treml, which represents the symbolic link between old and new.

The market itself isn’t massive, but there is a lot of variety in the stalls, and you can find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses, meats, bakery products, fish, milk, eggs and more.

Malznerhof Cafe Das Bio

We ate here after our 35km cycle tour and loved it. They have a lovely outdoors seating area in the shade, perfect for resting after our long cycle, as well as a big interior area too.

It’s a vegetarian cafe, which serves only organic and homemade dishes. My boyfriend Ale rated it as the best vegetarian food he’s ever had, and he’s not wrong!

Each dish was creative, colourful and delicious, and knowing it’s all organic and local made it even better. They also have a small shop where you can purchase regional products.

Mostheuriger “Am Hochfeld”

“Am Hochfeld” is a traditional Austrian cider tavern, where they serve regional culinary specialties sourced from small local producers. Here you can taste delicious platters with lots of varieties of cured meats and cheeses.

It’s located on the top of a hill just outside Bad Schallerbach, and has beautiful sweeping views over the countryside. The tavern itself also has a very rustic chic interior, which paired to the incredible views, makes for a gorgeous setting.

Restaurant Grünes Türl 

Set in the stylish Grünes Türl Hotel, this restaurant serves lots of delicious regional dishes. Here we got to try a typical schnitzel, and it was super tasty.

Where to stay in Linz

In Linz we stayed at “Schwarzer Bär”, a really cool modern hotel located in the heart of the Linz Old Town. It has a rooftop bar with views over the city, as well as a delicious breakfast buffet.

Where to stay in Vitalwelt

During our time in Vitalwelt we stayed at Parkhotel Stroissmüller in Bad Schallerbach. It’s a 4-star wellness hotel located right in the centre of town.

It has spacious rooms, a huge thermal pool, with both an indoors and outdoors area, a lovely garden, and a delicious breakfast spread.

Final thoughts on exploring Linz and the Vitalwelt region in Upper Austria

That’s a wrap on the best things to do in Upper Austria! Have you been to Linz and its surrounding regions before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ve been to Austria multiple times, both to explore cities like Innsbruck and the natural landscapes, like when I went skiing in the Alps, and I have to say that Upper Austria is amongst my favourite places in Austria.

There’s a peaceful beauty to the rolling green hills of Vitalwelt’s countryside, and Linz has a very lively atmosphere that is hard to match.

Combining a city escape to Linz with a bit of a nature and wellness escape to Vitalwelt makes for the perfect getaway. From innovative science museums to cycling amongst orchards, Upper Austria has it all.

I hope you enjoyed my guide about exploring Linz and the Vitalwelt, and that it will help you make the most of your time in Upper Austria. If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

* This post was brought to you as a result of the Linz & Upper Austria project in partnership with the Austrian Tourism Board. Greta’s Travels maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. *

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