Hanging Around
There is no cruise terminal, but downtown Linz is simply walkable (or cyclable) from the Donaupark where you’re docked. It really is a gentle 10-minute stroll into the Hauptplatz (main square), exactly where there are banks and ATMs. The tourist data center is here, as properly. (Hauptplatz 1, 4020 Linz, Austria +43 732 7070 2009 open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Many river cruise ships offer totally free Wi-Fi onboard as do several cafes in Linz.
If you decide to stick about in Linz and want to see some of the sights, a Linz Card (www.linztourismus.at/linzcard/) is available from the tourist information center on the Hauptplatz. The City Ticket will gain you access to numerous of the city’s attractions for one price tag (about €20 per particular person), and you’ll get a restaurant voucher, to boot. On the “for cost-free” list are a number of museums, and there are discounted entries to a number of other spots like the Botanical Gardens. (Roseggerstrasse 20-22, Linz open 8 a.m. to dusk, day-to-day, closed from December 24 by way of January 6) A sightseeing tour of the city on the Linz City Express Train is also incorporated.
One particular of the leading two architectural stops in Linz is Linz Castle and its museum. (Schlossberg 1, Linz open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, till 9 p.m. Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday) A castle was very first documented on the website as early as the eighth century. The current castle was built in 1477 by Emperor Friedrich III, went by way of various redesigns and expansions, and was restored following World War II. It contains permanent art exhibitions, showcasing the region’s art from the Middle Ages to the present day as effectively as weaponry and other collections.
The other architectural draw is the Mariendom, also known as the Neuer Dom (New Cathedral), the biggest church in Austria. (Herrenstrasse 26, Linz open Monday to Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Building on the New Cathedral started in the mid-19th century and the church was completed in 1924. In addition to a stadium-like capacity of 20,000, the church is a neo-Gothic wonder of soaring spires, buttresses and stained-glass windows.
Do not Miss
Due to the fact of its historic importance in the salt trade (both the city and the river operating by means of it get their names from the seasoning), Salzburg has long managed to incorporate both sophistication and classic regional culture. Referred to as the “Rome of the North,” Salzburg’s powerful rulers, the Catholic Prince-Archbishops, brought baroque architecture to Salzburg from Italy in the 17th century. And given its proximity to southern Germany, Salzburg’s culture has robust Bavarian ties. The most celebrated historical achievement of Salzburg, nevertheless, is its music, and in particular the symphonies, concertos and soaring strings of the city’s prodigal son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Mozarts Geburtshaus: Mozart is the city’s main draw, and not just 1, but two museums commemorate his early life in Salzburg just before he left for Vienna. This specific museum celebrating the youngster prodigy’s early years from his birth in 1756 until the loved ones moved when he was 17 is tough to miss. Painted in bright yellow and adorned with the German “Mozarts Geburtshaus” (Mozart’s birth residence) in golden letters, the museum includes portraits, instruments — such as his toddler-sized violin — and other individual effects. (Getreidegasse 9, Salzburg open each day from 9 a.m. to five:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in July and August, + 43-662-84 43 13)
Mozart-Wohnhaus: Regarded as the much more comprehensive of the two Mozart museums, this home was the Mozart household residence from 1773 to1787. Mozart lived here till the age of 25, when he moved to Vienna. The residence houses scores and portraits as nicely as Mozart’s original pianoforte. (Makartplatz eight, Salzburg open everyday form 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in July and August)
Festung Hohensalzburg: The Hohensalzburg Fortress (Monchsberg 34, Salzburg January via April and October to December: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Might through September: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Advent weekends and Easter: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., December 24, final entrance at two p.m.) constructed in 1077 by Prince Archbishop Gebhard is one particular of the largest medieval castles in Europe. Set atop Monchsberg Hill, the castle dominates the city skyline with its position and bulk — it is large sufficient to hold a neighborhood of 1,000 and engineered so that it can be self sufficient if needed. The fortress never ever in fact faced an attack, even though regional peasants unsuccessfully laid siege to the spot in 1525. The castle is walkable, and the views from the hill and the castle’s ramparts are the greatest in the city. There is effortless access by means of a funicular railway, referred to as the Festungsbahn. (Festungsgasse 4, Salzburg 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October by means of April, 9 a.m.to eight p.m. Might, June and September, 9 a.m. to ten p.m. July by way of August)
Schloss Mirabell and Gardens: The Mirabell Palace and Gardens need to look familiar to “The Sound of Music” enthusiasts as the spot where Julie Andrews’ Maria and her von Trapp youngsters bounced up and down the steps, singing the classic “Do-Re-Mi” song from the musical. Constructed about 1606, the palace itself was an ode of sorts from Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau to his mistress Salome Alt. It was redesigned in the baroque style in the 18th century and severely damaged by Salzburg’s excellent fire of 1818. The palace is now home to the town’s municipal offices, and the palace’s Marble Hall plays host to hundreds of weddings each and every year. The beautiful Mirabell Gardens date from about 1690, with style flourishes — the Pegasus Fountain, for example — added as lately as the 20th century. Emperor Franz Joseph I opened the gardens to the public in 1854.
Sound of Music Tour: There is no shortage of options and events trading on the reputation of “The Sound of Music,” and you can pay for a tour that will take you to some of the locations featured in the 1965 film adaptation of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical. You can make your personal self-guided tour, even so, by just selecting and choosing from some of the sights. A great location to start off is the Mirabell Gardens, described above. Behind the Hohensalzburg Castle, there is a path to the Nonnberg Benedictine Abbey that was used as Maria’s nunnery in the film (Nonnberggasse two, Salzburg open 7 a.m. to dusk, day-to-day) Continuing down Nonnberggasse to the Almgasse and by way of the park-like lands under Monchsberg Hill, walking down Leopoldskroner Allee will bring you to Schloss Leopoldskron, a rococo palace set on a lake. The setting need to look familiar, and the grounds had been a single of the principal exterior locations for the film even though the palace itself is not the von Trapp villa. The Villa Trapp, in fact, is across the river and outdoors the old town, really a extended way away.
Receiving Around
On foot: It’s a quick, approximately ten-minute stroll up a green, rolling bank into Linz’s Hauptplatz, or Major Square.
By bike: The commute into Linz is even shorter if your river cruise ship delivers bicycles for use. You can easily get about and see the town’s sights in an hour or so.
Taxi: As ships dock alongside a public park, if you’d like to take a taxi, it really is very best to have the ship’s front desk make the arrangements for you.
Bus: Shore excursion options from Linz to Salzburg or the Austrian Lake District will be by way of bus transfer, in most circumstances. It’s about two hours to Salzburg the Lake District is slightly shorter.
Train: Linz does have a train station, and there are trains to Salzburg from Linz. The trip takes about an hour, but with the location of the station in Linz getting a 20 to 30 minute stroll from the docking spot, and the station in Salzburg getting in the new town rather than the tourist draw of the old town, you’re almost certainly far better off taking the bus tour provided by the cruise line.
Lunching
Austrian food is a varied affair, having been shaped more than a number of centuries with a multitude of cultural influences. The Bavarian influence is heavily felt in Upper Austria, where dumplings, krauts (pickled vegetables), meat, potatoes, salads and fish dishes are the tradition. Linzertorte is a popular dessert cake from Linz, and Salzburg is known for its Kasnocken (cheese dumplings) and Salzburger nockerl (a meringue-like dessert). Other properly-known standard Viennese-Austrian offerings include wiener schnitzel (breaded veal) and apfelstrudel (apple strudel pastry). And of course, the national drinks are very a lot beer, schnapps and the Wachau Valley white wines. In Upper Austria, there is also an uncarbonated cider recognized as Most (or apfelwein).
Salzburg has no shortage of lovely cafes, and you won’t struggle to discover good meals right here, but right here are a handful of of our best recommendations.
Augustiner Braustubl: The Augustine Brewery at Mulln has been Salzburg’s residence for gemutlichkeit (warmth, friendliness, and very good cheer) for ages. Founded by monks in 1621, the brewery continues to brew craft beer in wooden barrels and serve it up to patrons in large (and bigger) ceramic steins. On nice days, the beer garden is a excellent location to sit below the chestnut trees and get pleasure from a variety of food from the onsite meals stalls supplying meats, salads, pickled vegetables and fish dishes. The food is affordable and the beer is tasty. It is all self-service, and the picnic tables are shared, so you are going to be positive to make new pals although you’re right here. (Lindhofstrasse 7, 5020 Salzburg +43 662 431246 open every day from three p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 2:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. hot meals served until ten p.m.)
Magazin: Not far from the easygoing brewery is a far far more chic and refined affair called Magazin. If you’re seeking for gourmet, go there. The menus and the components are seasonal, and the restaurant has an huge choice of wines on hand. You can consume indoors in the contemporary, industrial space or outside in a courtyard at the foot of Monchsberg’s sheer rock wall. Menus are a la carte, but there are also tasting menus obtainable. (Auginergasse 13a, Salzburg +43 662 84 15 84 open ten a.m. until midnight, Monday by way of Saturday)
M32: An additional chic affair, this modern day fusion restaurant and coffee bar gives some of the very best views in the city. One more perk? You can get a two-course lunch for about 15 euros — a bargain compared to the price tag of the mains or 5-course dinners. Menus are seasonal and components are regional and organic when obtainable. The restaurant is all glass walls top out to a terrace that looks out more than Salzburg and Alpine peaks beyond. (Monchsberg 32, Salzburg +43 662 84 ten 00 open 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., Tuesday via Sunday).
Exactly where You’re Docked
Cruise ships dock alongside a riverside park in Linz called Donaupark, just a short stroll or cycle ride from the Hauptplatz (city center).
Watch Out For
Linz is very protected, particularly in the main tourist locations, but as you would in any sizable city, beware of pickpockets, and constantly preserve your belongings protected. Taking a handful of widespread sense precautions ought to be all you need to have to do to stay secure. Keep away from carrying about big amounts of funds or wearing flashy jewelry. Maintain a close eye on valuables in crowded, public places, as these are the areas where pickpockets usually operate.
Emergency phone numbers in Linz (or anywhere in Austria) are: 133 for the police, 122 for the fire division and 144 for an ambulance. The European Mobile Emergency quantity is 112 from any mobile telephone.
Currency & Greatest Way to Get Money
As a component of the European Union, Austria uses the euro. Go to oanda.com for up-to-the-minute exchange prices. Oanda also has a nice “cheat sheet” conversion chart that fits neatly into a wallet.
ATMs, readily accessible all through Linz and Salzburg, tend to be the least pricey way to get local currency as well as the easiest, provided that a lot of are open 24 hours. Banking hours vary, but most banks in Austria will be open amongst 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and amongst 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, with some staying open later. As in any city, there are currency exchange offices that charge a commission for transactions. All key credit cards are accepted.
Language
German is the regional language, but English is extensively understood and spoken in considerably of Austria. A few handy phrases in German will often enamor you to the locals, although, so attempt these:
Hello: Hallo (HAL-oh) or Gruss Gott (GROOS got)
Excellent afternoon: Guten Tag (GOO-ten tahg)
Please / Thank you: Bitte / Danke (BIT-tuh / DAHN-kuh)
Yes / No: Ja / Nein (yah / nine)
Excuse me: Entschuldigen Sie (ent-SHOOL-de-gen zee)
Beer: Bier (beer)
Best Souvenir
As the a lot more frequented tourist location, Salzburg offers a lot more in the way of souvenirs than Linz, although there is purchasing to be located in Linz, which includes jewelry and Austrian porcelain. Linz’s ideal-recognized food solution could be its eponymously named torte. The Linzertorte is a delicious, crumbly, latticework pastry with ground hazelnuts in the base and filled with fruit jam. It’s frequently served throughout the Christmas vacation season.
Speaking of sweets, a single of Salzburg’s best known is Mozartkugeln: modest chocolate and pistachio marzipan balls originally created in Salzburg in 1890 by the Furst organization. Mozartkugeln sold from market place stalls or in souvenir shops are often overpriced and you can usually discover them for a much better price in supermarkets.
Other non-Mozart souvenirs from Salzburg consist of hand-painted Christmas egg ornaments and other Christmas decorations from a distinctive (and significantly-loved) shop known as Christmas in Salzburg. (Judengasse 11, Salzburg 5020, Austria +43 662 846784)
Ideal Cocktail
You will locate no shortage of beer in Austria, and the white wines — especially the Gruner Veltliner and Riesling varietals of the Wachau Valley in Lower Austria — are good, as well. In Upper Austria, exactly where Linz and Salzburg are located, the regional classic is known as Most, a non-carbonated cider. Austria is also recognized for its schnapps — distilled fruit liquor. Schnapps is frequently drunk after a meal as a digestif. Be cautious, it really is strong.
For More Details
On the Net: Linz Tourism and Salzburg Tourism
Cruise Critic Message Boards: River Cruise Ports
IndependentTraveler.com: Europe Travel Guide
–By Jamey Bergman, Editor
The rooftops of San Sebastian del Oest, a tiny town in the Sierra Madre Mountain. Photo Credit: Wikipedia 
