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Overview: Austria's third-largest city sports a bustling Old Town lined with 400-year-old Baroque facades. And, although its Roman origins date to A.D. 799, the city is hardly stuck in the past. Check out its cutting-edge architecture, including the riverfront Lentos Art Museum, which pulses with exterior colored lights at night. Even its 17th-century hilltop castle, now an expansive cultural history museum, has a contemporary glass and steel wing. That said, Linz honors its history. Watch for plaques in Old Town marking notable sites, such as where composers Wolfgang Mozart slept and Anton Bruckner studied.
This is a power-touring day on a Danube River cruise. In addition to its own appeal, Linz is a jumping-off port for day trips to places like Austria's Salzburg and the Czech Republic's Cesky Krumlov. It can be tough to pick just one!
Don't miss: Cesky Krumlov Castle located in the Czech Republic city of the same name. It's a full-day jaunt from Linz, but the castle and the town's well-preserved historic center are worth the trip, which is an included Viking tour. Another popular full-day tour from Linz is a day trip to Salzburg, Austria. (Cue "The Sound of Music" soundtrack.)
Independent Meanderings: Sinnesrauch -- roughly translated "sensory intoxication" -- is a seasonal art happening from late May to mid-October. It consists of a circuit of walkways, bridges and stairs studded with large-scale interactive exhibits. Bonus: a bird's-eye view of Linz.
Hidden gem: In Linz: Though you can't really call the futuristic Ars Electronica Center "hidden" -- especially at night when it's illuminated by 40,000 LED lights -- it is a gem. Situated on the north bank of the Danube across the bridge from where the ships dock, this cutting-edge venue poses serious questions like, "How do machines think?" And, yes, it'll make you think. But, mostly it's just fun, with interactive virtual reality displays and a mind-bending Deep Space 8K theater. Sounds fab.
Active Pursuits: In Cesky Krumlov, climbing the oft-steep steps of the castle's towers, offers an amazing view. You'll have earned a beer by the time you climb back down again!
Insider tip: Sample the city's namesake confection, the Linzer torte, a latticed-topped jam-filled pastry. The 400-year-old recipe claims fame as the world's first cake. That's because Linz's early history as a trade hub gave bakers access to necessary ingredients, such as spices from Asia. Sample the Linzer torte at Cafe Traxlmeyr (Promenade 16), a Viennese-style coffeehouse since 1847, or Konditorei Jindrak (Herrenstrasse 22). For a contemporary take on tradition, try Hofbackerei 2.0 (Hofgasse 3).
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