Pöstlingbergbahn

The basics

Riding on the route’s line 50 train is a great way to see the city from different viewpoints, making it a popular feature on many city tours. Most tours include round-trip tickets up to Pöstlingberg—the highest point in the city—and back down again, and include the chance to visit the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary Basilica. Other highlights along the route include Zoo Linz and a seasonally operating outdoor photography display known as the Hartlauer Photo Gallery.

Things to know before you go

• A ride on the Pöstlingbergbahn is a must-do for history fans and anyone interested in trains.

• You can buy tickets from ticket machines at train stops or from the city's tourist information center on the Hauptplatz (main square).

• Linz Card holders can ride the rails for free.

• The train carriages have been modernized and are wheelchair accessible.

How to get there

The Pöstlingbergbahn’s line 50 train departs from the Linz/Donau Landgutstraße station on the northern banks of the Danube, about a 15- to 20-minute walk from the city center. Linz/Donau Landgutstraße is about 15 minutes from Linz's main railway station on tram line 1, 2, 3, or 4.

When to get there

The train runs daily from early morning until late at night (with a slightly later start time on Sundays). While the train runs throughout the year (unlike the Grottenbahn, which remains closed through most of the winter), the summer is the best time to visit, when the weather is warm. Just be prepared for crowds.

Board the dragon express

Easily the most whimsical attraction in Pöstlingberg, the Grottenbahn (German for Grotto Railway) takes visitors into a world of fairies and other ethereal beings. This ride aboard a dragon-headed train runs through a magical cave world that was first constructed in the early 20th century, choo-chooing its way past all sorts of charmingly nostalgic scenes from popular European fairy tales.