Start with the essentials
Plan Upper Austria at a glance
- Best for
- Linz culture and Danube routes
- Suggested time
- 2 to 5 days
- Main connection
- Linz Hauptbahnhof
About Upper Austria
Why explore Upper Austria
Linz is the state capital and the easiest rail base. The Salzkammergut begins farther south, but the full lake region crosses into Salzburg and Styria and is treated separately on this site.
A short stay should focus on Linz and one nearby excursion. Reaching Hallstatt or several lake towns needs a separate connection plan rather than a casual city add-on.
Plan the region
Linz is the state capital and the easiest rail base. The Salzkammergut begins farther south, but the full lake region crosses into Salzburg and Styria and is treated separately on this site.
Choose where to spend your time
Places to explore
2 guides
Linz
Linz is an Upper Austrian Danube city where a large historic square sits close to contemporary museums and industrial heritage.
Open guide
Mauthausen Memorial
Mauthausen Memorial preserves the former concentration camp and documents the people imprisoned and murdered there through the historic site, exhibitions and archive.
Open guideBuild a coherent route
Plan by area
Linz
Linz is an Upper Austrian Danube city where a large historic square sits close to contemporary museums and industrial heritage.
Mauthausen Memorial
Mauthausen Memorial preserves the former concentration camp and documents the people imprisoned and murdered there through the historic site, exhibitions and archive.
See the main travel bases
See the main places in Upper Austria
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Use the map to compare the main bases before planning local transport.
Match the route to your time
What fits into your trip
A practical first visit
Linz is the state capital and the easiest rail base. The Salzkammergut begins farther south, but the full lake region crosses into Salzburg and Styria and is treated separately on this site.
Link the stops sensibly
Routes and day trips
Linz combines a large historic square, riverside museums and contemporary culture within a compact central route.
Suggested regional routes
Linz
Hauptplatz and the old centre provide a compact starting point, while the Danube divides major cultural sites between its banks. Ars Electronica Center and Lentos have different collections and deserve separate time.
Open destination guideMauthausen Memorial
Mauthausen Memorial preserves the former concentration camp and documents the people imprisoned and murdered there through the historic site, exhibitions and archive.
Open destination guideChoose transport by destination
Getting around Upper Austria
Upper Austria contains much of the Salzkammergut, but not all of it. Use the cross-state guide for the complete region.
Suggested time
2 to 5 days
Main connection
Linz Hauptbahnhof
Choose dates that suit the route
When to visit
Choose a lake base before booking. Hallstatt, Bad Ischl and Wolfgangsee use different onward connections.
Read the seasonal guide for AustriaAvoid common route problems
Planning checks
How long should I spend in Upper Austria?
Two days cover central Linz. Add two or three days for a separate lake-region base.
Can I explore Upper Austria without a car?
Linz and main rail corridors are easy without a car. Some lake villages need bus or boat connections after the train.
What should I check before travelling through Upper Austria?
Confirm the dated transport, opening information and conditions for the exact places in the route.
Quick answers
Questions about Upper Austria
How long should I spend in Upper Austria?
Two days cover central Linz. Add two or three days for a separate lake-region base.
Can I explore Upper Austria without a car?
Linz and main rail corridors are easy without a car. Some lake villages need bus or boat connections after the train.
What should I check before travelling through Upper Austria?
Confirm the dated transport, opening information and conditions for the exact places in the route.
How this guide is checked
Sources and review
Reviewed 3 September 2026, next review due 3 March 2027. Services, access rules and opening arrangements can change, so check the official source before travel.
- Official Austria travel information, Austrian National Tourist Office
- Austrian rail timetable and service updates, ÖBB
- Official Salzkammergut visitor information, Salzkammergut Tourism
- Official Linz visitor information, Linz Tourism
- Official Upper Austria visitor information, Upper Austria Tourism
Continue through Austria
Regions that connect naturally
Salzkammergut
The Salzkammergut is a cross-state lake and mountain region covering parts of Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria.
Continue planning
See more of Austria
Use the country guide to compare Upper Austria with other regions and destinations in Austria.