← Linz Donau Marathon·Day trip

Pöstlingberg by Tram: A Seated Monday Above Linz

A mountain tram lifts you from the finish square to the hill above Linz, with a pilgrimage church, a long view over the Danube and no climbing at all.

DurationDay trip
TransitTram 50 (Pöstlingbergbahn) from Hauptplatz
DepartsLinz Hauptplatz

After the Linz Donau Marathon: Pöstlingberg

The Route: Linz Hauptplatz → Pöstlingberg (tram 50) → Linz Hauptplatz Logistics: Tram 50 leaves from Hauptplatz, the square where the race finishes. Return ticket about €9. Check the current timetable. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Hauptplatz (finish square) ──(tram 50, uphill)──> Pöstlingberg
          ▲                                              │
          └──────────(tram 50, downhill)─────────────────┘

You crossed the line on Hauptplatz on Sunday, probably around lunchtime, and the Monday question is stairs. Everything in Linz that looks interesting seems to involve some. The Pöstlingberg tram is the answer. It starts from the same square, it carries you up the hill above the Danube on a seat, and the only decision it asks for is which side to sit on.

April in Linz: the 1991 to 2020 April normal at Linz is a mean daily minimum of 6.4°C and a mean daily maximum of 16.7°C, with about 51 mm of rain across the month. The hill is a little cooler and a little windier than the river. Bring a jacket, and a dry top if the cloud is low.

Getting there

Tram 50 departs from Hauptplatz. On a normal Monday to Saturday timetable the first uphill tram leaves at 06:00 and the service runs about every half hour, with Sundays starting at 07:30. A return ticket cost about €9 at the time of writing. Public transport in Linz was free on race day with the bib, but that applies to the Sunday only, so buy a ticket on the Monday. Confirm the current timetable and fare at linzag.at before you leave the hotel.

The day

Sit at the front or the back of the tram, since the line is steep enough that the view is the reason to be there. At the top, the Pöstlingberg pilgrimage church is the landmark you can see from much of Linz, a Baroque building with two towers. Go inside and sit down.

The terrace in front of the church looks out over the city and the Danube valley. Walk along the level paths near the top and stop before the ground starts to fall away. Your quadriceps have done their downhill work for the weekend. A descent on foot is the one thing to avoid, so keep your return ticket for the tram.

Ask at the top station about lunch options, and check opening hours before you commit.

If you want something flat for the afternoon, ride back down and spend an hour at the StifterHaus, the house where Adalbert Stifter lived from 1848 to 1868 and which now holds a literary museum in his former second-floor dwelling. Check opening hours and lift access at stifterhaus.at before you go. The Lentos Kunstmuseum on the riverbank is closed on Mondays, so keep it for a Tuesday if you are staying on.

Where to stay

If you are still in Linz, the Motel One Linz-Hauptplatz and the Austria Classic Hotel Wolfinger both place themselves on Hauptplatz, which makes the tram stop a short, flat walk from the front door. Check availability and breakfast hours for your dates.

Getting home

Tram 50 runs back to Hauptplatz. From there, bus 601 reaches Linz Airport in about 22 minutes from the main station, at about €4.40 for an adult. Check the Monday timetable at linz-airport.com the evening before.