Munich to Linz by train or other cheap transport

Hello, I would like to head to Linz in late November (from Munich) and was wondering if someone could suggest the best way to do this i.e is the train (if so, which one) the best mode of transport to get me there quickly and reasonably cheaply?

Having never been there before I would also appreciate suggestions for a hotel and/or things to do?

kind regards,

I haven't actually been in Linz itself, but went to Vienna the other week and the train stopped there, your best bet would be to check the DB website or go to their desk in Hauptbahnhof. We just bought our tickets at the desks in both Munich and Vienna and going there was alot more expensive because we went with ICE to Vienna, on the way back it was a good bit cheaper because we came on an Austrian railway and I actually thought that one was a bit better.

Good luck

Oh yeah I forgot to add..for hotels try www.hotel.de. I always book through them and have never had a problem, the website is also in English and they give plenty of information about the hotels location and distance from transport, sights, etc.

I'd agree about hotel.de, I always use them

Just go to the DB website and book your tickets, prices start at just €19 one-way on a German ICE or an Austrian RailJet. I don't have any hotel recommendations because I've never found enough to do in Linz to justify staying overnight, but the hotel booking sites all have fairly reliable customer feedback scores and you should get a good rate at a business hotel if you're going at the weekend.

The only "must-do" that I can think of in Linz is to go to Bäckerei Hofmann on Landstrasse and buy a piece of Linzer Torte.

Things to do in Linz? I spent a fine winter's day there a couple of years back while visiting a friend in Upper Austria. In my ignorance I'd associated the town's name with the chocolate brand Lindt and imagined a pretty little alpine town surrounded by valleys and nature.

This mistake became apparent shortly after leaving the hauptbahnhof - not the most charming first impression. Wondered up through the city centre (-10 points), found the german market and had some mulled wine (+20 points), walked around this ugly city some more (-10 points), froze my nuts off (-10 points, x2), went and sat in a restaurant (pizza was okay, +10 points) and called my friend to tell him to hurry the hell up so I could escape. Back to the train station and freedom again! Won't be going back in a hurry.

Just checked on google maps though and they have a Sex-O-drom (Europas groesster Erotiktempel!), so maybe I could have spent my time there more enjoyably.

Also, if you're a fan of chemical industry, you're laughing mate...

I mentioned that there's a train station, right?

Linz is a bit of a joke among the Austrians because they consider it to be very provincial. And that's coming from the Austrians. There'd have to be a very good reason to get off there rather than carrying on an extra hour on the train to Vienna, which is the jewel of central Europe.

Linz is however the 2009 European Capital of Culture, so maybe that's why the OP is planning a visit there.

That's what they said about Liverpool....!

Thanks for the heads up TTers. So I gather its a bit of shit hole - if it wasn't for a certain singer from Belgium performing there I'd probably never make the trip, but I'm currently in love with Milow so I'm doing it all for him - lets just hope I can get tickets to the show or else I'm stuck there and will quite clearly be wasting a night of my life.

andyandy - thanks for the laugh

cheers all.

The train to Vienna costs the same as to Linz, if you fancy seeing him/her/them there instead...

I actually find the centre of Linz fairly attractive, but the outskirts and surrounding regions are VERY industrialised.

Just another suggestion. Vienna is great if you felt like going there instead. Loads to see and do, we were only there for a weekend and done loads but it still wasn't enough time, the shopping is brilliant and food/drink are a bit more expensive than Munich but not excessively. Definitely a place worth visiting.