Essentials
- City
- Linz, Upper Austria, Austria
- Population
- 210,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available via LIWEST and A1)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD. Major banks: Sparkasse Oberösterreich, Raiffeisenlandesbank OÖ.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high mountain quality
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- A1, Magenta, Drei. Prepaid 'Klassik' SIMs from 10€ at shops like Hofer (Yesss!).
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, N26, and Erste Bank (George app) are highly popular.
- Accommodation
- Apartments via Willhaben.at, Airbnb, and short-term providers like limehome Linz.
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly, though some small 'Gasthäuser' may still prefer cash.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, booking.com, and limehome Linz (Kaisergasse/Schillerstraße).
- Budget Accommodation
- Jugendherberge Linz (Stanglhofweg 3) - Approx. 35€/night.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Altstadt (Old Town) and Landstraße for proximity to sights.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Urfahr (north of the Danube) or the Neustadt district near the Volksgarten.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Factory300 (Peter-Behrens-Platz 10) - Day pass approx. 25€.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Die Brühbar (Hafnerstraße 20) or Madame Kuchl (Altstadt).
- Networking Events
- Digital Days Linz and events at Grand Garage (Tabakfabrik).
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Linz Group and 'Expats in Linz' Facebook community.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited), Taxi 2244, or Taxi Linz 3344.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Citybike Linz (nextbike) - 1€ per 30 mins; TIER/Lime scooters.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Pleschinger See (swimming lake just outside the city).
- Top Regional Airline
- Austrian Airlines (via Vienna connection).
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Eurowings (Direct flights to Frankfurt/Düsseldorf from LNZ).
- Highway Access
- A7 (Mühlkreis Autobahn) and A1 (West Autobahn) connection.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Linz Hauptbahnhof (Main Station).
- Public Transport Passes
- Linz AG Linien. 24-hour pass: 6.00€; Monthly pass: 58€.
- Regional Travel
- ÖBB Railjet to Vienna (1h 15m) or Salzburg (1h 10m).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Kepler Universitätsklinikum (Med Campus III, Krankenhausstraße 9).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Place Linz (Landstraße 12).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- John Harris Fitness (Donaupark) - Premium facilities at approx. 90€/mo.
- Laundry Services
- Green & Clean Self-Service Laundry (Aubrunnerweg 11).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando.at and Foodora.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Linzer Torte (Almond pastry with redcurrant jam).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Front Food (Pfarrgasse 20) - Vegan fast food.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Konditorei Jindrak (Herrenstraße 22) - Original Linzer Torte.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Hofer, Lidl, and Penny Markt.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando.at, and Shpock.
- Grocery Delivery
- Billa Online Shop or Alfies (fast delivery).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Altstadt (Old Town) - Bars like Frau die Frauschaft or Chelsea Pub.
- Local Brewery
- Linzer Bier (Linzer Brauerei in the Tabakfabrik).
- Wine Bars
- Vinothek ignis (Hauptplatz 16).
- Street Food Stalls
- Leberkas-Pepi (Linz Hauptbahnhof or Rathausgasse).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Surace (Italian/Gelato) or many Kebab/Dürum spots on Landstraße.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ars Electronica Center, Lentos Kunstmuseum, Pöstlingbergbahn.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Schlossmuseum Linz and OK Center for Contemporary Art.
- Historical Sites
- Hauptplatz (Main Square) and the Old Cathedral (Alter Dom).
- Religious Sites
- Mariendom (New Cathedral) - Austria’s largest church.
- Annual Events
- Ars Electronica Festival (September), Pflasterspektakel (Street art festival, July).
- Cultural Districts
- Tabakfabrik Linz (Innovation hub and cultural venue).
- Theater Venues
- Musiktheater am Volksgarten (Modern opera house).
- Local Markets
- Südbahnhofmarkt (Open-air food market).
- Music Scene
- Posthof (Live music and culture center at the harbor).
- Street Art
- Mural Harbor (Huge graffiti gallery at the industrial port).
- Cooking Classes
- Haus am See (Workshops) or cook-it courses.
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Thiele or Die Kunstschaffenden.
- Historic Buildings
- Landhaus (Seat of the regional government).
- Local Heritage
- Steel production heritage (Voestalpine Stahlwelt museum).
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Pöstlingberg hill for city views and walking trails.
- National Parks Nearby
- Nationalpark Kalkalpen (Approx. 1 hour drive south).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Donauradweg (Danube Cycle Path) passing through the city.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Franz-Josefs-Warte or the rooftop of the OK Center (Voestalpine Path).
- Birdwatching Locations
- Traun-Donau-Auen nature reserve.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ spots at Donaustrand (Urfahr side).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Post AT, DHL, Hermes.
- Tech Repair Services
- Reparaturführer.at (directory) or McRepair in the city center.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Donaulände park.
- Language Classes
- WIFI OÖ or VHS Linz (Volkshochschule).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Wissensturm Linz (Huge library near the station).
- Community Centers
- Kulturzentrum Hof.
- Gaming Lounges
- Virtual Reality Cafe Linz.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Linz (Rainerstraße 2-4).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €208,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,900 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €156,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €288,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,600 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €216,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €360,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €272,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 23% (Reduced from 25% in 2024)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 27.5% (Kapitalertragsteuer)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 55% (on income over €1,000,000)
- VAT
- 20% (Standard), 10% (Food/Books), 13% (Hotels/Culture).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-compliant anti-tax avoidance rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Yes, Grundsteuer (based on assessed value).
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3.5% Real Estate Transfer Tax + 1.1% Land Register Registration Fee.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific 0% nomad visa; requires standard self-employment setup.