Austria · UPPER AUSTRIA TOURS
Good upper austria tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 8 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Board the MS Linzerin at the Wurm Noe dock for a 45-minute cruise through Linz Harbor. You’ll see ARS Electronica, Lentos, Linz Castle, Brucknerhaus, and working harbor areas from the water, with a short turn into a shipyard harbor and information over the loudspeaker.
You’ll travel by private vehicle from your Linz or Passau cruise port with a guide such as Carlos or Michael. Build your day around Salzburg’s old town, Sound of Music sites, Hallstatt, or the Eagles Nest. The nine-hour tour includes pickup, bottled water, and return to your ship, while entrance fees and meals cost extra.
“We were 4 couples traveling on a Viking cruise. We opted to book our own excursion to Salzburg and were thrilled that we did. Michael was the perfect guide. A few of us were long-time Sound of Music fans. He took us to several sites where parts of the movie were filmed. My personal favorite was seeing the landscape where the opening scene was shot. It was as breathtaking in person as on the big screen. To wander the streets where Mozart was raised, learn some of the history of Salzburg along with the back stories of the shooting of the Sound of Music was a day beyond my dreams.…”
Travel from Linz to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial in a private vehicle for up to eight people. You get pickup from Linz locations and a mobile audio guide for the camp, with about two hours on site. Personal guiding is not guaranteed, though guides such as Erika, Wolfgang, and Thomas have led some departures.
“I booked a tour for eight people. Very comfortable ride to and from this site to our river ship cruise docking location. Our driver got us into the site, got us established with audio guide equipment, but then said that he could not function as a guide. The audio guide to the 23 locations in the site worked fine, allowed my group to split up and cover areas of interest. The booking is for a comfortable ride to the site and entry with the audio equipment to listen to the recorded history of the camp. Do not expect a person to “guide” you through the camp.”
Walk Linz’s old town with a private English or German-speaking guide. See Hauptplatz, the Danube, Old Cathedral, New Cathedral, City Hall, Trinity Column, and Mozart’s Linz residence. Along the way, connect the city’s music, religion, architecture, and famous 1653 Linzer Torte in a compact two-hour tour.
Explore KTM Motohall in Upper Austria at your own pace with a one-day ticket covering the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Follow a motorcycle from first sketch to final product, trace KTM’s story, and watch a 360-degree motorsport video. English and German support is available, and the building is wheelchair accessible.
“Super activité! Sans aucun regret! Intuitif pour les grands comme les petits. Intéressant à faire. Personnel accueillant.”
Explore Linz with your own group on a smartphone-based city quest starting and ending at Brucknerhaus. Over about two and a half hours, you solve puzzles, crack codes, follow a map, and learn about three city landmarks. It is offered in English for up to six people, with no guide required.
“It was one of many activities which I planed to do on that day (it was my hasbund's B-Day and he likes such quests) it was quite fun and interesting BUT when it was difficult tasks tips which was given was not useful at all! Some historical facts was well known but there was some things which was new for us. Pre last task we still didn't solve and it would be nice if at the end of the sertain amount of time the right answer would come so we could make it till the end.... Not worth it that money unfortunately I would not recommend it to friends. But…”
Spend 30 minutes exploring Wilhering Abbey’s seven-room museum, then take your time in the rococo church, cloister, courtyard, and park. Learn about Cistercian life, the abbey’s major figures, and the ora et labora ideal. Admission costs $7, with café cakes, coffee, regional snacks, and monastery-shop goods nearby.
Travel from Linz to Cesky Krumlov in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking local driver. You get about four hours in town, time for the castle, gardens, cafes, museums, and river views, plus pickup at your chosen address. Castle admission and meals cost extra.
“Creaky Krumlov is an amazing town well worth visiting. Our driver got us to and from in good time and comfort. He was kind enough to detour to a small town near by where my father was born. Great day.”
Pick a palace, a mountain or a concert hall.
