Linz, the capital of Upper Austria

High above Linz's Urfahr district is the prominent hill known as the Pöstlingberg. The best way to get here from the city center is via a narrow gauge electric railroad, the Pöstlingbergbahn, established in 1898 and still carrying thousands of riders each year along its five-kilometer route. Once there, be sure to visit the exquisite Pilgrimage church. Built in 1748, its most notable features include its beautiful 18th-century Pietà of carved wood, and its magnificent views.

The 1,200-meter-long Landstrasse stretches from the Promenade towards the main railroad station and is the best place to begin exploring Linz's historic city center. On the east side stand the Ursuline Church (Ursulinenkirche), dating from 1772, and the Carmelite Church (Karmelitenkirche) built between 1674 to 1726. Another old church of note is the Seminary Church (Seminarkirche), a small round structure with a fine interior built in 1717 to 25 for the Teutonic Order.

Created in recognition of Linz's decades-long role as a center of the Austrian steel industry, the Voestalpine Steel World (Voestalpine Stahlwelt) is well worth a visit. Built by Voestalpine AG, the country's largest steel manufacturer, this fascinating attraction is located in the heart of the country's largest industrial complex and offers a glimpse of the workings of the steel industry.

About eight kilometers west of Linz on the southern bank of the Danube stands the little town of Wilhering. This quaint little community is famous for its sprawling 12th-century Cistercian abbey. Founded in 1146 and rebuilt in the 18th century after a devastating fire, Wilhering Abbey (Stift Wilhering) is well worth making the short trip from Linz to explore, especially if you can do it by boat.

Near the outskirts of the city, on the eastern slopes of the Freinberg, a 30-minute walk from the city center, is where you'll find the splendid Linz Botanical Gardens. Considered among Europe's most beautiful gardens, it's home to more than 10,000 species of plants spread over numerous attractive flowerbeds and five greenhouses. The garden features many exotic specimens, including a large collection of cacti, a superb Rosarium, numerous alpine flowers in the Alpinum, and a well-stocked Tropic House. The Botanical Gardens also hosts numerous events throughout the year, including flower shows and concerts.

Just 20 minutes south of Linz, the St. Florian Augustinian Abbey (Stift Sankt Florian) - officillay known as The Monastery of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine's Order at St. Florian - dates from AD 800 and was built over the grave of its namesake saint, a Roman official martyred in AD 304 for becoming Christian. The present Baroque structure was built between 1686 and 1751 and remains an important theological seminary famous for its boys' choir. If you can, try to plan your visit to coincide with one of their regular concerts.

The splendid New Cathedral (Neuer Dom) - also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or Mariendom - is a three-aisled, Neo-Gothic pillared basilica of yellow sandstone with an ambulatory surrounded by a ring of chapels. Constructed between 1862 and 1924 to the plans of Cologne architect Vinzenz Statz, this massive Roman Catholic church covers a larger area than Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Not all of the best places to visit in Linz are set in ultra-modern buildings or focus on art and entertainment. Just below Linz Castle, in Römerstrasse, stands quaint little St. Martin's Church (Martinskirche), the oldest church in Austria to be preserved in its original form. Built on the remains of Roman walls that can still be seen in the building's exterior, this remarkable 8th-century church is characteristic of the earliest Carolingian architecture.

Another of Linz's state-of-the-art museums located on the banks of the Danube, the Lentos Art Museum (Lentos Kunstmuseum) opened its doors in 2003 and has since become one of the most important art galleries in Austria. Highlights of this spectacular museum - itself a work of art when lit up at night - are its rich collection of more than 1,500 pieces of artwork.

Another top tourist attraction worth visiting is the city's Upper Austrian Culture Quarter (OÖ Kulturquartier) district. More often than not simply referred to as the OK, it's here you'll find the OK Center for Contemporary Art Austria. This world-class contemporary art gallery hosts regular exhibits from Austria and abroad. There's also an arthouse cinema and a variety of dining options available on-site.