A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Linz vs. Munich for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Linz or Munich?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Linz and Munich can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Linz

Linz is a cultural, historic, and beautiful town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Munich

Munich is a multicultural, economically thriving, and bustling city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the nightlife, live music, and food.

Linz and Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Linz or Munich?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Munich than Linz, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Munich is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Linz is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Linz is popular for its Baroque architecture, modern art museums, and great pastries. Munich is popular for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. It is also home to The Nymphenburg Palace.

How is Linz different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich and Linz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Linz or Munich?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Linz and Munich.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Linz. The city has a lot of history which can be experienced with visits to The Castle of Linz, St. Martin's Church, and the New Cathedral. There are also several modern museums such as Ars Electronica Center, the OK Center, and the Lentos Art Museum.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Munich. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

Is the Food Better in Linz or Munich? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Munich is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Munich. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Linz is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find an endless supply of bakeries around town that serve cakes, tarts, and biscuits. A trip to Linz isn't complete without a sampling of the local pastries.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Munich is a world-class destination for nightlife and partying. However, Linz is not a good town for its evening party scene.

People head to Munich just to party. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Linz. The town isn't exactly a party place, but you'll find a good theater and some live music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is a world-class destination for its live music scene. However, Linz is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Munich The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Linz is not a live music destination.

Is Linz or Munich Better for its Old Town?

Linz is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Munich does not have a historic old town.

Linz offers a nice historic old town area. The old town is filled with Baroque architecture and a market square. There are a number of interesting buildings and great cafes in the area.

Munich does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Linz or Munich?

Munich is a world-class destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Munich make it a world-class shopping destination. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Linz. There are a number of shopping streets around town, but the most popular is Landstraße. You'll find all kinds of retail stores with everything from clothing to furniture available.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Families?

Munich is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Munich is a very kid-friendly city. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Linz is a family-friendly town. Pöstlingberg Adventure World is a highlight for kids. You can take the tram up the mountain and see the views, visit the Grottenbahn, or explore the zoo. Kids will also appreciate the Ars Electronica Center, which is a futuristic museum in town as well as the The Linz Castle Museum.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Couples?

Both Linz and Munich are high quality destinations for a couple's getaway.

Linz is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city is filled with beautiful baroque architecture. There's a lively main square and many great restaurants that couples will appreciate. There are also shopping areas and museums to explore.

Munich makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Munich is a world-class destination for backpackers. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

Plenty of backpackers visit Linz. Backpackers will find more budget hotels than hostels in town, so it can be a bit challenging to meet other travelers. Even so, this is a beautiful city that is well worth a visit.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Students?

Munich is a world-class destination for students. However, Linz is not popular with students.

Munich is a very popular city for students. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

Linz is not popular with students.

Is Linz or Munich Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Munich is a world-class destination for its public transit. Also, Linz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for times when you don't have a car.

With a huge network, the transit system in Munich can get you around easily. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

Linz has some public transit options. There are buses and streetcars that travel throughout the town.

Is Linz or Munich a more walkable city?

Linz and Munich both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Linz is a very walkable town. The tourist areas are easy to explore on foot.

Munich is a very walkable destination. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

For even more information, also check out Is Linz Worth Visiting? and Is Munich Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Munich or Linz?

How long in Linz or Munich?

In either Linz or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Munich than Linz because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Linz, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

Families should spend more time in Munich than Linz. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Munich, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Munich than Linz. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Munich that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Linz if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Munich.

One day in Linz or Munich?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Linz. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Munich is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Linz or Munich?

Linz is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Munich is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Linz or Munich?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Linz. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Munich is a economically thriving big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Linz or Munich?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful destination of Linz. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The multicultural city of Munich offers shopping and museums. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Austria, The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Linz and Munich, we can see that Munich is more expensive. And not only is Linz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Linz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Linz and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Munich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Munich than you might in Linz.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Linz Expensive? and Is Munich Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Linz or Munich?

Munich has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Linz. When comparing the sizes of Linz and Munich, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Linz or Munich?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Linz or Munich in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Linz and Munich. Most visitors come to Linz for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Munich because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Linz is around the same temperature as Munich. Typically, the summer temperatures in Linz in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Munich averages at about 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Munich this time of the year. In Linz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Linz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Munich during summer. Linz gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Linz usually receives more rain than Munich. Linz gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Linz or Munich in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Linz as well as Munich. The autumn months attract visitors to Linz because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Munich this time of year.

In October, Linz is generally around the same temperature as Munich. Daily temperatures in Linz average around 11°C (52°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Linz often gets more sunshine than Munich. Linz gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun.

Linz usually gets less rain in October than Munich. Linz gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Linz or Munich in the Winter?

Both Munich and Linz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Linz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Munich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Munich. It's quite cold in Linz in the winter. Linz is much warmer than Munich in the winter. The daily temperature in Linz averages around -0°C (31°F) in January, and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

Linz usually receives more sunshine than Munich during winter. Linz gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Linz usually receives less rain than Munich. Linz gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Linz or Munich in the Spring?

Both Munich and Linz during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Linz for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Munich in the spring for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Linz is around the same temperature as Munich. Typically, the spring temperatures in Linz in April average around 11°C (51°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (53°F).

In the spring, Linz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Munich. Linz gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun.

Linz usually gets more rain in April than Munich. Linz gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Munich and Linz