At the summit of the Pöstlingberg hill, alongside the pilgrimage church, is one of Linz's most unexpected attractions: a narrow-gauge railway running through illuminated caves populated with fairy-tale scenes and dioramas. Small dragon-shaped trains carry visitors through a series of caverns representing scenes from Central European folk tales — gnomes, witches, dragons, and assorted woodland creatures rendered in elaborate painted tableaux.
The Grottenbahn has been running since 1906 and has been periodically updated, though the overall aesthetic remains defiantly old-fashioned. It is pitched at children but adults who don't mind kitsch will find it charming in its own way. The combination of the steep Pöstlingbergbahn tram ride to the summit and the grotto railway makes for an entertaining outing. Lines are short on weekdays; book ahead or arrive early at weekends and school holidays.