Linz
Practise a language with strangers. Free, no booking, come alone.
Verified places and programmes
- Stadtbibliothek WissensturmThe main city library in the Wissensturm, Kärntnerstraße 26. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00–18:00, Wednesday 14:00–18:00 and Saturday 10:00–15:00; closed on Sundays and public holidays. You get a library card with photo ID, valid at every branch.→
- Volkshochschule Linz & Lernzentrum LeWis (Wissensturm)The city's adult education centre, run with the Chamber of Labour, in the same tower. Its learning centre LeWis offers advice on German and integration courses and exams; the Service-Center is open Monday to Thursday 8:00–18:00 and Friday 8:00–14:00. A course is an easy way to see the same people every week.→
- Stadtbibliothek UrfahrCity library branch in the Neues Rathaus, Hauptstraße 1–5. Open Monday 12:00–18:00, Tuesday 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–18:00, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00, Friday 9:00–17:00. Handy to combine with your errands at the town hall.→
- Integrationsbüro der Stadt LinzThe city's integration office in the Altes Rathaus, Hauptplatz 1 (+43 732 7070 1169, integration@linz.at). It publishes the multilingual “Ankommen in Linz” guide and lists German courses and intercultural associations. Contact them before visiting.→
- Donaupark and city-centre parksLinz has 51 parks and about 400 hectares of public green space. In the centre: the Donaupark along the river, plus Stadtpark, Volksgarten, Promenadenpark and Schillerplatzpark. Free and always a good place for a walk on your own.→
- Stadtteilzentrum FranckviertelA city neighbourhood centre at Ing.-Stern-Straße 15–17, where community workers connect residents and local organisations and help people put their ideas for the area into practice. Open Monday and Thursday 9:00–12:30 and 14:00–17:00, Tuesday and Friday 9:00–12:30.→
Coming alone — what to expect
- Language cafés are the easiest room to enter alone: everyone is there to talk to people they do not know, and the host seats you.
- Mixed levels are normal. Say your level once; nobody corrects you unless you ask.
- You do not need to be a learner: native speakers are the scarce resource and hosts love them.