Vorarlberg is the westernmost federal state of Austria, sharing borders with the countries of Germany (Bavaria), Liechtenstein, and Switzerland and the Austrian federal-state of Tyrol. Vorarlberg also enjoys a small window on Lake Constance via its capital city of Bregenz.

Vorarlberg is well-known for its mountainous landscape which tourists enjoy all year round.

Cities

• 1 Bregenz — State capital. Lake Constance is great for water sports, sailing or day-trips to one of the islands
• 2 Bludenz — a popular starting point for hiking and mountain-biking, not far from many skiing resorts
• 3 Dornbirn — home to the Rolls-Royce Museum
• 4 Feldkirch — the best preserved and most scenic of Vorarlberg's cities
• 5 Hohenems — home to the Schubertiade music festival, dedicated to the music of composer Franz Schubert, and to museums about

Other destinations

• 1 Lech and Zürs am Arlberg — reputed to be one of the finest ski areas in the world
• 2 Kleinwalsertal — a fantastic mountain area for climbing, hiking or skiing with a wonderful landscape accessible only from Germany
• 3 Montafon — well-known for its skiing, hiking, and mountain biking, and music festival in Aug-Sep
• 4 Warth and Schröcken —one of the most popular winter sport resorts in the area that attracts lots of hikers, climbers and bikers in summer

Understand

The Spullersee, a lake in the municipality of Dalaas in the high mountains of Vorarlberg

The state is almost entirely mountainous and enjoys one of the highest standards of living and income levels in Austria due to its proximity to Switzerland. It is about four times the size of Vienna, and two-thirds of its land area lies at an altitude of more than 1000 metres. The biggest town is Dornbirn, followed by Feldkirch and the capital Bregenz. Sometimes Vorarlberg is referred to in German as the "Ländle", which translates as the "statelet" or "tiny province". Vorarlbergers are a very proud and hardy people and work hard to protect and preserve their identity and history.

Landscape

Although the province of Vorarlberg is quite small the landscape is quite varied. When you arrive in Bregenz, the capital, you reach the lake region and Rhine valley, which stretches down to Feldkirch along the Rhine. From Bregenz, you also have access to the Bregenz Forest, which is a narrow valley that leads to the Arlberg, the mountain range that separates Vorarlberg from Tyrol. The Kleinwalsertal also belongs to Vorarlberg, but it can only be accessed by road from Germany and Bavaria due to the mountains. From the end of the valley, you get access to the Alpine region of Bludenz and the Walgau Valley, which stretches from Feldkirch to Bludenz. From Bludenz, you also have access to the Montafon Valley.

Other valleys in Vorarlberg are: the Klostertal (stretching from Bludenz to the Arlberg), the Walsertal which connects the Walgau and the Bregenzerwald, the Brandnertal in the Montafon region, the Laternsertal which connects the Rhine valley (Rheintal) with the Bregenzerwald, the Laiblachtal (close to Bregenz) and the Lechtal in the Arlberg region.

Alpine culture

Voralberg's culture and traditions are deeply intertwined with the Alpine agriculture and way of life. For centuries, cheese making has played an important role in Vorarlberg.

Language

Vorarlberg is a unique place within Austria when it comes to language.

Of course, the official language is German, but Vorarlberg people speak strong dialects. Its sound is similar to Swabian or "Schwyzerdütsch" (Swiss German), is not easy to understand for Austrians from other regions and also varies within the county. Vorarlberg's dialect is the only Austrian dialect rooted in the Alemannic language as opposed to the dialects spoken in the rest of Austria, which are rooted in the Bavarian language.

Climate

Vorarlberg is among the wettest and coldest regions in Austria. The climate largely corresponds to German weather conditions. The best time to travel is from June to September due to the warmer temperatures. During the months of July and August, you are most likely to experience good days with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20 °C (68 °F) and 25 °C (77 °F).

The winter time from December to February is suitable for winter sports enthusiasts. December is generally a very cold month with max. daytime temperatures around 1 °C (34 °F). In the Rhine valley, 25 to 30 cm of snow can be expected once per winter. Between 700 m and 1000 m, about 100 cm are usually recorded in a normal winter. In the snowiest zone of the country (in the Winterstaude-Fontanella-Hochtannberg triangle), the annual maximum is almost twice as high.

Accessibility & barrier-free travelling

The ÖZIV (Landesverband Vorarlberg), an association for individuals with disabilities, has run a resource and support centre in Bregenz for many years. Wheelchairs, e-cars, stair climbers, Scalamobil, walkers, etc. can be affordably rented here. Pick-up and delivery costs (in case the support resource cannot be picked up in Bregenz) can be passed on directly and no rent is required for just a few days. Contact: ÖZIV Vorarlberg, St.-Anna-Straße 2a, A-6900 Bregenz, ☏ +43 5574 45579, e-mail: oeziv.vorarlberg@oeziv-vorarlberg.at.

The ENJO is an independent wheelchair club within the Vorarlberg sports association for the disabled. The club organises various friendly and competitive sporting events such as basketball, tennis, Alpine and mono ski, Nordic cross-country-skiing, hand biking, shooting, table tennis and billiards. Contact: ENJO Vorarlberg, Achstraße 8, A-6844 Altach, call ☏ +43 5576 7172490, e-mail: office@rollstuhlclub.at

• City buses: The majority of regional buses as well as those in Bregenz, Dornbirn, Feldkirch and Bludenz are outfitted with ramps designed for wheelchair accessibility.
• Train: Austrian Railways Mobility-Service Centre: +43 5 1717 for special information, reservations and registration for special assistance. For ticket booking, especially wheelchair or handicap spots, special equipment such as lifts or other aids for entry and exit, contact msz@pv.oebb.at.

Visitor information

• Vorarlberg Travel website

Get in

By train

Major train routes go from Switzerland and Tyrol to Feldkirch or Bregenz. The train route Munich to Zurich goes right through Vorarlberg. A lot of Eurocity, Intercity and ICE trains go to either Bregenz or Feldkirch.

Vorarlberg is easy to reach from important neighboring cities within a relatively short time:

• From Zurich: ~ 1.5 hr
• From Innsbruck: ~ 2.5 hr
• From Munich: ~2.5 hr

Direct train connections to Vorarlberg:

• Austria: From Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz, Vienna on OEBB or Westbahn
• Germany: From Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Dortmund, Köln, Mainz, Mannheim, Ulm on DB

The nightjet goes from Hamburg-Altona directly to Innsbruck, from there you can take a railjet or EC to Vorarlberg.

Switzerland and France: From Zurich and St.Gallen on SBB, on weekends from Rorschach to Bregenz via S-Bahn Bodensee.

From Paris and Straßburg you can go directly to Zurich or Basel on SBB or SNCF.

Netherlands: From Amsterdam or Utrecht direct Nightjet connections to Innsbruck.

Or check the Europe railway planner.

By car

Highways are connected to Munich, Zurich and Innsbruck. Austrian and Swiss Autobahns charge toll. Austrian Autobahns allow for buying sticker for only a short period of time, whereas in Switzerland you are stuck buying the whole year regardless of how long you will stay. Don't get caught without one!

The Vignette is the toll sticker for Austrian highways. You can get the physical Vignette at most gas stations. There is also the option to buy a digital Vignette online via the Asfinag App or online; however, the digital Vignette is only valid from the 18th day after purchase. Prices: 10-day-sticker: €9.90, 2-month-sticker: €29 as of 2023. The part of highway A14/E60 between Hohenems and the German border can be used without a Vignette, allowing transit from Switzerland to Germany through Vorarlberg without buying one.

By plane

Nearby international airports include Zurich, Munich and Innsbruck. Other airports are located in St.Gallen/Altenrhein in Switzerland (direct flights to Vienna) and Friedrichshafen in Germany (direct flights from London, Dublin, Spain, Turkey, etc.), both of which are near Lake Constance (Bodensee).

Get around

By public transport

Vorarlberg has a very efficient public transport system, and you are encouraged to use it. The railway from Bregenz to Feldkirch and the Arlberg is the backbone of the system, and around 160 bus routes take you to all the other places. Connections and prices can be checked using the vmobil route planner (DE), the cleVVVer Mobil app, or on the ÖBB website.

prices

Individual prices can be checked on ÖBB Timetable & tickets

• A "maximo" day pass (for the whole county) costs €16.80, children under 6 travel free, half price for children aged 6-14 (2024).
• The use of public transport is included in the regional Inclusive Cards in summer and in the multi-day ski passes in winter.
• Use the FAIRTIQ app (download here), which offers the cheapest prices for public transport in Vorarlberg, which is maximal the price of the "maximo".
• The vending machines available at at all train stations (including first stops over the boarders) have the cheapest prices too for single ways and day tickets.
• Buy day ticket at vending machine if you take the same way back. As on ÖBB Timetable & tickets, select more results and select day ticket. The price is less than double and you're not bound to any Train or bus.

By boat/ferry

The Vorarlberg Lines ferry runs several times a day from Easter to October from Bregenz to Constance via Lindau, Wasserburg, Nonnenhorn, Kressbronn, Langenargen, Friedrichshafen, Immenstaad, Hagnau, Meersburg and Mainau Island. Check the online timetable.

The S-Bahn takes you around the Lake Constance area all year round. Bicycles are allowed on board. Check the online timetable.

By bike

Vorarlberg is a very popular mountain biking region and has extensive paved and off-road bike paths.

See

Diedamskopf, Au and Schoppernau

Buildings and ruins

• Alt-Ems and Neuburg castle ruins near Hohenems
• Ramschwag castle ruins near Bludenz

Nature

Hausberg Pfänder: The Pfänder mountain (1,064 m (3,491 ft)) is the most famous vantage point of the region. From the top, you can get a unique view of Lake Constance and 240 alpine peaks of Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the German foothills of the Alps. Restaurant at the top of Pfänder, serves Austrian and international dishes as well as snacks. A cable-car carries people to the top from 08:00 until 19:00. The bottom station of the cable-car is approximately a 15-min walk away from the Bregenz railway station.

Panorama of the Großes Walsertal

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal, Tourismusbüro Raggal, Nr. 220, 6741 Raggal, ☏ +43 5554 5150, info@walsertal.at. The Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal is a protected nature park which covers 19,231 ha. There are 3,420 inhabitants and around 180 farms (42% of which are organic). The reserve strives for a sustainable economy and tourism in the region.

• The Walderlebnispfad Marul ("forest adventure trail of Marul") is a hiking trail with games of skill, points of interest for nature, information about flora and fauna and culture and history about the mountain environment. Hikers can choose between the short (3.4km length, walking time approx. 1½ hours, approx. 300 m in altitude) and the long route (5.6km in length, walking time about 2½ hours, about 450 m in altitude).
• The biosphärenpark.haus is the visitor center of the biosphere nature reserve. There is a shop for artisanal products and a little bistro for snacks. Upon request, one can book a workshop, a guided tour, breakfast or a cheese tasting for a group of people there, ☏ +43 5554 20010, Website - in German.
• The Deanery St. Gerold has been in the possession of the Benedictines since the 10th century. At the bottom of the deanery, a footpath leads along lakes through the forest.
• Diedamskopf offers easy and challening hiking trails, paragliding, a view of Lake Constance, a restaurant at the top with local cuisine, interactive exhibition "Bergwelt zum Sehen und Staunen" (mountain world to see and marvel at), partly buggy-friendly hiking trails and a cable car that brings you to the top. Website e-mail: info@diedamskopf.at
• Nature Reserve Rheindelta: Where the Rhine flows into Lake Constance lies the most species-rich nature reserve in Vorarlberg. https://www.vorarlberg.travel/en/rhine-delta-nature-reserve/
• Gottesackerplateau Kleinwalsertal: This plateau sets you back to a different geological era. The rugged limestone surfaces are the 120-million-year-old remains of coral reefs and other marine creatures from the Tethys Sea. Big hike! https://www.vorarlberg.travel/en/route/gottesacker-plateau/

The Nagelfluhkette Nature Park is a cross-border nature park between Germany and Austria. The mountain landscape has a dense network of well-developed and uniformly signposted hiking trails. The "Naturparkzentrum" is the hub of the nature park (Naturparkzentrum Nagelfluhkette, Seestraße 10, 87509 Immenstadt, Germany). The Centre offers free entry for the exhibition on the natural and cultural landscape, open in the summer: M-Sa 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-18:00, Sunday 10:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00, ☏ +49 8323 9988750, info@naturpark-nagelfluhkette.eu. In the Naturparkcafé, one can enjoy coffee, cake and regional snacks.

Art, culture & museums

Vorarlberg has a lot to offer in the world of art: museums, music festivals, art festivals, exhibitions, literary conferences and so on. The biggest, best known and most important events are the Bregenz Festival on Lake Constance, the Schubertiade and the Poolbar Festival. These and many other festivals attract an international audience to visit the region every year. For more info about festivals, see under #Do/By location

• Vorarlberg museum in Bregenz, is the national art and culture museum of Vorarlberg. It specialises in history, art history, archaeology and Vorarlberg folklore.
• Angelika Kauffmann Museum in Schwarzenberg, near Dornbirn, is dedicated to the life and work of the Classicist painter Angelika Kauffmann. A local history museum is in the same building.
• Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg. It is a textile craft workshop in Riefensberg (Bregenz Forest). The craftswomen manufacture traditional Vorarlberger garb in the old-fashioned way. For booking a guided tour, call ☏ +43 5513 835615.
• Kunsthaus Bregenz KUB, KUB exhibits contemporary art of international and national artists and musicians in Bregenz.
• Werkraum Haus Andelsbuch: The "workroom" is an association and cooporation of craftsmen and traders in Andelsbuch/Bregenz Forest.https://www.werkraum.at/en+43 5512 26386, info@werkraum.at
• The Walserherbst is a music, literature and culinary festival located in the nature reserve, held every other year in autumn for three weeks.

Public art

• Silvretta Bielerhöhe: Light installations, sculptures, in a tunnel there is a four hour long weather forecast shown through light and soundl, in winter an avalaunch warning system is visualized
• Ready Maid: This is the 6.9-m-tall bronze sculpture outside the Bregenzer Festspielhaus, made by Bregenz' artist Gottfried Bechtold. Bechtold's work shows the image of a forking tree trunk, which in its inversion resembles a walking creature.
• Hommage an Brigantium: A 3-m-tall and wide bronze sculpture by Austrian artist Herbert Albrecht, which represents Roman times in the former Brigantium.
• KUB Billboards: The KUB Billboards are located along the Bregenzer Seestraße and are an integral part of Bregenz Kunsthaus.

History

• Wälderbähnle or Bregenzerwald Museumsbahn (Bregenzerwald Railway). It is a narrow-gauge heritage railway that today links Schwarzenberg to Bezau amidst picturesque alpine scenery.
• Jewish Museum Hohenems, it focuses on the history of the Jewish community in Hohenems from their settlement in the 17th century to their deportation in the 20th century. In addition, the diaspora and the European immigration society are central. The permanent exhibition includes a collection of everyday objects and personal documents.
• Women's Museum in Hittisau, is the only women's museum in Austria and the only women's museum in the world is in a rural region. Changing exhibitions are dedicated to women-specific topics from cultural, social, art or architectural history. The museum has received numerous awards, including the Austrian Museum Prize and a Special Commendation from the European Museum of the Year Award 2020.
• FIS Skiing and Mountaineering Museum in Damüls, it exhibits more than 100 years of Vorarlberg's skiing history.
• Baroque Master Builder Museum: This museum portrays the history of around 800 buildings, which were constructed in the 17th/18th century by workers of the Bregenz Forest. info@barockbaumeister.at, +43 5515 25561, Rehmen 39, 6883 Au
• Museums of Montafon: Montafon has a network of four museums that explore the valley's history and industries
• Schubertiade Museums: There is the Franz Schubert Museum and the Schubertiade Museum, in Hohenems, both depicting the life and works of Austrian composer Franz Schubert.
• Skimuseum und Bergschau Hirschegg: An interactive indoor experience of the world of mountains, conveying geology, nature and culture of Kleinwalsertal. The ski museum exhibits the history of skiing and its beginning in 1895.

Natural science

• Inatura in Dornbirn, is a natural history museum which includes a documentation centre about nature in Vorarlberg, along with an interactive exhibition. Also has a gift shop, library, and restaurant.
• Vorarlberger Museumswelt (museum): The "world of museums" is a unique project, where seven museums and collections are combined in one location. For any age appropriate, it displays natural science and technique on an area spanning over 2500m2., +43552251816, office@museumswelt.com, Obere Lände 3b, 6820 Frastanz

Other

• Rolls-Royce Museum in Dornbirn. This museum is the most extensive of its kind in the world. Founded in 1999, it houses more than 1000 exhibits, including several dozen classic vehicles, in a space of about 3000 m². The museum also organises special rides.
• Brewery museums: Mohren Biererlebniswelt in Dornbirn and Brewery Museum Fohrenburg in Feldkirch.

Architecture

Typical Bregenzerwälder House in Egg, Vorarlberg

The Bregenzerwälder House characterises the landscape of the Bregenz Forest. The Bregenzerwälder House combines the farmer's residential building, the stable and the barn under one roof. The oldest houses of this type were built in the 15th century. In the centre of Schwarzenberg are a few well-preserved and relatively uniform Bregenzerwald houses, all built around the same time – after the great fire of 1755.

Skyspace Lech in Tannegg/Oberlech, info@skyspace-lech.com. It is a walk-in art installation by James Turrell in the mountainous landscape of Lech am Arlberg. A skyspace is an enclosed space that can be opened through a large hole in the ceiling or in a dome. During sunrise and sunset in summer, visitors can watch the colour-changing light on the walls. The bookable program starts 50 minutes before sunrise or at sunset. The light performances last for about 50 minutes during which visitors are able to spot the Biberkopf summit and the village Bürstegg on one side and on the other the Omeshorn.

There are 7 architecture trails throughout Vorarlberg, created by the Vorarlberger Architektur Institut (VAI) and the Vorarlberg Tourist Board. The non-guided tours take visitors to urban and rural regions, allow for plenty of time to take a walk, visit a museum or other public buildings and for culinary breaks. The architecture trails are:

• “New impressions – A tour of Vorarlberg’s cities”, start of tour: Bregenz, end of tour: Feldkirch, 44 km, approx. 6 hr by foot
• “Art and culture – From Bregenz to Feldkirch", start of tour: Bregenz, end of tour: Feldkirch, 40.20 km, approx. 6 hr by foot
• “Timber and loam – From the Rheintal valley and Walgau to the Grosses Walsertal valley”, start of tour: Klaus, end of tour: Ludesch, 47.46 km, approx. 6 hr by foot
• “Old and new – In the Rheintal and Walgau valleys", start of tour: Dornbirn, end of tour: Nenzing, 48.17 km, approx. 6 hr by foot
• “Revitalised villages – From Lochau and Wolfurt to the Bregenzerwald", start of tour: Lochau, end of tour: Schwarzenberg, 62.09 km, approx. 6 hr by foot
• “Architecture and landscape – From Lake Constance to Montafon", start of tour: Lochau, end of tour: Tschagguns/Vandans, 80.35 km, approx. 6 h by foot
• "Craft and innovation – In the Bregenzerwald region", start of tour: Riefensberg, end of tour: Bezau, 38.74 km, approx. 6 hr by foot

Schattenburg castle in Feldkirch, is a 13th-century castle, on a hill to the east of the town and impossible to miss. It was once the seat of the Earls of Montfort. Today, it is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Central Europe.

One of seven Krumbach bus stops

BUS:STOP Krumbach: The BUS:Stop Krumbach is a construction project of seven bus stops designed by architects in Krumbach in the Bregenz Forest.

Krumbach Chapel Salgenreute: This little chapel also received various archtitecture prices.

Culture Pavilion Blumenegg: The pavilion was erected on the ruins of Blumenegg castle. Made of wood, glass and steel, the structure features a wooden rooftop terrace and is an ideal venue for cultural events in addition to a meeting place for local associations. It is also co-host for the Walserherbst Festival.

Propstei St.Gerold: Propstei is located in the Walsertal and was founded in 960 as a monastery. Nowadays it serves as a spiritual retreat center offering church services, organic cuisine, therapy horses, an education centre, art exhibition, a swimming pool and a lot of nature.

Stadtbibliothek Dornbirn: The public library in Dornbirn shows various architectural details, such as ceramic bricks reminding us of book shelves, or a path, which is reminiscent of the existing "beaten track" between Schulgasse and Jahngasse, and leads through the building allowing it to be experienced as a public space.

Messequartier Dornbirn: The huge exhibition and event halls of Dornbirn received the "Holzbaupreis", a Vorarlberg prize for constructions made of wood, for rebuilding 4 of its halls.

Islamischer Friedhof Altach: The Islamic cemetery in Altach was built according to islamic traditions and relgion and holds around 700 tombs.

Public swimming pool Dornbirn: It was renovated in 2005 and received various prizes for its architecture.

Vorarlberg museum, Kunsthaus Bregenz

Do

Vorarlberg offers various summer and winter sport facilities (mountain biking, cycling, inline skating, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing) and there are also a lot of cultural events throughout the year including carnival towards the end of winter.

• Themed hikes: You can find a list here.

Winter sports

In the cold season, winter sports enthusiasts will find ideal conditions for their favourite sport: skiing, cross country skiing, freeriding, snowboarding, ice skating, sled dog rides, carriage rides, tobogganing, snow and fun parks.

Many top winter sports resorts are located throughout Vorarlberg. Most of them are organized in regional ticket federations such as 3taeler Pass. This means several day tickets are valid in all participating resorts and include free transportation with ski buses. Some of the larger winter sport areas are:

The Ski Arlberg ski area (Sonnenkopf)

• Ski Arlberg
  • Stuben am Arlberg
  • Lech-Zürs and Oberlech
  • Warth and Schröcken (part of 3taeler Pass)
• Silvretta Montafon (part of Montafon Card)
• Kleinwalsertal
• Brandnertal (part of Montafon Card)
• Damüls-Mellau (part of 3taeler Pass)
• Diedamskopf (part of 3taeler Pass)
• Großes Walsertal/Fontanella-Faschina
• Klostertal

Lech am Arlberg

The ski resorts Silvretta Montafon and Ski Arlberg (which is partly located in Tyrol) are the two largest ski areas in Vorarlberg. Ski Arlberg is the largest connected ski area in Austria. It offers 305 km of slopes and 111 lifts and includes the pistes in Lech, Zürs, Oberlech, Warth, Schröcken, Stuben and in the Tyrolean municipalities of St. Anton and St. Christoph.

The towns of Lech and Zürs are known for their exclusivity and luxury, which is why many celebrities (such as the Dutch royal family) visit these ski resorts.

Damüls-Mellau is a notable ski area in terms of reliable snow conditions. In 2007, Damüls was named 'snowiest village in the world'.

The Ski Ride Vorarlberg is a combination of skiing, touring and freeriding while crossing Vorarlberg. The route starts in the Kleinwalsertal in the north, continues through the Bregenz Forest, across mount Arlberg and the Klostertal to the Montafon valley in the south. The guided tour usually takes up to 7 days and is intended for experienced skiers.

Sporting events

Vorarlberg has been the host to some of the most important sporting events in the world, mainly in winter. Some of these are:

White Ring (Der Weiße Ring). It is a 22-km ski race from Lech to Zürs. The route is named after its ring-shaped track and the snowy conditions in this region. It is considered to be particularly difficult: it is the longest ski round trip in the world, features 5,500 m of altitude difference and comprises 5 downhill runs, 6 lifts, piste ascents and a cross-country ski run

SBX World Cup Montafon takes place annually in December in the Montafon valley.

Hypo-Meeting is an athletics competition which is held annually in May/June in the Mösle stadium in Götzis.

Montafon-Arlberg Marathon is a mountain marathon with 1,500 m in altitude in the middle of the European protected area Verwall.

By location

Dornbirn district

• The Rappenlochschlucht and Alplochschlucht are among the biggest canyons in Central Europe.
• Travelling with kids: Visit the Inatura Museum (interactive natural history museum). The museum includes a documentation center about nature in Vorarlberg, along with an interactive exhibition.
• Go to the Jewish quarter in Hohenems and visit the Jewish Museum that tells the story of the city's Jewish history.
• Rolls-Royce Museum, Kunstraum Dornbirn (art gallery)
• In Lustenau: Take a ride with the narrow gauge steam railway along the river Rhine and visit the Rheinschauen museum, telling the story of the river.
• Mohren Biererlebniswelt in Dornbirn (brewery museum)

Dornbirn is quite lively in the evening when it's warm. It's definitely worth a visit then.

Feldkirch district

• At Lichtstadt Feldkirch, international artists fill the old inner city of Feldkirch with light objects, projections and sculptures for four days in October.
• Montforter Zwischentöne: It is an interdisciplinary festival in Feldkirch that takes place three times a year. Each series is based on a specific topic which is artistically and dramaturgically interpreted without genre-orientated boundaries. There are contributions from the fields of music, poetry, architecture, science, dance etc. The festival addresses issues of social and personal development on site and provides impetus for urban and regional development.
• Poolbar Festival, This festival in Jul to mid-Aug features pop, jazz, electronic, rock, and hip hop music, exhibitions, poetry slams, fashion and an architectural prize. The festival attracts around 20,000 visitors.
• POTENTIALe Feldkirch, design fair and festival attracts around 110 exhibitors to present their products and ideas . In addition to a vintage market, there are workshops and discussion groups, a 'design laboratory', photography exhibitions, as well as the presentation of music and films.
• Brewery Museum Fohrenburg
• Visit the Schattenburg castle which was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Today, it is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Central Europe. It features a restaurant and a museum about Feldkirch's city history. Weapons from the Middle Ages to the World War II are on display in the castle guard.
• Shopping & cafés: Marktgasse/Marktplatz: Cobblestones, romantic arcades and beautifully painted house facades characterize the market square, the heart of the historic old town of Feldkirch. The Johanniterkirche is at the top of the square. Markets have been held in this square on Tuesdays and Saturdays since the 13th century. Restaurants, cafes and a variety of shops invite you to linger.

Bludenz district

• The Alpinale Short Film Festival is an open air festival happens every year in August.
• Bludenz has a lovely old town. It is home to a Milka factory and a brewery too.
• Golf: two 18-hole (Bludenz-Braz and Brand) and two 9-hole (Schruns, Partenen) are available. These courses are very scenic and worth playing.
• Brandnertal – Bludenz – Klostertal – Großes Walsertal: 3 valleys around the town of Bludenz, where you can go hiking, climbing, enjoy traditional and high quality meals, snowshoeing and visit gorges and mountain lakes
• The Bludenzer Tage zeitgemäßer Musik festival showcases contemporary music in any genre. It takes place in October.
• Villa Falkenhorst features various concerts, talks, exhibitions, movies, a Christmas market with programs for children and teens as well.
• Bürser Schlucht canyon is considered one of the most beautiful of the Alps with a forest resembling the jungle. It is 2.6 km long, and it takes about 2 hr to walk through. Open 1 May - 31 Oct.

Bregenz

The Schubertiade is a classical music festival in Schwarzenberg, picture: audience at the Angelika-Kaufmann-hall in 2004

• Bregenzer Festspiele (Opera on the Lake) is the best known opera and musical festival of the region and has been posing one of Austria's cultural highlights since 1946. It annually takes place outside in the months of July and August. With operas and musicals such as Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), West Side Story and Carmen, the Bregenzer Festspiele draws hundreds of thousands of spectators every year.
• Bregenzer Frühling is a dance festival in Bregenz that has been held since 1987. Dance ensembles from all over the world perform their new productions, along with Austrian premieres.
• Klassik Krumbach is a small and new festival for classical music.
• Museums: Kunsthaus Bregenz, Vorarlberg museum
• Künstlerhaus Palais Thurn und Taxis, the exhibition house for the professional association of visual artists in Vorarlberg and the city of Bregenz. It is a bit outside of Bregenz, thus it is great to visit on a stroll (not barrier-free).
• BeachBar directly at Lake Constance
• Lake Constance Cruises: From April to October, daily trips to the loveliest destinations on Lake Constance. During high season, you can enjoy attractive afternoon and evening tours with music and dance (lake fireworks displays) and round trips in the bay of Bregenz. Christmas tours and New Year cruises available in December. There are also historical cruises.
• Georunde Rindberg: "Nature in Motion" is the theme of this hike. In 1999, the village in the Bregenzerwald was affected by a gigantic landslide: on an area of around 1.6 km², the mountainsides on the Rindberg plot started moving, with 18 buildings sliding down to the valley, some houses moving from their original spot by up to 240 metres.

Bregenz Forest

• Schubertiade. The Schubertiade is a classical music festival dedicated to the Austrian composer Franz Schubert, annually in Hohenems (spring & autumn) and in Schwarzenberg (June, August/September).
• :alpenarte: Another young festival for classical music that also features photography and culinary delights. Every year in October in Schwarzenberg. info@alpenarte.eu
• Hohenemser Chor- und Orgeltage: Annually in October, you can listen to spiritual music played on the Gollini organ and performed by choirs in the church St.Karl.
• Wälderbähnle or Bregenzerwaldbahn (Bregenz Forest Railway), a 5km museum railway which links Schwarzenberg to Bezau amidst picturesque alpine scenery.
• Architecture: typical Bregenzerwälder houses in the inner centre of Schwarzenberg
• Angelika Kauffmann Museum (Kauffmann was a classicist painter)
• Women's Museum in Hittisau, It is the only women's museum in Austria. Changing exhibitions are dedicated to women-specific topics from cultural, social, art or architectural history.
• Alpsennereimuseum in Hittisau (museum about alpine farming and cheese making)
• Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg (a place where traditional Vorarlberger garb is still manufactured)
• Franz Michael Felder Museum (Felder was a social reformer, author and farmer)
• Emsiana Hohenemser Kulturfest: The Emsiana Culture Festival of Hohenems takes place on a weekend in May. It celebrates music, food, history, art and culture. stadtmarketing@hohenems.at, +43 5576 7101 2000, https://www.emsiana.at/emsiana
• Village Walks: This is a walk through 13 villages in the region to experience landscape, people's culture and homes and regional products. Guided tours are available Jan-Oct. It is possible to walk the paths individually in winter, however, not all of them may be accessible. https://www.vorarlberg.travel/en/umgang-bregenzerwald/

Montafon Valley

• Montafoner Resonanzen is a series of events held annually on weekends in August and September. Each weekend is dedicated to another genre (classical, jazz, Austrian folk musik, organ, cross-over). Guests may combine hiking and eating out with the concerts, considering the musical performances are held at extraordinary locations like the Tübinger Hütte at 2,191 m (Gaschurn) or the Panoramagasthof Kristberg.
• Tobogganing
• Sunny Balcony Tour (e-bike) in Bartholomäberg

Kleinwalsertal

• Breitachklamm: The deepest canyon in Central Europe. It attracts over 300.000 visitors each year and is open all year around. https://www.breitachklamm.com/
• Trailrunning
• The literary festival Kleinwalsertal takes place every other year. The next one will be in 2025. https://www.kleinwalsertal.com/en/Activities/Culture-and-Culinary/Festival-of-literature
• Walserherbst: This festival offers literature, visual art, music, theater, cinema, culinary delights and traditional culture. During 3 weeks everything and anything is transformed to art. It also takes place every other year, the next one in 2025. https://walserherbst.at/walserherbst-festival/das-festival/
• Skimuseum und Bergschau Hirschegg

Lech Zürs & Stuben am Arlberg

• The White Ring (Ski Circuit)
• Art Installation Skyspace Lech
• Literaricum Lech: Every year during a few days in July, you authors perform readings all around Lech Zürs am Arlberg at the Literaricum Lech literary festival. https://www.lechzuers.com/en
• Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival: During two weeks in spring musicians in the genre of Pop, Electroswing and Jazz take stage at the Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival. https://www.tanzcafe-arlberg.com/en

Buy

The vast majority of shops and grocery stores are closed on Sunday. Exceptions are some shops in train stations, flea markets, and tourist oriented souvenir shops. If you plan to visit anything on Sunday, be sure to check if it will be open.

POTENTIALe Feldkirch, design fair and festival in Feldkirch, has a vintage market.

In the Bregenzerwälder Käsehaus in Andelsbuch, Feldkirch and Sulzberg, up to 60 different types of hard, semi-hard, cream and soft cheese made from cow's, goat's or sheep's milk are offered. It is the central marketplace for the entire regional variety. Visiting one of the cheese shops is a great opportunity to get gifts and souvenirs for cheese enthusiasts back home.

Waelderspielzeug in Bezau is a very special toy store that only offers regional and sustainable toys. The assortment ranges from local wooden toys to organic cotton dolls. All products are made exclusively from natural materials.

Eat

Käsknöpfle, also known as Käsespätzle

Vorarlberg's cuisine has a strong Alemannic influence. Cheese and other dairy products play a major role in traditional Vorarlberg meals. The region has a long history of cheese manufacturing in the Alpine environment.

Regional cheese

• Bergkäse ("mountain cheese"): hard cheese produced in the low mountain range. Example: "Walserstolz" (Bergkäse from the Großwalsertal)
• Alpkäse ("mountain pasture cheese"): seasonal hard cheese from the high mountain range, made exclusively in summer when the cattle is fed with fresh grass (vs. Bergkäse which is produced year-round). Example: Vorarlberger Alpkäse
• Sura Kees ("sour cheese"): originally from the Montafon valley, soft low-fat cheese with a mild aroma reminiscent of cream cheese with salty undertone, it is usually served with vinegar, oil and onions, or alone on black bread or eaten with potatoes

Typical dishes from Vorarlberg

• Käsknöpfle or (Käse-)Spätzle: noodles of flour and eggs with cheese and onion, very heavy but delicious, served with golden-brown onion rings

• Riebel: is another typical dish in Vorarlberg, dish of corn and wheat semolina, served savoury or sweet.
• Flädlesuppe: (broth with savoury pancake strips)
• Grumpara mit Käs: (peeled potato with cheese, optionally bacon)

The KäseStraße Vorarlberg is a 75-km culinary theme route through the Bregenz Forest. Along the route, tourists can visit cheese producers and show dairies, attend cheese tastings, buy cheese at local shops, visit a beekeeper's hut and explore other traditional and artisanal Vorarlberg crafts.

Restaurants

Vorarlberg has more than 40 restaurants that have been distinguished by Gault Millau. Therefore, visiting Vorarlberg can also be a culinary delight:

• Restaurant Hotel "Adler" in Au: Being part of the Bregenzerwälder Käsestraße (Bregenz Forest Cheese Route), the restaurant serves Bregenz Forest cheese specialities. À la carte menu between 18:00 and 21:00, closed on Tuesdays.
• Hotel und Gasthof "Hirschen" in Sibratsgfäll: The host family Dorner has been running the Gasthof Hotel der Hirschen in Sibratsgfäll for 5 generations.
• Hotel und Restaurant "Bibers" in Warth: The love child of alpine lifestyle and urban zeitgeist presents itself with a cosy, stylish ambience and interactive cuisine. The young team passionately creates new culinary innovations to match the season. Located at the valley station of the Warth cable car, it is suitable for après ski.

Drink

Sunset on Lake Constance

BeachBar in Bregenz, Seepromenade 2, ☏ +43 669 12 44 46 66. Every year, the BeachBar in Bregenz presents itself as a trendy summer meeting place. During the day, the cozy beach bar invites you to chill and relax. In the evening, it turns into an absolute party location. Sandy beach, sun loungers and refreshing cocktails give you that holiday feeling. DJs provide the right atmosphere, so that people like to move from the deckchairs to the dance floor. Lake Constance itself is only a few steps away.

List of Vorarlberg's best cocktail bars selected by Falstaff (2022)

• Licca Lounge im Aurelio in Lech: In the heart of the Hotel Aurelio, the elegant and cozy bar attracts guests from all over the world from 10:00 until late in the evening. You sit around the open fireplace, enjoy an aperitif of the best quality, a fine glass of wine (including rarities) or a cocktail - the selection is large. Courteous team.
• Bemelmans-Bar in Lech: Writer Ludwig Bemelmans, a regular guest until the 1950s, appreciated the charm of this bar – and the quality of the drinks. To this day, guests from all over the world come here for après-ski, aperitif time or for a glass of excellent (sparkling) wine or classic cocktails.
• Kreuz Bar in Bregenz: A drinks menu that celebrates diversity: In Christian Pfeiffer's bar you are spoiled for choice – it's a good thing that the trained team is happy to give good advice. The selection of whiskey, rum and brandies is large, the "all time favorite cocktails" are mixed with know-how. Plus: Lounge guest garden.
• Bunt in Feldkirch, Marktgasse 1 (south end of Marktgasse, in the courtyard), ☏ +43 5522 83983, info@bunt-bar.at. M-Th 16:00-02:00, F Sa 09:00-04:00, friendly bar in the heart of Feldkirch. "Bunt" means "colourful". The focus of the extensive menu is on cocktails, which are regularly supplemented with creative signatures. Drinks like "Giselle loves Anjola" can be enjoyed on the vaulted ground floor, on the first floor or in the outdoor dining area.
• Cuba in Bregenz: A place for pleasure seekers since the year 2000. A café during the day and a cocktail bar in the evening, where drinks such as the "CubaTa" with seven-year-old rum, cola and lime or the equally good non-alcoholic cocktails are served at the bar or on the open balustrade on the first floor.
• Vernissage - Die Bar im Dorf in Egg: Meeting point for all ages: All age groups feel at home in the charming bar in Egg. This is due to the uncapricious, relaxed atmosphere and the good drinks. Signatures such as "Pink Russian" with vodka and guava or "French Kiss" with Beefeater Gin, Blue Curaçao, lemon and Prosecco.

Après-ski – by ski resort

Schirmbar

After a long day of exploring pistes, some enthusiastic skiers like to party at Après-ski huts. Après ski comes in many different forms: You'll find anything from table dancing to sophisticated wine and charcuterie on cobblestone streets. The parties at the huts usually get going when the lifts stop operating in the afternoon. There is no dress code. Dancing in your ski boots is part of the Après-ski experience.

A Schirmbar is a type of bar that is erected under an enormous umbrella. These bars are usually round, have large see-through windows and are heated. Most Schirmbars have an attached outdoor area with tables, seatings and deck chairs.

While some Après-ski spots are located in the valley, others are located at a higher altitude. If you're looking to finish your day at a ski hut on the piste, be careful because you will have to descend into the valley, possibly without lighting.

Ski Arlberg (St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech,,Zürs, Warth, Schröcken)

The most popular après-ski parties are held in St. Anton on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg. Numerous rustic huts invite you to celebrate throughout the ski area. If you also want to hit the slopes at night, there are numerous pubs, bars and discotheques in the valley where you can party until the early hours. Visiting the other side of the Arlberg will pay off if you are a party animal but make sure to make plans how to get back to your accommodation in advance.

You have to pack a little more change if you want to celebrate with the well-heeled crowd in Lech. The parties here are not quite as loud as in St. Anton, but are much more stylish. The two most popular places to go for champagne after the last ski descent are the bar of the 4-star hotel "Tannbergerhof" and the Krone bar of the 5-star hotel "Die Krone von Lech". There is a great party mood here even long after the lifts have closed.

Those who prefer a dignified stop will find the right places in Zürs, Warth and Schröcken. The offer ranges from gourmet restaurants to rustic taverns. If you search a little or ask locally, you will also find one or the other bar in the quiet places on the Arlberg, where you can end a successful day of skiing comfortably.

• Mooser Wirt (on the valley run to St. Anton in Tyrol): For many, the Mooser Wirt is a legendary top spot for après-ski in the Ski Arlberg ski region. Regularly great atmosphere and usually packed inside and out. Note: The Mooser Wirt is located on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg.
• Krazy Kanguruh (on the valley run to St. Anton in Tyrol): A classic. Note: Located on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg.

• Steffisalp Schirmbar (at the Steffisalp-Express valley station in Warth): In Warth, you can stop off at the Schirmbar of the Hotel Steffisalp and have fun after skiing.
• S1 Salober Schirmbar (at the Salober valley station on the Hochtannberg pass in Schröcken at 1660 m): Après-ski events with live music take place regularly in the S1 Ski Lounge.
• Après-ski bar of the Romantik Hotel Krone (at the valley station of the Schlegelkopf lifts in Lech): The après-ski bar spoils with oysters and champagne. Après-ski is offered here in an exclusive setting. The K.Club also belongs to the Hotel Krone. At a later hour, the nightlife awakens here.

Damüls-Mellau

• Heike's Schirmbar (at the Walisgaden double chairlift): In the middle of the ski area, you can already switch to après-ski in the early afternoon. But be careful, because you still have to descend into the valley.

Silvretta-Montafon

• Ur monti (at the valley station of the Hochjochbahn in Schruns): At the end of the HochjochTotale, you can switch to après-ski in the Ur monti. There is always a good atmosphere here.
• Sonnenbar Kapellrestaurant (at the mountain station of the Hochjoch and Zamangbahn) The umbrella bar with a good atmosphere before you go down to Schruns by ski or train. You can also enjoy a wonderful view over the Montafon.
• Limo (at the Valiserabahn/Grasjochbahn valley station in St. Gallenkirch): It is a classic, also with the Montafon youth of today and in the past. Après-ski until well after midnight with own bowling lanes.
• Alte Talstation (near the valley station in Gaschurn on the valley run): In the Alte Talstation, you can end the day with good music at the bar or on the roof terrace. The name ("old valley station") has historical significance. In the middle of the last century, the first chairs of the former gondola Versettla Bahn drove in and out here.
• Gamsjöchli (at the valley station in Gaschurn): The Gamsjöchli is a cult and original après-ski bar.
• Brunellawirt (on Garfrescha mountain at an altitude of 1500 m): Après-ski is longer on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Brunellawirt. Then you can sled down the illuminated toboggan run into the valley.
• Edelweiss Alm (at the end of the 20e valley run just before the Valisera valley station): The Edelweiss Alm is a popular après-ski location with good music.

Stay safe

Vorarlberg's crime rates are significantly lower than in most Western countries. Street crime is rare, even late at night. Women traveling alone should have no problems.

Tap water is of exceptional quality and safe to drink. The drinking age for beer, wine and cider is 16 while the age for any other alcohol is 18. The public consumption of alcohol in Vorarlberg is legal, so do not be alarmed if you see a group of teenagers drinking a six-pack on public property; this is by no means out of the ordinary and should not be interpreted as threatening.

In mountain areas, be sure to inquire about weather conditions at the tourist information office or local alpine huts as you head out in the morning. They should be well informed about severe weather conditions and will advise you about possible avalanche areas.

• Keep your distance and watch them as you would watch wild animals, especially when there are mother animals with their young. Cows won't attack you out of the blue but they will protect their offspring.
• Keep your dog on a leash.
• Don't feed them.

Go next

It is possible to travel along the lakeshore by railway to both Switzerland and Germany.

• Liechtenstein — the fourth smallest country in Europe. Bus and train service is available daily from Bregenz to the capital city of Vaduz. The trip is about 1.5 hours.
• Mainau Island — in Germany, "The Flower Island" is known for its warm climate and beautiful botanical gardens.
• Tyrol - Tyrol is the neighboring Austrian county to the East of Vorarlberg. You can easily travel there by train.
• Switzerland - To the West of Vorarlberg. Great connection by train.