Vorarlberg attractions. From Bregenz to Ischgl

Last Updated on 13/09/2024

Vorarlberg is a very mountainous region, where even autobahns mostly run in tunnels, and there are several toll sections with contributions independent of the presence of an all-Austrian vignette. The main attractions are mountains, entertainment is the same. Almost in each of the places named below there is at least one picturesque lake of small size.

Maps around:
Public transport around Lake Constance
Tourist and guest cards of Lake Constance
Rhine Delta Bodensee, Appenzell attractions
West – Lake Constance, Lake Constance family holidays
Swiss side of Lake Constance
North – Allgäu, Upper Bavaria Map of attractions
East –Around Innsbruck. From Reutte to Brenner
Inn valley attractions on the map – from Innsbruck to Kufstein

There are many cable cars (I won’t list them all, but I’ll try to mark them on the map with a blue square). The letter S stands for chairlift (Sesselbahn). Rope parks are relatively common, but other recreational infrastructure is slowly penetrating the region. It is designed more for hiking and extreme sports (especially rock climbing). On rainy days, they offer excursions to the Rhine Valley.

Everything important that you can see in the region – with notes and links.

• 1 – top
• 2 – very good, although not so well known
• 3 – good for a short vacation or a layover. Several medium-level interesting places
• 4 – local or specific, not for everyone

Marks with brackets – I was there (there are links to the posts). Without – I wasn’t there. Of course, the notes are subjective

By searching, keep in mind that Austrians usually refer Kletterwald (rope park) as Kletterpark or Hochseilgarten, and Klettergarten are rock areas for training climbers and there are a lot of these areas. The number of attractions increases towards Innsbruck.

Lake Constance Austrian coast

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1. Bregenz

Austria goes to Lake Constance with a small stretch of coastline, on which, in fact, Bregenz and a couple of villages almost merged with it are located.

The city walls and buildings of the 13th-16th centuries have been preserved. Please note that the old town (Oberstadt Bregenz) is located on a hill and you still need to walk to it from the pier or from the train station (it is better to stock up on a map from the tourist office). There is a regional museum.

The Celts were the first to settle in this place in the 5th century and gave the place the name Brigantion. Then, as usual, there were the Romans (15 AD), and then the Alemans. In the 15th century the city was sold to the Habsburgs.
After World War II, residents really wanted to go to Switzerland. But their desire was not taken into account.

A cable car to Mount Pfänder – the main attraction of the city (1064 m). The flyers promise stunning views, but they are somewhat disingenuous.

The view is not bad, but only from one point (from the roof of the cable car). Everything else is fenced in. And at the highest point where you can climb from the cable car station, from where an excellent view should have opened, there is a cafe.

For us, half an hour of waiting for our turn in the crowd did not pay off with this view limited by fences. Maybe the cable car is ok for hikers.

Besides the “view”, the mountain has a small zoo of local animals Alpinewildpark (wild boars, deer and marmots). It was the marmots who made the trip here useful and greatly lifted our spirits.

You can also get a view of the lake without queuing for the cable car at the Gebhardsberg lookout.

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2. Dornbirn, Hohenems

Dornbirn
iNatura multimedia nature museum, brewery museum.

Karren cable car (link). The views are directed towards Lake Constance and the Rhine Delta.

Rappenlochschlucht gorge (link) and another gorge and lake on the road around the mountain. The Rolls-Royce Museum (link) and the Christmas nativity scene museum in the same place.

Read about cable cars with views of the Rhine Valley in the topic Alpine Rhine: Appenzell and St. Gallen

Hohenems – old town, windmill with museum (link).

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3. “Bregenz Forest”: Bezau, Mellau, Schoppernau

Hittisau, Bezau, Mellau
Some cable cars (link, link). Steam train Bezau – Schwarzenberg (green line on the map, link).
Farm and cheese factory in Egg (Link)

Schnepfau – rope park Aqua-Hochseilgarten (instead of a forest, the stations are located on the rocky banks of the river, Link)

Schoppernau – cable cars (Link), herb garden Kräutergarten

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4. Fontanella, Damüls

Walser Biosphere Reserve (link)

Cable cars (link, link).

Damüls. Rope park and Flying fox Link
Indoor playground

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5. Lanterns

Read about Feldkirch and Liechtenstein in topic Alpine Rhine

Laterns – summer toboggan, cable car (link)

Gorge Üble Schlucht

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6. Bludenz, Vandans (Golm), Schruns

A number of cable cars: in Bludenz itself and further along the gorge towards Schruns and towards Brand (link, link)

A vast region for mountain walks, including many playgrounds. The only drawback is that there is nowhere to go in bad weather. Closest cultural attractions in the Rhine Valley.

Bludenz – thermal pool, old town, brewery museum (link).

Brand – rope park (Link).
The Schhausennerei Alpe Rona cheese factory at the top
Lünersee Reservoir accessible by cable car

Vandans (Golm) – coaster, rope park (Link). Flying Fox over the reservoir. Descent from the mountain to the hills.

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7. Schruns, Silvretta

Cable cars (link)

Schruns – “all-weather” outdoor pool. There are various children’s entertainments on Hochjoch mountain.

Silvretta – panoramic alpine road Link. There are also three lakes along the way.

For those without a car, there are buses 85 and 260.

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8. Schröcken-Warth and Lech

Schröcken
Rope park (Link), Flying Fox. Canyoning
Chairlift at Warth

Lech – Zürs – there are many cable cars at the head of the Lech River. The main advantage of the region is picturesque mountains. Together with St. Anton they form a known ski resort.

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9. Mittelberg

Mittelberg – it makes sense to consider it together with Oberstdorf, since the normal road only goes from Germany. The main attraction is the cable cars (link, link)

Attractions in the Allgäu in general and Oberstdorf in particular

Tyrol

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10. St. Anton am Arlberg

Cable cars (link)

Jump park (Link). Wellness pool in the congress center

Verwall – rope park, canyoning, rafting, mountain biking Link

Pettneu, Schann – pool (only in the summer) Link
Gorge Schnanner Klamm

Do you have any more questions? Use comments ⇓ or private communication form ⇨

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11. Ischgl in summer, Galtür, Kappl, Mathon

Famous ski resort. Ischgl in summer offers mountain walks, numerous small lakes, mountain bike trails and rock climbing. Large playgrounds for families.

Cable cars (link).
“Flying fox” (link). Suspension bridge in Ischgl
Wildpark in Mathon (Link)
Pool in Galtür and thermal pool in Ischgl
Niederseilgarten (rope park at ground level) in Kappl
Disc golf in Kappl

Nearest Switzerland (across the mountain from Ischgl):
Samnaun – cable cars (link), flying fox, thermal pool

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