Bregenz: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Bregenz was the Roman Brigantium, and its upper town has stood on the hill since the Middle Ages. Down by the lake, the capital of Vorarlberg has some of the boldest new buildings in Austria, the region being known for its architects. This walk starts with the modern museums on the square and climbs to the walled upper town. About two hours with a museum; the climb is short.
A short history of Bregenz
The Celts called the place Brigantion, and the Romans founded Brigantium here, the city on the eastern shore of Lake Constance. In the Middle Ages it was ruled by the counts of Montfort, and in the 15th and 16th centuries the town gradually passed to the House of Habsburg. In 1918 it became the capital of the state of Vorarlberg. In 1946 the Bregenz Festival was held for the first time; operas are staged on a floating stage on the lake, watched in summer by about 7,000 spectators.
The ten best sights in Bregenz
1Kunsthaus BregenzPeter Zumthor's glass cube; one big contemporary show at a time
2vorarlberg museumRegional history from Roman Brigantium on; look at the façade first
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3Martinsturm
Tower with a huge onion dome over the upper town; small museum inside
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4Vorarlberg State Theatre
Theatre in the old granary on Kornmarkt; plays in German
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5Sacred Heart Church
Red-brick neo-Gothic church on the slope above town
6Mehrerau AbbeyCistercian abbey on the shore west of town, with a school and farm
7Jewish Museum Hohenems25 minutes south: the story of a rural Jewish community from 1617
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8Jewish Cemetery Hohenems
On the hillside above Hohenems; get directions at the museum
9Lake StageThe festival's floating stage; visible from the promenade all year
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10Upper Town
The quiet walled old town on the hill, 10 minutes up from the lake
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Bregenz →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Bregenz:
Free walking tours in Bregenz
From Brigantium to the cube
Bregenz was the Roman Brigantium, and its upper town has stood on the hill since the Middle Ages. Down by the lake, the capital of Vorarlberg has some of the boldest new buildings in Austria, the region being known for its architects. This walk starts with the modern museums on the square and climbs to the walled upper town. About two hours with a museum; the climb is short.
- Kornmarktplatz · The grain market gave the square its name, and the granary on it, built in the 1830s, is now a theatre. It is the hinge between the lakeshore and the old streets.
- vorarlberg museum · The museum reopened in 2013 with a façade covered in thousands of concrete flowers. Each was cast from the bottom of a plastic bottle, an idea by the artist Manfred Alois Mayr.
- Kunsthaus Bregenz · Peter Zumthor designed it, and it opened in 1997: a concrete box wrapped in etched glass panels that glow at night. Zumthor later won the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest award.
- Sacred Heart Church · A neo-Gothic brick church finished in 1908, rare in a region of plaster and wood. Its red brick makes it easy to spot on the slope from down by the lake.
- Martinsturm · Its onion dome, added in 1599–1602, is said to be the largest in Central Europe. The chapel at its foot keeps wall paintings from the 14th century.
- Upper Town · The medieval town sat up here, safe above the marshy shore, and the lake town below grew only later. Its walls, gate and narrow lanes are still almost free of cars and shops.
Stage, shore and summit
Every summer the Bregenz Festival plays an opera on a stage built out over the lake, to an audience of about 7,000 on the shore. The set stays up for two seasons, so you can see it from the promenade even out of season. This route walks from the harbour to the stage, then takes the cable car up the Pfänder. Half a day; check the cable car is running before you go.
- Bregenz Harbour Pier · Lake Constance boats are run by companies from all three shore countries, and Austria's fleet is based here. In season you can cross to Lindau in about 25 minutes instead of driving.
- Lakeside Gardens · The railway runs between the town and the lake here, and the gardens are the strip of shore beyond it. Look for the Milchpilz, a mushroom-shaped snack kiosk that has become a town landmark.
- Lake Stage · The festival began in 1946 on two gravel barges moored in the harbour. Today's stage is the world's largest floating stage, and a James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, shot an opera scene on it in 2008.
- Pfänderbahn Valley Station · The cable car opened in 1927 and climbs about 650 metres in roughly six minutes. Cabins leave every half hour, more often in summer.
- Alpine Wildlife Park Pfänder · A free park a few minutes' walk from the top station, with ibex, marmots, wild boar and red deer. There is also a bird-of-prey show in summer.
- Pfänder · At 1,064 metres it is the classic viewpoint over Lake Constance, with Germany, Switzerland and Austria all below you. On clear days the view reaches about 240 Alpine peaks.
Down the Rhine valley to Hohenems
South of Bregenz the Rhine valley runs between Austria and Switzerland, and half an hour away lies Hohenems. From 1617 it had a Jewish community under the protection of its counts, one of the few in this corner of the Alps, and its Jewish quarter survives almost intact. The drive adds a castle crag, a nature museum and a gorge on the way. A full day by car; the museum is closed on Mondays.
- Gebhardsberg · The ruined castle of Hohenbregenz stands on this crag, and the hill is named after St Gebhard, a bishop of Constance born in Bregenz in the 10th century. The terrace looks over the whole Rhine delta.
- inatura Dornbirn · Vorarlberg's nature museum sits in a former textile factory; Dornbirn was the centre of the region's cloth industry. Children can touch most of the exhibits.
- Rappenloch Gorge · The Dornbirner Ach has cut a gorge up to about 70 metres deep here. Walkways and bridges let you follow it to the Alploch gorge just above.
- Jewish Museum Hohenems · The museum opened in 1991 in the Villa Heimann-Rosenthal, home of a Jewish textile family. It tells how Count Kaspar's letter of protection of 1617 let Jews settle here, and follows their descendants across the world.
- Former Synagogue Hohenems · Salomon Sulzer, born in Hohenems in 1804, served here as cantor before he went to Vienna and reshaped synagogue music across Europe. The restored building is now a cultural hall named after him.
- Jewish Cemetery Hohenems · Burials began here in the 17th century, and about 370 graves survive on the wooded slope. Descendants of Hohenems families from many countries still return to visit them.
Getting to Bregenz and getting around
- Bregenz Station · Trains to Lindau, St Gallen, Feldkirch and on to Vienna; the lake is behind the station
- Bregenz Harbour Pier · Lake boats to Lindau and the German shore leave here, mostly April to October
- Pfänderbahn Valley Station · Cable car up the Pfänder, a few minutes' walk from the old town; cars park nearby
Cheap eats in Bregenz
Vorarlberg eats like its neighbours across the mountains: Käsknöpfle, small dumplings baked with strong mountain cheese and fried onions, are the regional dish. Austria uses the euro, and prices are a little lower than across the German border. For a quick meal, bakeries and the Turkish snack bars near the station are the best value.
- Bäckerei Mangold · Local bakery chain; a roll or pastry about €1-4
- Milchpilz · Mushroom kiosk by the lake; ice cream and snacks about €2-6
- KUB Café · Café beside the Kunsthaus; coffee and lunch about €4-14
- Petrus Café Brasserie · Café-brasserie in town; breakfast about €8-14
- Helin City Imbiss · Kebab and quick plates, about €6-10
- Çiğköftem Café Bregenz · Vegan çiğ köfte wraps, about €5-9
Museums in Bregenz
- Kunsthaus Bregenz · Contemporary art in Zumthor's glass box
- vorarlberg museum · Regional history and Roman finds
- Jewish Museum Hohenems · Jewish life in the Alps since 1617
- Martinsturm · Onion-dome tower and small museum
- inatura Dornbirn · Nature museum for a rainy day
Nature and day trips near Bregenz
- Pfänder · Summit view over three countries
- Gebhardsberg · Castle ruin with a Rhine delta view
- Rappenloch Gorge · Gorge walk above Dornbirn
- Lakeside Gardens · Shore lawns for a sunset walk
- Mehrerau Abbey · Quiet abbey grounds on the shore
Things to do in Bregenz with kids
- Alpine Wildlife Park Pfänder · Free animal park at the top
- inatura Dornbirn · Touch-and-try nature museum
- Strandbad Lochau · Lake beach with lawns just north of town
- Lake Stage · See the giant opera set from the shore
- Rappenloch Gorge · Bridges and a waterfall for older kids
Where to eat in Bregenz
- Wirtshaus am See · Big terrace by the Lake Stage; lake fish and Austrian classics
- Gasthaus Lamm · Traditional inn west of the centre
- Gebhardsberg · Castle restaurant with the best evening view
- KUB Café · Early evening drink by the museum
Frequently asked questions about Bregenz
What is there to see in Bregenz?
The top sights in Bregenz are Kunsthaus Bregenz, vorarlberg museum and Martinsturm. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Bregenz?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Bregenz without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Bregenz?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Bregenz, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: From Brigantium to the cube.
How do you get to Bregenz and get around?
The main ways are Bregenz Station, Bregenz Harbour Pier and Pfänderbahn Valley Station. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Bregenz, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Bregenz that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Bregenz for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.