Excursions

Affectionately known as the KUB, this architecturally unmistakable art centre was opened in 1997 and has since hosted some of the biggest names in international contemporary art. The building is an artwork in itself, designed by the renowned architect Peter Zumthor, and a significant contribution to the Bregenz skyline.

The Bregenzerwald railway line, affectionately known locally as the Wälderbähnle, used to link Bregenz to the mountain village of Bezau. This 35-kilometre stretch was covered by a narrow-gauge track just 760 millimetres wide. 

Vorarlberg is blessed by an abundance of water. From glacial ice to the shores of Lake Constance, the crystal-clear wet stuff seeks its way, is collected, filtered, drunk and – increasingly – is converted into electricity.

Austria Guides offer a magical walking tour to the most beautiful and distinctive points of the city, such as the lakeside promenade, the harbour and the cultural mile.

The only Women’s Museum in Austria plays host to varying exhibitions on women past and present, from a regional or supra-regional perspective. Frauenmuseum Hittisau aims to make clear the cultural contributions of women throughout history and in present day, and as such has hosted over 30 exhibitions to date on various topics. 

With around 5,000 m² of exhibition space, a visit to the FFA Museum is an experience with numerous highlights such as the flight or car simulator, on-site maintenance of aircraft and vehicles and exhibits from the Swiss Army and the British Rolls-Royce production.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pfahlbauten tells the story of life in the Stone and Bronze Ages. You start your visit with a virtual 360° dive in the Archeorama. Here, the life and building structures under water are made visible.

Karren is Dornbirn’s emblematic local mountain, towering over the city and offering panoramic views of the Swiss mountains, the Rhine Valley, and over to Lake Constance. It can be reached on foot in around an hour, or by a few minutes’ cable car ride lifting passengers up to a height of 976 metres.

This historic steamship first graced the Lake Constance waters back in 1913 and in the 21st century it retains a timeless charm and elegance. The flair of its decks, the chic salons, and the mighty steam engine whisk visitors back in time to days gone by.

The little sister of the elegant Hohentwiel steam ship has been back gracing the waters of Lake Constance since May 2019. The MS Oesterreich is a motor ship first launched during the 1920s golden age, and was considered a luxury liner at the time. 

Every child knows that cheese is made from milk. But hardly anyone knows how milk is turned into cheese. So why not finally get to the bottom of this mystery and, while doing so, take the opportunity to nibble a little of your favourite dairy product?

This fascinating exhibition on the history of aerospace at Lake Constance is dedicated to the aviation pioneer Claude Dornier. The museum houses over 400 exhibits and original aircraft and the building’s architecture is a marvel in itself, corresponding to the layout of a hangar. 

This palace is regarded as one of the most important Renaissance buildings in western Austria. Its construction dates back to Cardinal Markus Sitticus III of Hohenems. The palace is now owned and lived in by the Waldburg-Zeil family: Countess Stephanie Waldburg-Zeil can even give a personal tour of the palace on request.

There’s truly something to do on this picturesque lake all year round. From the start of April to October there are daily trips to the most beautiful destinations on Lake Constance. During the high season there are evening trips with music and dancing, as well as round trips to and from Bregenz. 

Austria is famous for its schnapps production, and there’s none finer than here in Vorarlberg. The local Prinz distillery in Hörbranz offers a unique behind-the-scenes look of how their spirit is produced. Visitors are able to watch master distillers at work and gain fascinating insights into the fine art of distillation.