Excursions

Vorarlberg has a long tradition of small-scale agriculture. Most farmers here live from dairy farming. The milk is used in numerous alpine dairies and in summer months in the Alps to make its Bergkäse, a tangy hard cheese. 

The quaint market town of Rankweil is dominated by this fairytale-esque basilica perched on a hill at its centre. This formidable building on the Liebfrauenberg is a landmark in the truest sense, visible from all over the valley. 

Around 130 animals from 23 different species live here spread across an area of 10 hectares. Visitors can experience and observe numerous alpine animals first-hand during a walk in the Ardetzenberg Wildpark. 

Lake Constance and the sunny slopes of the Rhine Valley used to be home to many vineyards. Nowadays just a few wine growers remain; among them is Josef Möth in Bregenz, whose vineyards are located within touching distance of Lake Constance.

Indoor golf has all the joys of golf, without the rain, blinding sun and long walks. This course in Götzis is home to not only highly acclaimed Golfzon simulators, but also a bar and cosy lounge. It's the ideal setting for team tournaments, as a work trip or as an activity during meetings or conferences.

Hohenems is a small city with grand stories. Testament to this are sites such as the stately Palace of the Counts of Ems who founded an Israelite community. 

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.

Situated right in the city centre, Feldkirch’s Montforthaus hosts various congresses and events all year round. Stunningly renovated in 2015, the building’s ultra-modern façade nestles smoothly between the city’s medieval structures. A new range of tours offer a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes, giving visitors insights into the hosting of exhibitions, congresses, concerts and trade fairs.

Situated just outside the city of Dornbirn this is one of the largest gorges in central Europe. A signposted trail and spectacular wooden footpaths lead past breathtaking views sculpted by prehistorical geological process – as the Mesozoic sea retreated and formed the mountains of the Alps. 

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.

This hilltop fort is the undisputed landmark of Feldkirch, originally built in around 1260 to protect the town and its residents. It’s also the ancestral seat of the Counts of Montfort who rose in the Middle Ages to become the reigning aristocratic family in the region known today as Vorarlberg.

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. 

Formerly a humble stable, this building now houses one of the world’s foremost collection of cribs. The exhibition presents an astonishing variety of widely differing specimens from places as diverse as Austria, Italy, Spain, Lapland, Africa and China. 

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 interactive centre is the region’s most visited museum and one of the most high-tech nature museums in Europe, with underwater cinema, avalanche simulator, science centre, and more.