Bregenz

Town · Vorarlberg, 🇦🇹 Austria

Bregenz is the capital of Vorarlberg and sits on the eastern shore of Lake Constance, where Austria, Germany and Switzerland meet. The Pfänder mountain rises right behind the town, and the lake spreads out in front.

Bregenz is best known for its summer opera festival on a floating stage. It also has a small medieval upper town, a famous art museum and a long lakeside promenade.

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When to visit

June to September is the best time for swimming, boat trips and cycling. The Bregenz Festival runs in July and August, so book rooms early. Spring and autumn are milder and quieter. Winters are cool and often foggy by the lake, but the Pfänder offers views above the cloud on clear days.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

5° (feels like 1°) · extremes -10°–11°
-2° at night
14 rainy days
2 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

6° (feels like 2°) · extremes -11°–13°
-1° at night
13 rainy days
5 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

10° (feels like 7°) · extremes -6°–18°
2° at night
15 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Fair

15° (feels like 12°) · extremes -1°–23°
6° at night
14 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

19° (feels like 18°) · extremes 5°–26°
10° at night
19 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

23° · extremes 9°–29°
14° at night
19 rainy days
10 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

24° (feels like 25°) · extremes 11°–31°
16° at night
20 rainy days
11 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

24° (feels like 25°) · extremes 11°–31°
16° at night
18 rainy days
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Good

21° (feels like 20°) · extremes 6°–27°
12° at night
15 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Good

17° (feels like 15°) · extremes 2°–24°
8° at night
13 rainy days
6 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

10° (feels like 7°) · extremes -5°–18°
3° at night
13 rainy days
2 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

6° (feels like 2°) · extremes -10°–12°
-1° at night
15 rainy days
1 sunny day
2 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

PfänderThe Pfänder is a mountain in western Austria close to Lake Constance. The city of Bregenz lies at the foot of the mountain on the shores of…

Art Museum BregenzThe Kunsthaus Bregenz presents temporary exhibitions of international contemporary art in Bregenz, Vorarlberg.

Vorarlberg museumThe vorarlberg museum in Bregenz is the state art and cultural museum of the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg.

Lake Promenade BregenzStroll past the lake shore and enjoy the scenic landscape. Lined with trees, restaurants, cafés and sculptures.

Burg Hohenbregenz

Territorial Abbey of Wettingen-MehrerauWettingen-Mehrerau Abbey is a Cistercian territorial abbey and cathedral located at Mehrerau on the outskirts of Bregenz in Vorarlberg,…

Parish church of St. Gallus, BregenzThe parish church of St. Gallus is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Bregenz in Vorarlberg, Austria.

Herz Jesu-Kirche

📍

Seebad Bregenz

Künstlerhaus - Palais Thurn-und-Taxis

Pfänder is the town mountain, reached by cable car in minutes. It has a panoramic view over the lake and the three countries, and an alpine animal park.
Kunsthaus Bregenz is an art museum in a glass cube designed by Peter Zumthor.
vorarlberg museum covers the history, nature and culture of Vorarlberg.
Seepromenade Bregenz is the lakeside walkway, which leads to the festival stage and harbour.
Burg Hohenbregenz is a ruined castle above the town.
Zisterzienserabtei Mehrerau is a Cistercian abbey on the edge of town.
Stadtpfarrkirche St. Gallus is the parish church of the old town.
Herz Jesu-Kirche is a neo-Romanesque church close to the lake.
Seebad Bregenz is the lido and a good swimming spot.
The Martinsturm in the upper town has the largest onion dome in central Europe.

Featured Lists

Dguendel / CC BY 3.0

Bregenz Unmissables

Bregenz sits at the edge of Lake Constance, defined by its blend of Alpine landscapes and modern architecture. The city features the world’s largest floating stage at the Bregenzer Festspiele and the Peter Zumthor-designed Kunsthaus Bregenz. Visitors can ascend the Pfänder mountain via cable car for views spanning three countries or explore medieval history at the ruins of Burg Hohenbregenz and the baroque interiors of St. Gallus church. The lakeside promenade connects the cultural district to the historic Cistercian Territorial Abbey of Wettingen-Mehrerau.

12 places

CC-BY-SA-3.0

Outdoor Adventures

Explore the alpine terrain surrounding Bregenz, anchored by the 1,064-meter Pfänder mountain. This selection features varied outdoor challenges, from the technical Känzele Klettersteig via ferrata routes ranging from moderate to extremely difficult, to the historic Gebhardsberg, home to fortress ruins and views of the Rhine Valley. Hikers can traverse the Leiterleweg approach or reach the Pfänder-Südgipfel for panoramic perspectives of Lake Constance and the Swiss Alps.

8 places

Thyes / Public domain

Heritage Sites

Bregenz’s heritage spans centuries, from the high medieval ruins of Burg Hohenbregenz to the mid-century Milchpilz kiosk. The collection features significant religious architecture, including the Cistercian Territorial Abbey of Wettingen-Mehrerau and the Parish Church of St. Gallus. Cultural landmarks like the Kunsthaus Bregenz and the Palais Thurn-und-Taxis integrate contemporary art into historic structures, while various monasteries and parish churches across the city and neighboring Lochau illustrate the region's deep-rooted ecclesiastical and architectural history.

12 places

böhringer friedrich / CC BY-SA 2.5

Historic Religious Sites

Bregenz preserves a significant spiritual legacy, ranging from the Cistercian Mehrerau Abbey on the lake's edge to the historic St. Gallus parish church. The collection includes the Neogothic Herz Jesu-Kirche, the Baroque Nepomukkapelle, and several hillside monasteries like Thalbach and Marienberg. These sites offer insight into the region's monastic history and diverse ecclesiastical architecture spanning from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

8 places

What to experience

See an opera at the Bregenz Festival on the floating stage.
Ride the Pfänder cable car at sunset.
Cycle the lake path toward Lindau.
Swim or sail in summer.
Take a lake boat to Konstanz or Lindau.

Tours & Activities

Bregenz — Map

Day trips

Lindau in Germany is a small island town, about 15 minutes by train.
Feldkirch is a medieval town, about 30 minutes by train.
Dornbirn is a city with a museum quarter and a cable car, about 15 minutes by train.
Schruns is a Montafon resort, about 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
Lech is the Arlberg ski village, about 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
St. Gallen in Switzerland is about 45 minutes by train.

Where to explore

Feldkirch and Schruns are the closest preferred places in Vorarlberg.

Getting there

By air: Zurich Airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by train. Friedrichshafen is closer, with limited flights. Innsbruck and Munich are alternatives.
By train: Bregenz is the end of the Vorarlberg line. Zurich takes about 2 hours, Munich about 2 hours 30 minutes, Innsbruck about 2 hours 15 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By boat: Boats run between Bregenz and other towns on Lake Constance.
By car: The A14 motorway runs through the town.

Getting around

The old town and lakefront are small and walkable. Buses cover the rest of the town. The station is next to the lake. Cycling is easy. The Pfänder cable car starts close to the centre.

Driving

A car is not needed in town. Traffic can be heavy on the lakeside road in summer. Parking garages are close to the centre. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Food & drink

Vorarlberg food mixes Alpine and Swiss influences. Try Käsknöpfle, small cheese dumplings, and lake fish such as whitefish (Felchen). Local wines grow around the lake. Bregenzerwald cheese is sold in markets.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Bregenz is very safe. Be careful when swimming or on boats in changing weather. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112.

History

Bregenz began as the Roman town of Brigantium. In the Middle Ages the counts of Bregenz built a castle above the town. The Bregenz Festival began in 1946 with performances on boats on the lake, and the large floating stage has been built since the 1980s.