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Bregenzerwald
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Explore Bregenzerwald in Austria for timber architecture, mountain cheese, alpine villages, hiking, skiing and carefully shaped rural landscapes.

In the north-eastern corner of Vorarlberg, the Bregenzerwald forms a landscape of broad green valleys, wooded slopes and high Alpine pastures rising towards the limestone peaks of the northern Alps. The region stretches inland from the lower Bregenzerwald around Egg and Schwarzenberg to the mountainous communities of Mellau, Bezau, Au, Schoppernau and Damüls. Its proximity to Lake Constance and the Rhine Valley makes it accessible, yet its character is defined by smaller settlements, working farms and mountain roads rather than by a single urban centre.
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The Bregenzerwald is particularly noted for the way traditional farmhouses and contemporary timber buildings coexist. Dark wooden barns, weathered shingles and carefully maintained village centres reflect an agricultural culture adapted to wet Alpine conditions, while modern houses, community buildings and museums demonstrate the region's continuing architectural confidence. Schwarzenberg is known for its historic village setting and artistic associations, Bezau provides a useful transport and excursion base, and Hittisau has an important cultural focus in the Women's Museum.
Daily life remains closely linked to the seasonal movement of livestock between valley farms, intermediate meadows and high pastures. Dairy production is central to the regional identity, and mountain cheese is made in village dairies and alpine huts. Hiking and cycling routes connect hamlets, forests and mountain meadows in summer, while skiing, snowshoeing and winter walking shape the colder months. The landscape is cultivated rather than wilderness in the strict sense: hay meadows, cattle pastures, forest management and tourism all contribute to its appearance.
The northern and southern parts of the Bregenzerwald offer different experiences. Around Egg, Andelsbuch and Schwarzenberg, lower hills, villages and cultural sites suit gentle walking and explorations by public transport. Farther south, the valleys narrow and the mountains become more dominant around Mellau, Bezau, Au and Schoppernau, with lifts and trails providing access to higher terrain. In Damüls, one of Austria's highest permanently inhabited villages, winter sports and expansive mountain views are especially prominent. Visitors who allow time for both the valley communities and the upland landscapes will gain a more complete understanding of this distinctive part of Austria.

When is the best time to visit Bregenzerwald?

Best: June–August · 21–23°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January160
February255
March765
April1270
May1780
June (best)2190
July (best)23100
August (best)2295
September1985
October1375
November770
December365

Getting to and around Bregenzerwald

How to get there

The Bregenzerwald is reached mainly by road and regional bus from Bregenz, Dornbirn or the Rhine Valley. Bregenz and Dornbirn, outside the Bregenzerwald, are the nearest major railway gateways, with connections across Austria and towards Switzerland and Germany. Zurich Airport and Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany can be useful international gateways, but both are outside Austria and require onward road or rail travel. From Bregenz, buses continue inland towards communities such as Egg, Bezau and Mellau; access to the southern valleys generally involves changing routes or travelling by car.

Transportation

Regional buses link the principal villages and provide access to many walking areas, but rural services become less frequent in the evenings and in higher side valleys. A car is convenient for combining scattered villages, alpine roads and trailheads, although visitors should expect winding roads, steep gradients and seasonal restrictions. Cycling is rewarding on valley roads but demanding on routes rising towards the passes. Walking is the best way to experience the farm landscape, while ski buses and lift connections may operate seasonally in the larger winter-sports areas; check current arrangements locally.

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Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Bregenzerwald

The Bregenzerwald's attractions are distributed through its valleys rather than concentrated in one resort. Village walks in Schwarzenberg, Bezau, Egg, Hittisau and Andelsbuch reveal timber farmhouses, chapels, workshops and carefully maintained public spaces, while the Werkraum Bregenzerwald in Andelsbuch explores the region's continuing relationship with craft and design. The Women's Museum in Hittisau takes a distinctive cultural and social approach to regional and international themes. Outdoor attractions range from gentle meadow paths and forest tracks to demanding Alpine routes around Mellau, Au, Schoppernau and Damüls. In summer, cable cars and walking networks open access to high pastures and panoramic ridges; in winter, the area supports skiing, snowshoeing and winter walking. Rural dairies, alpine huts and farm shops add a working dimension to sightseeing, and the preserved section of the Bregenzerwaldbahn offers insight into the region's transport history. Families may prefer manageable village walks and lift-accessed viewpoints, while experienced walkers can plan longer routes across high valleys, always allowing for changing weather and seasonal access.

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Best landmarks in Bregenzerwald

The Bregenzerwald's most recognisable landmarks often combine architecture with the surrounding working landscape. Schwarzenberg's village centre is distinguished by historic wooden houses, a parish church and the legacy of Angelika Kauffmann, the eighteenth-century painter born in the village. The KäseStrasse Bregenzerwald is not a single monument but a regional network of dairies, villages and food producers that gives visible form to the area's cheese-making tradition. In Andelsbuch, the Werkraum building represents the region's modern craft culture through architecture that is itself part of the story. The narrow-gauge railway heritage associated with the Bregenzerwaldbahn recalls the connection that transformed access to the valleys in the early twentieth century. Higher landmarks are natural rather than built: the mountain amphitheatres around Mellau, Damüls, Au and Schoppernau, with their pastures, limestone summits and pronounced seasonal contours, express the geography that has shaped settlement and farming. Village churches, chapels, timber barns and carefully positioned farmhouses complete the region's characteristic visual identity.

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Best restaurants in Bregenzerwald

Food in the Bregenzerwald is closely tied to dairy farming, alpine pasture and the practical cooking of Vorarlberg. Bregenzerwälder mountain cheese is the defining product, and it appears on mixed cheese plates, in savoury dishes and alongside farmhouse bread at village dairies, alpine huts and rural inns. Other local specialities include Käsknöpfle, small egg noodles traditionally combined with cheese and fried onions, as well as regional versions of Riebel, a simple cornmeal dish associated with Vorarlberg. Menus vary from traditional Gasthäuser and hut kitchens to contemporary restaurants that use seasonal vegetables, local dairy products and Alpine herbs. In the valleys, cafés and bakeries are useful stops for coffee and pastries, while farm shops offer cheese, butter, honey and other produce. Dining is generally more dispersed than in a city, so opening days and evening availability should be checked before travelling to a remote village or mountain establishment.

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Best bars in Bregenzerwald

Evening life in the Bregenzerwald is modest and community-oriented rather than centred on a large club scene. Traditional inns and hotel bars are the main places for a relaxed drink, with social life often extending around village events, seasonal celebrations and live music. Bezau, Egg, Mellau and the larger resort communities offer the broadest choice of cafés, bars and evening restaurants, while smaller settlements may become quiet soon after dinner. In winter, après-ski venues can be livelier around the ski areas, particularly in higher resorts, but the atmosphere remains more Alpine than metropolitan. Some restaurants and bars showcase Vorarlberg beer, schnapps or non-alcoholic regional drinks, and occasional cultural programmes provide an alternative to nightlife focused on alcohol. Visitors should expect earlier closing patterns and should arrange transport in advance when staying outside the main villages, since late public transport is limited in rural valleys.

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Best nightclubs in Bregenzerwald

Evening life in the Bregenzerwald is modest and community-oriented rather than centred on a large club scene. Traditional inns and hotel bars are the main places for a relaxed drink, with social life often extending around village events, seasonal celebrations and live music. Bezau, Egg, Mellau and the larger resort communities offer the broadest choice of cafés, bars and evening restaurants, while smaller settlements may become quiet soon after dinner. In winter, après-ski venues can be livelier around the ski areas, particularly in higher resorts, but the atmosphere remains more Alpine than metropolitan. Some restaurants and bars showcase Vorarlberg beer, schnapps or non-alcoholic regional drinks, and occasional cultural programmes provide an alternative to nightlife focused on alcohol. Visitors should expect earlier closing patterns and should arrange transport in advance when staying outside the main villages, since late public transport is limited in rural valleys.

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Best shops in Bregenzerwald

Shopping in the Bregenzerwald is primarily local and craft-led rather than based on large retail centres. Village streets in Bezau, Egg, Schwarzenberg, Hittisau and Andelsbuch contain small food shops, bakeries, galleries and practical outdoor retailers, while farm shops and dairies sell mountain cheese, butter, honey, spirits and other regional produce. The Werkraum Bregenzerwald in Andelsbuch provides an introduction to the work of local craftspeople and can help visitors understand the region's strong traditions in woodworking, furniture, textiles and household design. Markets and seasonal village events may offer handmade goods, but their timing changes, so check local tourist information rather than relying on a fixed schedule. Good regional purchases include carefully made wooden objects, contemporary craft pieces, cheese and illustrated material about local architecture. For a broader choice of conventional high-street shopping, Bregenz and Dornbirn are outside the Bregenzerwald and serve as the nearest larger retail centres.

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Bregenzerwald essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the euro (EUR), as throughout Austria. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, transport offices and many restaurants, but small alpine huts, village events, lockers or rural service businesses may still prefer cash. Carry some euros when hiking or travelling through sparsely settled valleys, and do not assume that every unattended farm shop or mountain hut accepts cards. ATMs are available in the larger villages, though not at every trailhead or high-altitude settlement.
Safety
The Bregenzerwald is generally well organised for visitors, but Alpine conditions require sensible preparation. Check weather and route conditions before hiking, stay on marked paths where appropriate, and allow extra time for wet ground, steep descents and sudden changes in visibility. Keep dogs under control around grazing livestock and give cattle a wide berth, particularly when accompanied by calves. In winter, follow marked pistes and winter paths, take avalanche information seriously and use suitable equipment. Drivers should expect narrow roads, cyclists, farm machinery and snow-related delays.
Emergency Situations
Austria's emergency numbers apply in the Bregenzerwald: call 112 for the European emergency number, 144 for an ambulance, 133 for police and 122 for the fire service. For mountain emergencies, 140 connects to Mountain Rescue Austria; 112 can also be used where necessary. Give the name of the municipality, trail, lift or alpine hut and describe visible landmarks if you are in the mountains. Reception can be intermittent in valleys and on ridges, so tell someone your route before setting out and keep your phone charged.
Do's and Don'ts
Respect private farms, working barns and marked agricultural land, and close gates behind you when a path requires it. Do not feed cattle or approach calves, and keep dogs leashed or closely controlled near livestock and wildlife. In churches and chapels, dress and behave respectfully; photography may be restricted. On public transport, queue and allow passengers to leave before boarding. Tipping in restaurants and cafés is customary but discretionary, usually by rounding up or adding a modest amount. Follow local signs, especially those concerning walking routes, parking and winter hazards.
Local Tips
The Bregenzerwald's smaller villages reward unhurried visits: compare the building traditions of Schwarzenberg, the cultural offerings around Hittisau and the craft institutions near Andelsbuch. Ask tourist offices about current walking conditions rather than relying solely on a summer map, because routes may be affected by forestry, farming or snow. Mountain cheese is best understood as part of the seasonal dairy system, so visiting a village dairy or alpine pasture adds context to tasting it. Consider travelling by bus for linear walks and using lifts only where they meaningfully extend access to higher terrain.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloGrüß Gott[Groos Got]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[Owf Veederzayn]
YesJa[Yah]
NoNein[Nyn]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[Bitt-eh]
Thank youDanke[Dahn-keh]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[Ent-shool-dee-goong]
How are you?Wie geht's?[Vee gates?]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und dir?[Goot. Oond deer?]
Do you speak English?Sprichst du Englisch?[Spreekst doo Ing-lish?]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[Ick fer-shtay-eh nikht]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch hätte gerne die Speisekarte, bitte[Ick het-teh gair-neh dee Shpyze-kahr-teh, bitt-eh]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[Ick ess-eh kine Flysh]
Cheers!Prost![Prohst!]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bezahlen, bitte[Ick mer-kt-eh beh-tsah-len, bitt-eh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![Hil-feh!]
Go away!Geh weg![Gay vek!]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![Roof-en Zee dee Poh-li-tsai!]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![Roof-en Zee eye-nen Artst!]
I'm lostIch habe mich verirrt[Ick hah-beh mikh fer-eert]
I'm illIch bin krank[Ick bin krank]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte kaufen...[Ick mer-kt-eh kow-fen...]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[Ick shau-eh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?[Vee feel kost-et es?]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[Das ist tsoo toy-er]
Can you lower the price?Könnten Sie den Preis senken?[Kern-ten Zee den Pryce sen-ken?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[Vee shpayt ist es?]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[Es ist ine Oor]
Half past (10)Halb (10)[Halb (10)]
MorningMorgen[Morg-en]
AfternoonNachmittag[Nahk-mit-tag]
EveningAbend[Ah-bent]
YesterdayGestern[Gest-ern]
TodayHeute[Hoy-teh]
TomorrowMorgen[Morg-en]
1Eins[Eyns]
2Zwei[Tsvy]
3Drei[Dry]
4Vier[Veer]
5Fünf[Foonf]
6Sechs[Zex]
7Sieben[Zee-ben]
8Acht[Akh-t]
9Neun[Noyn]
10Zehn[Tzehn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/das...?[Vo ist ine/das...?]
What's the address?Wie lautet die Adresse?[Vee low-tet dee Ah-dress-eh?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Könnten Sie mir zeigen (auf der Karte)?[Kern-ten Zee meer tsay-gen (owf der Kar-tah)?]
When's the next (bus)?Wann fährt der nächste (Bus)?[Vahn fehrt der nay-sh-teh (Boos)?]
A ticket (to ....)Ein Ticket (nach....)[Ine Tih-ket (nahkh....)]

History of Bregenzerwald

Early settlement and Alpine farming

The Bregenzerwald's valleys and lower mountain slopes were settled gradually, with farming communities developing around meadows, forests and pasture rights. The region's economy was shaped by seasonal livestock husbandry: cattle moved between valley farms and higher alpine pastures during the warmer months. This system produced the patterned landscape of hay meadows, barns and wooded hills that remains visible today. Farm buildings were not merely homes but working units designed for storing hay, housing animals and coping with a demanding climate.

Medieval expansion under the Counts of Bregenz and Montfort

During the Middle Ages, the wider area was influenced first by the Counts of Bregenz and later by the Counts of Montfort, whose territories covered much of present-day Vorarlberg. Churches, local settlements and systems of landholding developed as communities became more firmly integrated into regional political structures. The Bregenzerwald retained a relatively dispersed settlement pattern rather than forming one dominant town, a characteristic still evident in its hamlets, parish villages and scattered farmsteads.

The Bregenzerwald rural community

From the late Middle Ages into the early modern period, Bregenzerwald communities developed strong local institutions governing land, pasture and woodland use. The so-called Bregenzerwald rural community, or Bauernrepublik in later historical shorthand, represented a notable tradition of local self-administration, although it operated within wider feudal and state structures rather than as an independent republic. Communal rights and responsibilities helped regulate access to alpine resources and contributed to the region's enduring culture of cooperative land management.

Habsburg rule and the formation of Vorarlberg

The Habsburgs gradually acquired control over the territories of present-day Vorarlberg between the late Middle Ages and the early modern era. The Bregenzerwald became part of a political world linked to Austria while maintaining local customs, parish structures and agricultural practices. In the nineteenth century, administrative reforms and the eventual creation of the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg gave the region a clearer place within modern Austria. Roads and improved communications increasingly connected its valleys with Bregenz, the Rhine Valley and neighbouring Alpine districts.

Dairy culture, trade and migration

For centuries, the Bregenzerwald combined subsistence agriculture with trade in timber, livestock, dairy products and craft goods. Mountain cheese became one of the most recognisable products of the region's alpine economy, made from milk produced during summer grazing and matured in village or alpine dairies. Limited agricultural opportunities also encouraged seasonal work and migration, especially before modern tourism and improved transport offered new income. The result was a culture that remained rural while maintaining connections across Vorarlberg and the wider Alpine world.

Tourism, railways and modern architecture

Tourism expanded from the late nineteenth century, helped by better roads and the Bregenzerwaldbahn, a narrow-gauge railway that connected the region with the Rhine Valley and Bregenz from 1902. Although the railway no longer operates through the entire Bregenzerwald, surviving sections and railway heritage remain part of the region's story. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, winter sports, hiking and cultural tourism developed alongside farming. Contemporary regional architecture and the Werkraum craft movement have made the continued use of timber and local workmanship an important part of the Bregenzerwald's public identity.

Bregenzerwald in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Bregenzerwald

Discover Bregenzerwald with Evendo, your 100% free, all-in-one travel guide app. Explore top attractions, landmarks, and local gems without any cost.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities.
  • Rich content including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details.
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Unlock the beauty of Bregenzerwald with Evendo, the free app-based travel guide that gives you detailed insights into attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more.

  • History of Bregenzerwald and travel essentials.
  • Curated local tips to experience Bregenzerwald like a local.
  • User-friendly navigation and 'Near Me' feature for discovering nearby attractions.
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases or additional costs.

Planning a trip to Bregenzerwald, Austria? Evendo is your ultimate travel companion, offering an immersive and comprehensive guide to this stunning region. From the breathtaking Kanisfluh mountain to the serene Schwarzenberg village, Evendo provides detailed information on all the must-see attractions and hidden gems. Fancy a culinary delight? Explore top dining spots like Restaurant Adler and Gasthof Hirschen, known for their authentic Austrian cuisine.

Evendo makes it easy to book hotels, tours, and activities, ensuring you make the most of your Bregenzerwald experience. With rich descriptions, local tips, images, and maps, you'll never miss a beat. Navigate the region effortlessly with our 'Near Me' feature, and discover places like the Angelika Kauffmann Museum and the Bregenzerwald Cheese Road. Whether it's shopping, nightlife, or outdoor adventures, Evendo has it all covered.

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