Things to do in Bregenz, Austria - our top 12 tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | What to see and do in Bregenz, Austria? During our winter trip to Vorarlberg, we took the opportunity to visit Bregenz, which is known for its beautiful location on Lake Constance and its annual opera festival. Here are our best tips!

Bregenz in Austria

Bregenz is a pleasant little town which, despite having only 30,000 inhabitants, is the capital of the Austrian province of Vorarlberg. The city is in many ways a summer city, as people flock here to experience both Lake Constance and the immensely popular opera festival. We were here in the winter and experienced a quiet but cosy place.

Bregenz is located on Lake Constance in the federal state of Vorarlberg in western Austria, close to the border with both Germany and Switzerland.

What can you do in Bregenz?

So what can you see and do in Bregenz? Many people come to Bregenz for the opera and art, but there's also a lovely old town and the chance to enjoy the great outdoors. We've put together a list of our top tips.

1. Walk along the seafront promenade

The lake is attractive and regardless of the season, it feels natural to go down to Lake Constance and walk along the promenade, where you can spot the "fisherman's pier" from 1902. Right now it was cold and the water was mirror-like. In the summer, you can see both people swimming and boats chugging around.

2. Take a boat ride on Lake Constance

During the summer months, you can discover Lake Constance from the water. From Bregenz there are both regular boat connections to other towns around the lake and various types of tours and excursions.

3. Experience opera at the Bregenz Opera Festival

The famous Bregenzer Festspiele is held every summer and attracts crowds of visitors to the performances, not least on the spectacular floating stage Seebühne.

At the time, the concert hall was a slightly sleepy building with large scaffolding around it, so we decided to show a press photo from one of the summer opera performances. Each opera is performed two years in a row, and then the stage is rebuilt for a new performance.

4. Visit the Vorarlberg Museum

The Vorarlberg Museum is located in the centre of the city, right next to Lake Constance, and tells the story of the federal state of Vorarlberg. The museum also has an interesting exterior. The walls are decorated with shapes representing ... the bottom of different types of pet bottles.

5. See art at Kunsthaus Bregenz

Considering that Bregenz is a relatively small city, there is an incredible amount of culture here. It is not only opera that attracts, but also art, for example. Among other things, you can visit the Kunsthaus Bregenz, which shows contemporary art, and which also has an unusually delicious and special facade.

6. Strolling in the Lower Town

Bregenz is divided into an upper and a lower part of the city, with the upper being the old town and the lower being the lake. Along the lake you will find, among other things, a bunch of magnificent and special buildings.

Besides the Vorarlberg Museum and Kunsthaus Bregenz, you can check out the Vorarlberg Landestheater and the beautiful old post office. In the lower town you will also find all the restaurants and shops of the city.

7. Check out Europe's narrowest building facade

At Kirchstraße 29 you will find a real curiosity: a house facade that is only 57 centimeters wide and is marketed as the narrowest in Europe. The house is considerably wider further in, but the facade itself is undeniably impressively narrow.

8. Have a bagel at Cafesito

Looking for a coffee or something simple to eat? We snuck into Cafesito, where you can choose from a variety of bagels with rich fillings as well as muffins and other sweet pastries. A relaxed place with a nice atmosphere!

9. Look inside the church of St Gallus

The parish church of St. Gallus is located on a hill above the city and has very old origins. The church is mentioned in documents as early as the end of the 11th century, although it has been rebuilt several times throughout history.

Inside the church there is, among other things, a magnificent silver altar, which is considered one of the most important Baroque works of art in Vorarlberg.

10. Walk in the Old Town (Upper Town)

Oberstadt feels much quieter than the city center down by the lake and is primarily an area for those who want to stroll among historic buildings, old walls and small alleys.

There's a nice view of the church of St Gallus, where people used to go to worship, and you can check out the Martinsturm tower, where you'll find the Martinskapelle chapel.

People live in the old neighbourhood, but there are currently no shops or restaurants, which makes the area very calm and quiet, even in summer.

11. ride the Pfänderbahn

Pfänder is a mountain in Bregenz with a height of 1064 metres above sea level. You can take the Pfänderbahn cable car up here for panoramic views of both the city and Lake Constance.

12. Experience nature in Vorarlberg - hiking or skiing

Last but not least, we have to mention the nature in Vorarlberg. If you visit Bregenz in the winter, you can go downhill or cross-country skiing, or perhaps go on a winter hike, snowshoeing or tobogganing (sledding). In the summer, hiking, cycling, climbing, fishing or even paragliding can be on the agenda.

READ MORE: Culinary winter walk in glorious Vorarlberg

READ MORE: Cross-country skiing in Austria - ski school in Vorarlberg

More to see and do in Bregenz

Want to experience even more in this interesting city? Here you will find more suggestions for things to see and do in Bregenz, for those interested in culture and history.

• Galleries with art, there's a whole bunch in Bregenz.
• Guided tour in town is a great way to get to know the history of Bregenz. Current tours and languages can be found at the tourist office.
• Church of the Sacred Heart is a neo-Gothic style church from the early 20th century (Kolpingplatz 1).
• Nepomuk Chapel is a baroque chapel from 1757 (Kornmarktplatz).

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

There is of course more to see and do near Bregenz. For example, you can visit the beautiful town of Feldkirch, Dornbirn, which is the largest town in Vorarlberg, or one of the many cozy villages in the area. Here you will find more tips:

• Winter trip to Vorarlberg