Small alpine town with great connections: Between the Rätikon and the Arlberg, Bludenz is the gateway to the hiking areas of Montafon, Brandnertal and the Großes Walsertal. In the old town, cafés sit beneath arcades alongside small shops. In summer, high trails and Lake Lünersee beckon; in winter, the ski areas in the neighboring valleys call.
It is also a quick train ride to Lake Constance, and the cable car goes up to the Muttersberg. Afterward, a Fohrenburger beer hits the spot.
Trip Essentials
How many days should I stay in Bludenz?
Half a day is enough for a stroll through the old town with the tower of St. Lawrence Church and a coffee break. Many come here because of the convenient train connection and find an accommodation in one of the nearby villages.
Two to three days are worth it if Bludenz serves as a practical base for excursions. Popular trips include the cable car up to the Muttersberg, Lake Lünersee in the Brandnertal, a walk through the Bürs Gorge or a short jaunt into the Montafon.
Be aware that Bludenz is rather quiet (that is, small). Restaurants have limited opening hours (check before you end up hungry at the door!). On the plus side, there is a large shopping center with everything you might need.
Best time to visit Bludenz
May to October is ideal for hikes and cable car rides. Many alpine pastures and lakes are easy to reach then.
December to March is good for winter sports in the surrounding valleys, while the old town stays relaxed.
Spring (March to June)
Trails in the valley are snow free early; the Bürs Gorge and those first panorama days on the Muttersberg are pleasant. Average temperatures 7 to 19 °C
Summer (July to August)
Long days for mountain lakes and high trails, good conditions for Lake Lünersee and outings on the sunny balcony of the Muttersberg.
Average temperatures 20 to 21 °C. In early August the ALPINALE short film festival takes place
Autumn (September to November)
Clear views, quiet trails and golden larches. September is a good month to start, when the Klostermarkt monastery market brings the old town to life.
Average temperatures 6 to 16 °C
Winter (December to February)
Festive old town with a market from late November until Christmas Eve. Ski areas in the Montafon and Brandnertal are easy to reach.
Average temperatures 0 to 3 °C
Getting around Bludenz
In the center you can reach almost everything on foot.
At the station the S-Bahn lines converge; the S4 runs to Schruns, the S1 through the Rhine Valley.
You reach the Brandnertal by bus 580. Timetables and tickets are available from Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg, also handy as an app.
Getting There
By Train
Bludenz is very well connected within Vorarlberg and is therefore also the gateway to the five nearby valleys.
Bregenz 45 to 60 min
Innsbruck 1.5 to 2.0 hours
Zurich HB 2.0 to 2.5 hours
By Car and Parking
The streets in the old town are narrow and parking is limited.
Good parking is available in the Parkgarage Zentrum. From there you are right in the old town. The entrance is at Zürcherstraße 6, and in a few minutes you are on Herrengasse.
Day Trips
Lünersee
Half day or day trip · 50 to 60 min
at the end of the Brandnertal with turquoise water and rock walls. Whether you circle the lake or stop at a hut, the views are impressive.
Getting there: Bludenz station or post office → bus 580 to Lünerseebahn → cable car to the dam wall
Bürs Gorge (Bürs)
A short loop leads over walkways and small bridges through a with old trees. Ideal as a gentle nature experience.
Getting there: Bludenz → bus 580 to Bürs Dorfmitte → marked trailhead, loop about 2 hours
Bregenz (Lake Constance)
Stroll along the lakeside promenade, ride the Pfänder cable car for views over the lake and the Alps, and visit the Kunsthaus Bregenz.
Getting there: Bludenz station → S-Bahn or regional train toward Bregenz → get off at Bregenz
St. Anton am Arlberg
In summer, hiking trails start right in town; in winter, St. Anton is one of the most storied ski centers in the Alps.
Getting there: Bludenz station → Railjet or regional train toward the Arlberg → get off at St. Anton am Arlberg
Local Specialties
After a fine mountain tour, hearty Vorarlberg cuisine really hits the spot.
Typical dishes
- Vorarlberger Käsknöpfle with caramelized onions and potato salad
- Montafoner Sura Kees, a mild sour milk cheese, plain or in simple dishes
- Riebel made from cornmeal, served sweet or savory
Popular drinks
- Fohrenburger beer from the Bludenz brewery
- Fruit brandies and herbal schnapps from the region
Restaurant recommendations
- Schloss cuisine (Schlosshotel Dörflinger) terrace with views over the rooftops, regional cuisine with a modern touch
- Alpengasthof Muttersberg right by the top station with a wide panorama
- Wirtshaus Kohldampf (Fohren Center) down to earth with a large beer garden, conveniently near the center
History
- 1274 Bludenz receives town privileges; Schloss Gayenhofen goes back to the count’s castle complex
- 1420 town and lordship pass to Austria; several town fires in the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries shape its appearance
- 1872/1884 rail links to Lindau and across the Arlberg turn Bludenz into a transport hub
- 1880 the Fohrenburg brewery is founded, an institution that still shapes the town today