Dornbirn

Dornbirn is the biggest city in Vorarlberg in Austria. It has almost 50,000 residents (2018) and is an important commercial and shopping centre.

By air
The airport shuttle bus from Friedrichshafen stops at the Messepark on the outskirts of town.

By car
Dornbirn is a few kilometres south of Bregenz and can be reached from the north or south via the A14 expressway.

By foot
From the main station, it is a 5-minute walk to the city centre, which is fairly small. However, many attractions and museums are outside the city centre and you might want to take a bus.

By bus
Dornbirn has great public transport considering its relatively small size. Nine Stadtbus (city bus) lines operate inside the city and several Landbus (countryside) lines connect Dornbirn with neighbouring towns.



Cultural events
During Advent a large Advent market is held on the town square and surrounding streets. In the evenings you can have Glühwein (mulled wine) and the atmosphere gets quite merry and fun. Another great time of year is Fasching, the run up to Lent, when there are often parades and bands on the town square.



Hiking
Most of the land comprising the Dornbirn district is mountainous. The well-developed trails offer numerous hiking opportunities, not only for short outings with children, but also for experienced mountain climbers with a head for heights. The tourist information offers free hiking maps, and an interactive map is available for download.

Zanzenberg
Go for a short hike and visit the Scouts' (Pfadfindergruppe). Offers great views over the Hatlerdorf district of Dornbirn.

Rappenloch
For an interesting trek, take Stadtbus 5 to Rappenloch stop, and then head straight into the (30 min), one of the largest 'chines' (a type of gorge) in central Europe. Pass the, continue to and then up to the , a great natural halfcave, impressive to look at. Continuing toward, you will see strange geologic formations on side. Two cheap restaurants or at least Reststations are on that track. Ebnit is a recreational area and is likewise an excellent starting point for trekking.

Karren
is one of the mountains with great views of Vorarlberg. In good weather the 976m tall mountain offers views extending to the Swiss Alps as well as to the Überlingen part of Lake Constance. The mountain top can be accessed via public transportation (Stadtbus 5, then Minibus 47 to Ebnit), as well as by (Seilbahn). The Panorama Restaurant is located at the top (see listing below). From this point on a network of hiking trails can be accessed; various hikes can be checked out here (German only).

Buy
Dornbirn has a lively city centre with a large pedestrian zone and many shops. If you can't find what you are looking for inside the city, there is also a large mall on the outskirts.



Drink
On those warm summer nights it's great to head to the Marktplatz (town square), the centre of all activity with a number of cozy cafés and more lively venues. Especially Thursdays and Fridays can be recommended.