The colours of autumn in Vorarlberg

Datum: 8 October 2025

Panorama hiking

The mixed forests glow in hues of red and yellow. With a bit of luck, the autumn sky is brilliant blue. The views are sweeping and temperatures are hiker-friendly. You can mount either on foot, or ride up by cable car. Most lifts operate until mid/end October.

If you are in a leisurely vein, why not stroll under the chestnut trees in Bregenz along the shores of Lake Constance. Further up, at the Pfänder lookout, you can opt for a 2.5 hour panorama hike. Take the ride up on Pfänderbahn, which operates daily until 2nd November. Lovely views over Lake Constance and the awe-inspiring mountains in the south are your reward from the mountain ridge at 1,000 metres altitude. An easy, four-hour walk from Kristberg across the Wasserstuben valley to Silbertal in Montafon is lined by springs, sources and the Wildried high-altitude moor. Take the Kristbergbahn cable car, which operates daily until 26th of October, to the point of departure.

The almost four-hour walk to Winterstaude at 1,877 metres in Bregenzerwald affords breath-taking panoramic views. Start at the Baumgarten mountain station, which you can reach on the cable car in Bezau, in operation daily until 9 November. On a clear day, you can take in the views from the “Niedere” mountain ridge right to Lake Constance.

Hiker’s and cyclist´s  delight

Several offers combine hiking and cycling with culinary delights . Two mountain restaurants and a 4 star hotel are the stops on the Brandnertal pleasure hike, which can be booked from Wednesday to Sunday until mid-October. Hikers are on the trail for around four hours. In the Bregenzerwald, depending on the route chosen, you can go “Culinary hiking” on six different routes until 27 October or on two routes until 31 October “Culinary cycling”. A culinary pleasure tour on foot or by bike is also offered in Klostertal until 5 October. The hikes/bike tours include breakfast, lunch and dessert, served at three different locations. The cheese hike to Bernhard’s Gemstelalp in Kleinwalsertal is offered every Wednesday until the end of October.

The taste of autumn

Regional specialities such as game, beef, alpine and mountain cheese are showcased by the Vorarlberg Gourmet Regions Kleinwalsertal, Bregenzerwald and Biosphere Park Großes Walsertal as well as the Klostertal from early September to the end of October 2025 as part of the Herbst.Genuss.Zeit event series. From mountain breakfasts to guided hikes and farm tours, there is something for every palate and pleasure lover. Markets, tastings, a street food festival, cooking courses and concerts also invite you to enjoy and linger.

Wild game weeks and so-called “Schlachtpartien”, which restaurants and inns offer throughout the country, are also typical of autumn in Vorarlberg. The Schlachtpartie specialities include blood and liver sausages, served with dumplings and sauerkraut.

Small, exquisite cultural events

This year’s culural highlights include the top-class concerts for a small group of people as part of the 50th Schubertiade Hohenems from 1 to 5 October. Guests include the pianists from the Geister Duo and Till Fellner as well as the clarinettist Sabine Meyer. Classical music will be performed by emerging talents from 9 to 12 October at the :alpenarte festival in Schwarzenberg in the Bregenzerwald. “Zuversicht!” is the theme of the Montforter Zwischentöne from 6 November to 17 December in Feldkirch. The biennial event “Lichtstadt Feldkirch” will be celebrated this year from 9 to 12 October 2025.

Strolling through cities and exploring Lake Constance

For discoveries relating to architecture, culture and history, city walks and/or individual explorations in Bregenz, Dornbirn, Hohenems, Feldkirch and Bludenz are available. The weekly markets are also well-stocked in autumn. They are also good places to stock up on culinary souvenirs. Until 19 October, it is possible to travel from Bregenz harbour to destinations around international Lake Constance by liner. Themed cruises – from delicacy cruises to the “Captain’s Brunch” and Christmas cruises – take place well into December.

Wellness supreme

Autumn is a good time to get winter-fit. The wellness hotels in Vorarlberg offer suitable packages. The Hotel Post Bezau by Susanne Kaufmann specializes in detox retreats. You can fast according to Hildegard von Bingen from 10 October to 18 October and from 18 October to 25 October at the Biohotel Schwanen in Bizau. The numerous day spa options in the wellness hotels are also ideal for a short break from everyday life to relax body and soul.