Dornbirn

• Dornbirn Tourismus & Stadtmarketing

  phone: +43 5572 22188
  address: Rathausplatz 1a
  Can offer advice for accommodation, sightseeing, and restaurants.

By air

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

By rail

• Hauptbahnhof Dornbirn

  phone: +43 512 930000
  address: Eisenbahnlinie 7
  Some intercity trains running through Austria stop in Dornbirn; the most frequent rail connections are via Bregenz and Feldkirch. Use ÖBB's SCOTTY to look up train information online. Storage lockers available.

• Bahnhof Dornbirn-Schoren

  address: Höchsterstraße
  uburban trains.

• Bahnhof Hatlerdorf

  address: Bahngasse
  uburban trains.

• Bahnhof Haselstauden

  address: Bachgasse
  uburban trains.

By car

Dornbirn is just 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 only a 5-minute walk to the city centre, which is fairly small. However, many attractions and museums are outside and you might want to take a bus.

By bus

Dornbirn has a great public transport considering its relatively small size. Nine Stadtbus lines operate inside the city and several Landbus lines connect Dornbirn with neighbouring towns. A comprehensive route map for both services can be downloaded here.

• Stadtbus

  phone: +43 5572 32 300
  address: Eisenbahnlinie 7
  All routes also run a night bus (Nachtbus) on Friday and Saturday nights as well as the eves of holidays. Dogs are permitted on board if muzzled and leashed. Schedules for all routes can be downloaded here.

• Landbus Unterland

  phone: +43 5572 32 300
  address: Eisenbahnlinie 7
  A complete list of all schedules to download is available here.

By taxi

• Taxi Linder

  phone: +43 5572 21122

• Taxi Leitner

  phone: +43 5572 27511

• Church of St Martin

  address: Marktplatz 1
  The foundations date to the 13th century. The current structure was built in 1840 in the neoclassical style.

• Rolls-Royce Museum

  phone: +43 5572 52652
  address: Gütle 11a
  This museum is the most extensive of its kind in the world. Founded in 1999, it houses more than 1000 exhibits, including several dozen classic vehicles, in a space of about 3000m². The museum also organises special rides.

• Inatura Erlebnis Naturschau

  phone: +43 5572 232 35-0
  address: Jahngasse 19
  This historic factory has been modernised and now houses a science center, with interactive exhibits focusing on the natural sciences. Also has a gift shop, library, and restaurant.

• Kunstraum Dornbirn

  phone: +43 5572 55 0 44
  address: Jahngasse 9
  Showcases art installations created by artists-in-residence.

• Flatz Museum

  address: Marktstrasse 33
  A small two-room museum exhibiting pieces by the provocative Dornbirn-born performance artist Wolfgang Flatz.

Cultural events

During Advent a large Advent market is held in the market place and surrounding streets and squares. In the evenings the Glühwein stands stay open 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 in the market place.

• Spielboden

  phone: +43 5572 21933
  address: Färbergasse 15, Rohrbach
  For cultural events (art-house films, music, dance) the Spielboden is worth a visit. Tickets for events are sold at the tourist information office and all Raiffeisenbank branches, as well as online.

Sport

• Stadtbad

  phone: +43 5572 22687
  address: Schillerstraße 18
  Worth a visit for the modern architecture alone. The facilities are brand new – there are 3 pools, 2 diving boards and a water flume as well as a sauna.

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 has free hiking maps, and an interactive map is available online.

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 (30mins), 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 itself is a recreational area and is likewise an excellent starting point for trekking.

Karren

is one of the mountains which has good views of Vorarlberg. In good weather the 976m 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 a network of hiking trails can be accessed; a trail map (in German) for all trails including the Rappenloch (listed above) can be downloaded here.

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.

• Wochenmarkt

  phone: +43 5572-306-7105
  address: Marktplatz
  There are stalls selling anything you could possibly desire; cheese and meat from small farms in the Bregenzerwald, socks, fresh bread, fruit and veg, organic beauty products, flowers... It's nice to spend a while wandering round it, and if you buy something you can be sure it's locally produced and therefore better for the regional economy. Everyone's a winner!

• Messepark

  phone: +43 5572 29380-0
  address: Messestraße 2
  A typical shopping mall with all the usual chain stores. Also has an Interspar grocery store (opens daily ½hr earlier).

• Rotes Haus

  phone: +43 5572 31555
  address: Marktplatz 13
  This wooden house dating from 1639 houses a well-regarded restaurant for traditional Austrian cuisine.

• Zeitgenuss 21 Cafe

  phone: +43 5572 386159
  address: Martktstrasse 21
  This classy restaurant serves sushi. They also do a great selection of teas.

• Pizzeria Ristorante Paolo & Andrea

  phone: +43 5572 386143
  address: Riedgasse 20
  Has great Italian Pizza. For take away every pizza and pasta dish is €6.

• Panoramarestaurant Karren

  phone: +43 5572 54711
  address: Karren, Bergstation
  Perches on the side of a mountain above town. They serve mainly good typically Austrian cuisine! You can see it from everywhere in the city. The view over the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance is stunning night and day and it's often sunny up there when it's foggy down below. They do a very good value cable car and meal combination ticket on weekday lunchtimes. Reservations can be made online.

On those warm summer nights it's great to go to the Marktplatz, the centre of all activity with a number of cosy cafés and more lively venues. Especially Thursdays and Fridays can be recommended.

• Klappe 2

  phone: +45 0664-4778781
  address: Marktstraße 2
  A movie-themed cafe bar a little further up the street.

• Mr John's American Bar

  phone: +43 664 5335902
  address: Marktplatz 12
  An upstairs bar in the corner where you can smoke a water pipe if you so wish.

• 7er Bar

  phone: +43 650 8422027
  address: Eisengasse 7
  This is the true alternative scene, with live rock music and other events. They even sell beer! It's often packed and is a great place to have a quick drink or spend the entire evening.

• Conrad Sohm

  phone: +43 5572 35433
  address: Boden 1
  An alternative music venue. Tickets to events can be purchased online here and here. On weekends there is a free shuttle bus which offers service from the main train station – Rathaus (Marktplatz) – Conrad Sohm and back (F Sa and holidays every 15min from 22:30 until closing; last bus leaves at 03:00).

• Innauer

  phone: +43 5572 203488
  address: Marktstraße 33
  Has great drum'n'base and dance.

• Tivoli Kellerbar

  phone: +43 5572 24172
  address: Riedgasse 8
  A popular place to hang out.

• Fairmotel

  phone: +43 5572 398500
  address: Wallenmahd 15
  Also offers long-stay apartments. Free wi-fi.

• Harry's Home

  phone: +43 5572 20 8000
  address: Klostergasse 8
  Pets permitted for extra fee.

• Hotel Hirschen

  phone: +43 5572 26363
  address: Haselstauderstraße 31

• Hotel Katharinenhof

  phone: +43 5572 22577
  address: Franz-Michael-Felder-Straße 2
  Also offers holiday apartments. Free wi-fi in lobby, minimum stay 3 days. Also operates Palabra, a Spanish wine bar (M T F 18:00-)

• Hotel Krone

  phone: +43 5572 22 7 20
  address: Hatlerstraße 2
  Also offers long-stay apartments and has a restaurant.

• Martinspark Hotel

  phone: +43 5572 3760
  address: Mozartstraße 2
  Also offers long-stay holiday apartments. All rooms are nonsmoking with free wi-fi. There is an onsite restaurant and bar.

• Four Points by Sheraton Panoramahaus Dornbirn

  address: Messestrasse 1
  The Four Points is located out of town by the A14 motorway, in the oval Panoramahaus tower, which sits atop the "Home of balance" fitness and wellness centre with an outdoor pool. On the hotel's top floor, the "Sky-Restaurant" and "Sky-Bar" offer excellent views over the city of Dornbirn and the surroundings. Some of the rooms on lower floors do overlook the neighbouring Messepark shopping centrum, which is far less spectacular. Rooms have varying categories, and their appointments and features belie the brand's humble character.