Feldkirch

• Stadtmarketing und Tourismus Feldkirch

  phone: +43 5522 73467
  address: Montfortplatz 1
  Can offer advice on sightseeing, helps arrange accommodation, and sells tickets to special events and concerts. They have a good free map of the inner city, which is also available outside the office when it is closed.

Feldkirch lies in the Rhein Valley bordering Liechtenstein to the south and Switzerland to the west.

By plane

The closest international airports are in Friedrichshafen (46 km), Zurich (124 km), Innsbruck (154 km), and Munich (223 km).

By train

• Feldkirch Train Station

  address: Bahnhofstraße 40-42
  Use ÖBB's SCOTTY to look up train information online. Storage lockers available and free Wi-Fi in the waiting area.

By car

From Germany and Bavaria you will take the Rheintal Autobahn and cross at Lindau and continue southward. From Liechtenstein you head north. From Switzerland you have to cross east over the Rhein. From Tyrol and Innsbruck you will have to pass through the Arlberg Tunnel (toll) an incredibly scenic drive that takes you through the stunning Walgau Valley. The Arlberg Pass offers a free alternative but is only open in the warm weather months.

By bus

• Feldkirch BusplatzLiechtenstein buses run from Buchs in Switzerland via Schaan in Liechtenstein to Feldkirch. Fares are cheap: CHF4.60/adult CHF2.60/student (show ID). There are also week-long passes available. The buses accept euros in Feldkirch as well.

By foot

The old town centre is small, and easy to walk around. Most of the streets are pedestrianised. There is lots of parking available just outside the centre.

By bus

• Citybus

  phone: +43 5522 83951
  address: Herrengasse 14
  8 daytime and 4 nighttime routes provide good coverage for most of the city and beyond. Schedules for all route can be downloaded here (in German); a route map is available here . Unfortunately the buses cannot accommodate bicycles. Free Wi-Fi is available on all buses, and at the central bus stop by the Katzenturm.

• YOYO Sammeltaxi

  phone: +43 676-70 999 70
  An on-call nighttime 'maxi-taxi' service is available. Call at least 30 min beforehand.

Taxi

• taxi4you

  phone: +43 5522 84 999

• taximal

  phone: +43 5522 84 200

• StadtTaxi

  phone: +43 5522 32002

• MontfortTaxi

  phone: +43 5522-83434

• Schattenburg Castle

  phone: +43 5522 71982
  address: Burggasse 1
  A 13th-century castle, on a hill to the east of the town and impossible to miss. It was once the seat of the Earls of Montfort. Today there is a local history museum and some restaurants inside.

• St. Nikolaus Cathedral

  address: Domplatz 6
  The foundations of the church date to the 13th century. After suffering severe damage following serious fires, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style in 1478; it considered to be the most significant Gothic church in Vorarlberg.

• City gates and towersCity gates and defensive towers of the medieval city fortifications have been largely preserved, and are well-worth seeing. The city walls were demolished at the beginning of the 19th century.

• Churer TorBuilt in 1491 as part of the old city wall. This is also called the 'Salt Gate' (Salztor), as until the turn of the last century salt was stored here.

• Katzenturm

  address: Hirschgraben
  This defensive tower, built in 1507, was once part of the town's fortifications. It is believed to be named after the canons (Katzen) which were kept in the tower, as the targeting devices were shaped like lions' heads. In the early 17th century the building was converted into a bell tower; the current bell was poured in the 19th century and is the largest bell in Vorarlberg. The bell is rung on major holidays and on Fridays at 15:00 (Todesstunde Christi: believed to be the hour of Christ's death).

• Diebsturm

  address: Hirschgraben 18
  Built in the 15th century, this was once, as the name suggests, a prison. The city walls which once connected it to the other towers were demolished several decades ago.

• Pulverturm

  address: Mühletorplatz
  The Pulverturm was built in 1460 and is the oldest of the city's four towers. As the name suggests, gunpowder was stored here. Today the tower is used as a meeting place by a local association.

• Mühletor

  address: Mühletorplatz

• Wasserturm

  address: Montfortgasse 17
  This tower was built in 1482, and once had an entrance to the Ill River. This tower now also serves as a meeting place for a local club.

Vorarlberg Music Conservatory

phone: +43 5522 71110

address: Reichenfeldgasse 9

This building is now a music conservatory, but it used to be a Jesuit College. Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes, once was a boarder here, and the school was also mentioned in Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain.

Tosters Castle ruins

address: Tostner Burgweg

Built in about 1260 by the Counts of Montfort, the castle has been abandoned since 1616. The ruins of the primary defensive tower (Bergfried) as well as parts of the palace are still standing, and are a favourite destination for hikers.

Church of St CorneliusA 12th-century Romanesque church, with foundations dating to the 11th century. By the northern wall of the cemetery is a thousand-year-old tree – the oldest tree in Vorarlberg and one of the oldest in Austria, with a circumference of 5 metres. The tree figures in a number of local legends, and was believed to have healing properties.

Johanniterkirche

address: Marktgasse 1

This former church, first built in the 13th century and modified in the 17th century, is now used as a venue for contemporary art installation pieces.

Kunst Palais Liechtenstein

address: Schlossergasse 8

Hosts exhibits of contemporary modern art.

Kunst.Vorarlberg

phone: +43 680 246 77 05

address: Bahnhofstraße 6

This former villa serves as a venue for exhibiting the work of a collective of regional artists. As of 2019 about 50 artists participate.

• Letzehof Buddhist Monastery

  phone: +43 5522-706111
  address: Im Buchholz 26, Frastanz
  This Buddhist monastery was founded in 1982 by Geshe Rabten Rinpotsche, on the site of a former dairy. Resident monks include Tibetans, Mongolians, and Europeans. The monks hold regular seminars and evening lectures about meditation, and operate a small bookshop (daily 15:00-17:00). Several guest rooms are available for those interested in a meditation retreat.

• poolbar-Festival

  phone: +43 5522 73467
  address: Altes Hallenbad im Reichenfeldpark
  For six weeks every summer this festival offers numerous concerts, including Sunday morning Jazz concerts as well as such big name acts as Calexico, Heather Nova, Tocotronic, Shout Out Louds, dEUS, Kosheen, Coldcut, and others. Additional highlights include cinema, short films, cabaret performances, poetry slams, quiz programs, fashion shows, and discussion panels.
  The venues are completely rebuilt every year; designers are selected via an international architecture competition. Art and fashion competitions also enrich the festival.

• Schwimmbad Felsenau

  phone: +43 5522 72221
  address: Fellengattner Straße, Frastanz
  Built in 1903, this is the oldest continuously-operating public pool in Vorarlberg.

• Wildpark Feldkirch

  phone: +43 5522 74105
  address: Ardetzenweg 20
  A lovely little zoo where you can see the a big deal of animals who are or where living the alps, including wolves, Luchse, deers, wild pigs and so on.

• HikingThe area around Feldkirch offers numerous hiking opportunities, with trails ranging in difficulty from short and easy to challenging full-day treks. Many of the trail heads can be reached by public bus. Some of the more popular routes include the Ardetzenberg, Stadtschrofen, and the Hohes and Niederes Känzele. The tourist office has excellent free hiking maps and can make additional suggestions.

• Frastanz Brewery

  phone: +43 5522 51701-0
  address: Bahnhofstraße 22, Frastanz
  Located in a historic building, this is where the popular Vorarlberg beer is produced. Brewery tours (in German) are available on request.

• Illpark Shopping Centre

  address: Leonhardsplatz 4
  Located in the centre of town and renovated in 2012, with numerous shops.

• Interspar Hypermarket

  phone: +43 5522 74189
  address: Leonhardsplatz 4
  Also has a small restaurant/café, with takeout available.

MarktgasseThis street is a proper medieval German street, with its arches and covered walkways, and has been used as the town's central market area since the Middle Ages. A number of shops and cafés are located here, which also have outdoor seating during pleasant weather.

• Weekly Market

  address: Marktgasse
  Well worth visiting. Vendors offer fresh produce, cheese, and flowers, as well as a large selection of food items imported from Italy and France.

• Farmers' Market

  address: Marktgasse
  Only local products are sold.

• Braugaststätte Rösslepark

  phone: +43 5522 76543
  address: Rösslepark 1
  Serves excellent traditional Austrian food and beers. In summer outside seating is available in a pleasant garden.

• Gasthaus Stern Bangs

  phone: +43 5522 74312
  address: Sternenweg 1
  The western-most restaurant in Austria, offers traditional Austrian food.

• New TomCat

  phone: +43 5522-71998
  address: Leonhardsplatz 4
  Offers a range of innovative and creative dishes, with many vegetarian options. Outside seating.

• Schlosswirtschaft Schattenburg

  phone: +43 5522 72444
  address: Burggasse 1
  One of the best-known restaurants in Feldkirch, well-known for their giant Schnitzel and other traditional dishes.

• Verona Due

  phone: +43 5522 81790
  address: Schmiedgasse 4
  Really delicious and great value pasta and pizza, in a cosy restaurant. Outdoor seating available in the summer.

In the last few years a number of pleasant cafés have been established, inviting the visitor to linger awhile.

• Café Feuerstein

  phone: +43 5522 72242
  address: Schlossergasse 1
  A well-established café.

• Espresso Bar Unterberger

  phone: +43 5522 85280
  address: Marktplatz 23

• Rauch Café-Bar

  phone: +43 5522 76355
  address: Marktgasse 12-14
  Also has a full restaurant.

• Bunt

  phone: +43 5522 83983
  address: Marktgasse 1

• Hotel-Garni Post

  phone: +43 5522 72820
  address: Schlossgraben 5
  In the city centre. This is a family-operated hotel.

• Best Western Plus Central Hotel Leonhard

  phone: +43 5522 74600
  address: Leonhardsplatz 2

• Hostel Feldkirch-Levis

  phone: +43 5522 73181
  address: Reichsstraße 111
  The 700-year-old building is a former infirmary and has been renovated. Open year round, reception 07:00-23:00, no curfew, free Wi-Fi.

Free Wi-Fi is available at the train station, main city bus stop and bus station, and all main plazas in the town centre.

• Rankweil10 km to the north and worth a visit, easily accessible by car, bus, or train.

• Basilika Rankweil

  phone: +43 5522 44224
  address: Liebfrauenberg 10
  This church is particularly noteworthy, and was founded as a fortified church in the 8th century; portions of the defensive walls still remain. It is now a pilgrimage destination.

• Freilichtmuseum Römervilla

  address: Kirchstraße 25, Brederis
  A unique open-air museum with the remains of a Roman estate dating from the 1st-5th centuries BCE.

Liechtenstein, one of the smallest countries in the world, is only a few kilometres away.