Tyrol & Vorarlberg
Austria
From opera-festival Bregenz on Lake Constance east through the Alpine valleys of Vorarlberg and Tyrol to Salzburg, past 50 schnapps distilleries in Stanz, the cheese-making secrets of the Bergkäserei Schoppernau, the monumental abbey at Stift Stams, and the treasures of Innsbruck. Austria's great mountain transect.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Bregenz
The Bregenz Festival's floating opera stage on Lake Constance seats 7,000 each summer. The medieval upper town has views across to Germany and Switzerland.
- Schoppernau
Heart of the Bregenzerwald Cheese Road. The Bergkäserei dairy offers tours; surrounding farms send flower-wreathed cows to high pastures each June.
- Stift Stams
A Cistercian monastery since 1273, its ochre Baroque church blazes with gilded altarpieces. A Habsburg crypt below holds the remains of 14 Tyrolean rulers.
- Stanz
More than 50 distilleries produce Williams pear, gentian, and stone pine schnapps in this one Tyrolean valley. The Starkenberger brewery offers swimming-pool fermentation tank tours.
- Innsbruck
The Tyrolean capital under Nordkette's 2,334 m wall. The Golden Roof's 2,738 gilded tiles have overlooked the same medieval street since 1500.
- Salzburg
Mozart's birthplace below the Hohensalzburg Fortress. The most intact Baroque cityscape in the German-speaking world, with the Getreidegasse and Mirabellgarten all walkable.
Where to Eat
- Gasthof AdlerAustrian
Traditional Austrian dishes served in a cozy, rustic setting in Schoppernau.
- Restaurant Stift StamsEuropean
Elegant dining experience offering European cuisine within the historic Stams Abbey.
- Gasthof Oberer GesslbauerAustrian
Family-run inn in Stanz serving authentic Styrian specialties since 1703.
- Die WilderinModern Austrian
Innovative dishes focusing on local ingredients in a contemporary setting in Innsbruck.
Things to Do
- Diedamskopf Ski ResortSki Resort
Offers 40 km of slopes with stunning alpine views, suitable for all skill levels.
- Stams AbbeyHistoric Site
A 13th-century Cistercian monastery known for its Baroque architecture and art.
- Stanzer Zwetschke Distillery TourFood & Drink Experience
Explore the distillery village of Stanz, famous for its award-winning plum brandy.
- Hohensalzburg FortressHistoric Site
Medieval fortress offering panoramic views of Salzburg and the surrounding Alps.
Travel advisory
The route stays within Austria throughout, so border is corrected to false. Alpine passes can be closed in winter and some roads require snow chains between November and April. Check pass conditions before departure and carry chains if traveling outside summer months.