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Pfänder Bregenz

Bregenz's local mountain (1,064 m): six minutes by cable car, views over all of Lake Constance and 240 Alpine peaks, free wildlife park, inns – open all year.

all year 👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly 🍼 Stroller friendly 🐕 Dogs allowed
Pfänder Bregenz
Photo: Dguendel, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

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The Pfänder rises 667 m above Lake Constance and is the viewpoint par excellence: from the panoramic terrace you look over the entire lake from Bregenz to Konstanz, and behind it, by the operator's count, line up 240 Alpine peaks in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The Pfänder cable car has run since 1927 from the edge of Bregenz (419 m) to the top station at 1,022 m; today cabins for 80 people glide up in about six minutes, all year from 8 am to 7 pm on the hour and half hour. At the top lies the free alpine wildlife park with ibex, red deer, marmots, mouflon and wild boar (30-minute circuit, daily 9.30 am–6 pm), plus a playground, three inns and copper panorama plaques from the 1930s; the former birds-of-prey show has not existed since 2016.

Circular walks from the top station take from 30 minutes to several hours, and the descent on foot to Bregenz about two hours; in winter there are 30 km of winter walking trails and a toboggan run. A return ticket costs €19 for adults, €9.50 for children and €38 for families (as of 2026); dogs travel free but are not allowed in the wildlife park. From our house it is 89 km / about 80 minutes; we recommend the train to Bregenz Hafen and a seven-minute walk to the valley station (15 minutes from the main station, or bus 101). Drivers park in the multi-storey car park at the valley station – three hours free with a validated cable car ticket. The Pfänder is the classic finale to a Bregenz day of lakeside promenade, Kunsthaus or boat trip.

🧭 Route description

Train Bludenz–Bregenz Hafen (about 1 hour), 7 minutes on foot to the valley station at Steinbruchgasse 4 (15 minutes from the main station, or town bus 101 to 'Pfänderbahn'); by car 89 km, P15 car park at the valley station, 3 hours free with a validated ticket, card payment only.

💡 Tips & refreshments

Only worthwhile in clear visibility – in autumn the fog often lies below the summit, leaving the top sunny. The wildlife park circuit is only partly pushchair-friendly; children under 6 travel free. The cable car is usually closed for maintenance in November – dates from the operator.

🚌 Getting there by public transport

Train to Bregenz (about 1 h from Bludenz), city bus 101 from Bregenz Hafen to the Pfänderbahn valley station (about 7 min) or a 15-minute walk from the station.

🅿️ Parking

P15 multi-storey car park at the valley station: 3 hours free with a validated cable-car ticket (as of 2026), otherwise paid.

🕒 Opening hours

Pfänder cable car all year daily 8 am–7 pm (maintenance closure in November); alpine wildlife park daily 9.30 am–6 pm (as of 2026).

💶 Prices

Return adults €19, children 6–15 €9.50, family ticket €38; single €12.70; dogs free; wildlife park free (as of 2026).

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026

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