In summer, Bregenz offers many possibilities. Bregenz is splendid for swimming in the lake (the lake's temperature reaches 79 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer), hiking, cycling, and several other sports.

The Bregenz Festival (Bregenzer Festspiele), [3] is a famous festival running from mid-July to mid-August and attracting 200,000 visitors each year. The centerpiece of the festival is its main stage built on Lake Constance, the largest floating stage in the world. In 2007 and 2008, the floating stage will host Puccini's opera Tosca. The setting - 7,000 seats looking out over the lake, the larger-than-life stage, night falling during the performance, and the cool breeze coming off the lake - is truly spectacular. €46-€125. In addition to Tosca on the main stage, Benjamin Britten's opera Death in Venice and a series of orchestral concerts will be performed at the Festival Opera House.

Don't miss the 360° view from the top of the Pfänder mountain [4]: you can either walk (ca. 2-3h) or take the cablecar (6 min). Signage throughout town will direct you to the cablecar station. The cablecar operates daily from 8AM-7PM, with departures on the hour and half-hour. April 1-October 31, 2007: €10.20 round trip (adults), less for children and seniors. At the top, there's a restaurant (Berghaus Pfänder, +43 5574 42184) that is open daily, 9:30AM-6:30PM from May 9 to September 23, 2007. There's also an alpine wildlife park (free admission) and a Birds of Prey show (May 1 to October 3, 2007: daily 11AM and 2:30PM, adults €4.60, children 15 and under €2.30). You can also bike the Pfänder. A guide with suggested routes is available from the bottom cablecar station. The cablecar transports bikes daily from 8AM-10AM and 6PM-7PM for free, else it's €2.90.

The Lake Promenade is a very popular place for residents to stroll and spend the evening. There are shaded paths and outdoor restaurants. The sunsets in Bregenz are beautiful from any place at the lake.

Other things to do:

• Swimming: the bathing complex by the lake has a large outdoor pool and an indoor pool. Early May – early September, daily 9AM–8PM. Approx. €4 for adults.
• Boat cruises: From April to October, Vorarlberg Lines, 43 5574 42868, info@vorarlberg-lines.at, [5], offers a variety of cruises on Lake Constance, including a scenic 'three-country' cruise (daily 2:30PM); cruises to Friedrichshafen, home of the Zepplinmuseum (daily, various times); the "Flower Island" of Mainau (daily, various times); the city of Konstanz, home of the Sea Life Center/Aquarium (daily, various times); and a number of sunset and dinner cruises.
• Casino Bregenz, Symphonikerplatz 3, +43 5574 45127, [6]. Daily 3PM-3AM, F and Sa to 4AM. Men must wear a shirt and jacket, though the casino will provide jackets for the unprepared.

• Kunsthaus Bregenz, Karl Tizian Platz, +43 5574 48594-0, [2]. Daily, 10AM-8PM. Adults €10, students €1.50, other discounts for certain groups. Contemporary art exhibitions.
• Martinsturm (Martin's Tower), +43 5574 46632. Open from Easter to October 15th. July 18-August 19: Daily, 9AM-6:30PM, otherwise closed Mondays. Adults €1, children under six €0.50. Bregenz's most famous landmark, the tower features the largest "onion cupola" in Europe.
• Kirchgasse 29. The narrowest house facade in Europe.

By plane

Zurich-Kloten: quite big airport, about 1 hour with train/car (100km). Friedrichshafen: smaller, but closer, about 40km from Bregenz. Approached by some bigger companies like Condor and Ryanair (to/from Stansted London). Munich: Biggest airport around. About 2 1/2h to Bregenz. Altenrhein: Switzerland, about 20km to Bregenz; few connections to Vienna, etc.

By train

The Hauptbahnhof, F.-Mayer-Platz 1, +43 5574 93000, [1], is located in the north of the city, close to the lake and the city center. From Lyon/Genf, Strassbourg/Basel, Milano/Luzern via Zurich. From Stuttgart/Ulm and Munich through Lindau. From Vienna, Salzburg, Venice/Italy: via Innsbruck direct or with change in Feldkirch (about 35km). On this line trains leave about every 2 hours. Prices: Vienna to Bregenz ca. 60€ (full price)

By car

From direction Vienna: On the A1 via Salzburg via Germany. In Rosenheim/Ger you have to decide if you drive via Munich (almost only motorway, but sometimes heavy traffic) or via Innsbruck (have to pass the Arlberg tunnel - 13€). From Chur/Zurich: about 10km to the swiss motorway. From Ulm/Stuttgart and Munich via Lindau, motorway tangents Bregenz City.

By bus

Check out f.e. Eurolines from Vienna, Berlin, etc.

There are a number of buslines in the city.

In summer, bicycles are perhaps the best way to get around, as Bregenz is quite small. Bicycles can be rented from the main railway station.

It is possible to travel along the lakeshore by railway to both Switzerland and Germany.

If you want to visit the nearby Bregenzerwald, a mountainous area south-east of Bregenz, take a bus from the railway station, or take the train to Dornbirn and transfer there.

In general, stores are open Monday to Friday from 9AM to noon and from 2PM to 6PM, Saturdays from 9AM to 4PM.

Wolford, 1-2 Wolfordstrasse, +43 5574 690-1458, Fax: +43 5574 690-1651, wbo94864@wolford.com, [7]. M-Th 9AM-7:30PM, F 9AM-9PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. The maker of stylish hosiery and lingerie is headquartered in Bregenz. This location includes a boutique, factory outlet and restaurant.