Riezlern Travel Guide
City Alpine village in Vorarlberg, western Austria
In Kleinwalsertal, Riezlern stacks wooden chalets beneath cable cars; visitors ski hard-packed runs in winter, hike alpine meadows in summer and eat cheese at mountain huts.
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Why Visit Riezlern? #
Riezlern sits in the Kleinwalsertal valley and draws visitors for year-round mountain access-ski slopes and cable cars in winter, extensive hiking in summer. The village center’s alpine huts and guesthouses make it easy to sample regional cheese, hearty mountain dishes and local schnapps after a day on the trails. With high alpine passes, guided walks and a compact village atmosphere, Riezlern is a practical base for experiencing Vorarlberg’s alpine culture.
Best Things to Do in Riezlern
All Attractions ›
Riezlern Bucket List
- Kanzelwand/Kleines Walsertal cable cars - Take cableways for alpine hiking, panoramic peaks, and summer flower meadows.
- Fellhorn - Hike alpine trails to meadows and shelters with views over the valley.
- Breitachklamm (Breitach Gorge) - Dramatic narrow gorge with wooden walkways and rushing water through sculpted rock.
- Walsermuseum Mittelberg - Small museum exploring Walser culture, traditional costumes, and mountain farming history.
- Lake Wildsee - Alpine tarn framed by larches, offering serene swims and gentle shoreline strolls.
- Evening cheese fondue huts - Family-run huts serving fondue and local cheeses in cozy alpine atmospheres.
- Oberstdorf (Germany) - Cross-border town with ski jumps, hiking trails, and shopping just over the ridge.
- Warth-Schröcken/Lech (Arlberg region) - Explore neighbouring alpine resorts for expanded hiking, skiing, and mountain hut dining.
Best Time to Visit Riezlern #
Riezlern is high-Alpine: snowy winters for skiing and cool, pleasant summers for hiking. Visit June-August for the best hiking weather; winter is best if you want snow sports.
Best Time to Visit Riezlern #
Riezlern's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 20°C. Abundant rainfall (1471 mm/year), wettest in July.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 1°C and lows of -7°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -6°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -3°C. Regular rainfall (97 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (124 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (170 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (187 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (173 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (124 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -5°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Riezlern
Riezlern (Kleinwalsertal) is accessed via regional airports such as Friedrichshafen, Zurich or Innsbruck followed by train to Oberstdorf or Bregenz and a connecting bus into the valley. The valley has good seasonal bus links to railheads.
Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH): Friedrichshafen is the closest regional airport on Lake Constance. From FDH to Riezlern (Kleinwalsertal) travel by train to Oberstdorf or Bregenz and then a bus into the Kleinwalsertal valley; the journey takes around 2-3 hours depending on connections (prices vary by route).
Zurich Airport (ZRH) / Innsbruck (INN) / Munich (MUC): Zurich and Innsbruck are common international arrival points. From Zurich the rail journey to the Allgäu/Kleinwalsertal region via Bregenz or Oberstdorf takes ~2.5-3.5 hours; from Innsbruck the drive or rail+bus combination is about 2-3 hours. Regional trains plus local buses serve the valley.
Train: The nearest major railheads are Oberstdorf (Germany) and Bregenz (Austria). From there regular bus services run into Kleinwalsertal to Riezlern-trains to Oberstdorf (via Lindau) or Bregenz then bus are the standard public-transport route.
Bus: Regional buses from Oberstdorf, Sonthofen and Bregenz connect to Riezlern; travel times vary (roughly 30-90 minutes from these railheads) and timetables change seasonally-check local timetables for ski-season or summer schedules.
How to Get Around Riezlern #
Riezlern in the Kleinwalsertal is compact and easy to explore on foot; ski lifts and cable cars are a short walk from the village centre in winter. Regional buses link Riezlern to neighbouring valleys and towns; for full flexibility a car is useful, while short local rides usually cost a few euros.
Where to Stay in Riezlern #
Where to Eat in Riezlern #
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Riezlern's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in Riezlern #
Nightlife is modest and seasonal - après-ski bars and hotel bars are the main evening options in winter, while summer evenings are low-key. There are no large nightclubs; most entertainment is hotel-based or small local venues.
Shopping in Riezlern #
Shopping in Riezlern focuses on sport and outdoor shops, local bakeries and a handful of souvenir stores catering to hikers and skiers. For larger retail or specialty shopping, nearby towns and larger Austrian or German centres offer more options.
