Vandans offers different ways to explore the village: through its distinctive landscape, Montafon architecture, churches and excursions. When planning, personal interests are one consideration; the time required and the dates of individual activities also play a role.
Landscape and Natural Hazards
The four mountain streams—Auenlatsch from Golm, Almustrik from Rellstal, Mustergiel from Valkastiel Gorge and Ladritschbach from Vensertobel—have shaped the character of the village. Rellstal, a nature and plant conservation area, lies near Vandans. Numerous gypsum sinkholes shape the landscape there.
The Montafon Natural Hazards Activity Centre offers guided tours about alpine natural hazards, as well as the historical development and current workings of flood and avalanche protection. Tours are planned for 2026; check the dates before your trip. The tours bring together natural hazards and the history and function of flood and avalanche protection.
Architecture and Churches
The architecture trail in Vandans uses typical Montafon buildings to show how architecture is influenced by people’s way of life and different forms of economic activity. Its focus is therefore not just on buildings, but also on the connections between construction, lifestyle and everyday economic life. One specific architectural feature can be seen at the parish church of St John the Baptist: it has an octagonal floor plan, and coloured concrete-glass window slits give its walls a louvred structure.
The local churches also connect architecture with the history of the village. The first chapel on the current site of Vandans cemetery church was built in 1479; the cemetery church has been a listed building since 1958. Sacred concerts are held there, though the programme may vary. The pilgrimage chapel in Vens was built in 1613 in gratitude for the plague having been brought to an end.
Excursions and Gmes Markets
The Vandans Legends Trail is suitable for families; it takes around three hours and has an elevation difference of 380 m. A ride on the Alpine Coaster Golm takes a very different amount of time: the 2.6 km route runs from Latschau to Vandans, and the ride takes around eight minutes. This comparison helps put a longer hike and a short ride into perspective as different types of excursion.
The 2026 Gmes markets differ by day of the week. On Fridays they are held in the church square, with refreshments and musical entertainment; Saturdays feature sales-only markets in front of the municipal building. At the Gmes market, you can buy homemade delicacies and products such as spices, olive oil products, spirits, alpine cheese and natural soaps. If you plan to visit a market, check the specific dates in the programme.
Routes and Getting There
From Vandans, you can reach Rellstal on foot in around four hours or take the hiking bus. It runs daily from mid-July to early October and takes 40 minutes; check the service dates before your trip. The walk and the bus journey differ considerably in the time required. Vandans station is served by the Montafon Railway on the Bludenz–Schruns route.
If you are looking for a hotel in Vandans, you can use your planned activities as a guide when planning your trip: markets and tours take place on specific dates, while the hiking bus is seasonal. The Legends Trail and Alpine Coaster Golm, on the other hand, offer two very different time profiles. Coordinate your travel dates with your activities.
Discover more destinations: DamĂĽls, Fontanella, Stuben Am Arlberg, Schruns, Sankt Gallenkirch, Sankt Gerold, Gaschurn, Gargellen
For the overview of the wider region: Bludenz.
