Summer (June to September) is the best time for hiking. The trails into the Großes Walsertal and Brandnertal are at their best in July and August, and the Muttersberg offers reliable views from June onwards. The valleys can be busy in August but rarely feel overcrowded by alpine standards.
Winter brings skiing to the nearby Brandnertal and the sprawling Montafon — both accessible by bus from Bludenz. The town itself sits in the valley and gets less sun in winter, but the Muttersberg plateau above stays bright, and Bludenz makes a quieter and cheaper base than the dedicated ski resorts.
In late July, the town holds the Bludenzer Käse & Wurst festival, a celebration of Vorarlberg's dairy and charcuterie traditions, which draws producers from across the region. It is a good reason to time a visit if you happen to be in western Austria in summer.
Spring and autumn are pleasant for walking without the summer crowds, though some cable cars and mountain services operate reduced schedules. The Großes Walsertal is particularly striking in early autumn when the larch forests turn.