No one ever seems to get thirsty in Lienz, where virtually every hotel and guesthouse has a gemütlich-looking stube (tavern) lined with varnished pine that's ready, willing, and eager to dispense steins of beer and East Tyrolean folklore. But if you're interested in equivalent bars that play dance music, consider Life, within the Dolomite hotel, Dolomitenstrasse 2 (tel. 04852/62962). It features a woodsy, alpine-derived decor where dozens of steins of beer have been spilled over the years, and has been known to extend the dancing even onto the tabletops.
Incidentally, if your visit to Lienz happens to fall between early July and late September, at least part of your evening entertainment will be free. Every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, beginning at 8pm, the city sponsors a 75-minute concert of traditional Tyrolean music, performed by musicians in trachten (traditional Tyrolean garb), from a perch within the Hauptplatz. The only problem with these love fests of Tyrolean nostalgia is that they simply don't last long enough.
The second weekend in August in Lienz is the scheduled time for Stadtfest, a public celebration of the contributions of Lienz to East Tyrolean culture. Expect kiosks scattered throughout the town's historic center selling food, wine, beer, and enough sausages to ring the city. There's also an ongoing series of afternoon and evening concerts by singers and musicians in folkloric garb, warbling away -- a la Maria von Trapp -- their odes to Tyrolean nostalgia.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
