Konstanz & Lake Constance

A historic lakeside town on the German–Swiss border, with Mainau, the flower island, blooming year-round, the monastic island of Reichenau a World Heritage Site, and boats to Meersburg, Lindau and the lakeside Baroque church of Birnau.

Konstanz lies at the southern tip of Baden-Württemberg on the western shore of Lake Constance (the Bodensee), bordering Kreuzlingen in Switzerland, where the Rhine flows out of the lake. Spared from bombing in WWII, the old town retains its medieval lanes and traces of the Council of Constance (1414–1418), and it makes an ideal base for exploring the lake shared by Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Key areas: Konstanz old town (the cathedral, the Niederburg quarter and the Imperia statue at the harbour); Mainau flower island north of town and the World Heritage island of Reichenau to the west; across the water by ferry, Meersburg's Old Castle and New Palace, and on the north shore the Unteruhldingen pile dwellings, Birnau church, Salem Abbey and Affenberg (Monkey Mountain), and Überlingen; on the eastern shore, the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen, the island town of Lindau, and the Pfänder and the lake stage in Bregenz, Austria. Best time to visit: Apr–May for Mainau's flowers, Jun–Sep for boat trips and lake swimming, and Jul–Aug for the Bregenz Festival; winters are often foggy and some sights close. Getting there: about 1 hour by train from Zurich Airport. The Konstanz–Meersburg car ferry runs all day, roughly every 15 minutes, and BSB lake boats connect the harbours in summer; the Bodensee Card PLUS covers boat travel and most admission fees. Allow 3–4 days, and bring your passport for trips into Switzerland and Austria.

Top sights

• Mainau Island – A garden island on Lake Constance, surrounded by a Baroque palace, rose gardens, a butterfly house, and century-old redwood trees. Flower s…
• Imperia Statue & Konstanz Harbour – A rotating satirical sculpture about 9 meters tall at the entrance to Konstanz Harbour, mocking the popes and emperors of the medieval Coun…
• Meersburg Old Town – A lakeside town built on a hill, with an upper and lower town, half-timbered houses, lakeside paths, and vineyards. It is the most photogen…
• Pile Dwelling Museum Unteruhldingen – Reconstructed Stone Age and Bronze Age pile-dwelling villages on the lake, part of the UNESCO-listed Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the…
• Lindau Island – The old town on an island on the eastern shore of Lake Constance. The Bavarian Lion statue and the new lighthouse at the harbour entrance a…
• Reichenau Island – A UNESCO World Heritage Site with three Romanesque churches from the Carolingian and Ottonian periods, whose precious murals survive, and a…
• Konstanz Minster – A former cathedral with a thousand-year history, blending Romanesque and Gothic styles. Climb the tower for views over the Old Town and Lak…
• Council Building – A harbor granary built in 1388 where Pope Martin V was elected in 1417. It now houses a lakeside restaurant and event venue.
• Niederburg Old Town – Konstanz's oldest quarter, with winding narrow lanes, half-timbered houses and traditional taverns. It was spared bombing in World War II.
• Rheintorturm – A medieval gate tower where Lake Constance flows into the Rhine. The riverside path and Rhine Bridge make a classic scene.
• Sea Life Konstanz – An aquarium that follows the Rhine from its source to the North Sea, with Lake Constance fish, sea turtles and penguins.
• Rosgartenmuseum – A city history museum housed in a medieval butchers' guild hall, displaying the Council of Constance chronicle and local artifacts.
• Archaeological State Museum – A state archaeology museum in a former monastery, displaying finds from lakeside pile dwellings and a Roman shipwreck.
• Meersburg Castle – Said to be Germany's oldest inhabited castle, with its medieval halls, armory and the preserved residence of poet Annette von Droste-Hülsho…
• New Palace Meersburg – A Baroque palace of the prince-bishops of Konstanz. Its staircase hall by Neumann and lakeside terrace are the highlights.
• Birnau Pilgrimage Church – A Rococo church set among vineyards above the lake. Its interior gleams with gold, and the 'Honey-Licking Angel' sculpture is famous.
• Salem Abbey & Palace – A palace that evolved from a Cistercian abbey founded in 1134, where a Gothic cathedral and a Baroque Imperial Hall stand side by side.
• Affenberg Salem – Some 200 Barbary macaques roam freely across 20 hectares of forest, and visitors can feed them at close range along the paths.
• Überlingen – An imperial free city on the north shore of Lake Constance, known for its Gothic minster, palm-lined lakeside promenade and spa gardens.
• Zeppelin Museum – A museum in Friedrichshafen, birthplace of the Zeppelin airship, where you can walk through a reconstructed section of the Hindenburg's cab…
• Montfort Castle – An Oriental Moorish-style castle on the Langenargen shore, its red-and-white towers reflected in the water. A popular photo spot on Lake Co…
• Pfänder – A viewpoint mountain behind Bregenz. A cable car takes six minutes to reach 1,064 meters, with views over Lake Constance and three countrie…
• Bregenz Lake Stage – The world's largest stage on a lake. Each summer, the Bregenz Festival stages giant-set operas here for nearly 7,000 spectators.
• Napoleon Museum Arenenberg – A Napoleonic family castle on Switzerland's Lower Lake. Napoleon III spent his youth here, and its Second Empire interiors are preserved.
• Hohentwiel Fortress Ruins – The ruins of one of Germany's largest fortresses, atop an extinct volcanic cone in the Hegau, with views over the Hegau peaks and Lake Cons…
• Stein am Rhein – The best-preserved medieval small town on the Rhine. Its town hall square is lined with painted facades and oriel windows, like a storybook.

Where to eat

• Anglerstuben – A Michelin Guide-selected restaurant located above a fishing club by the Rhine, renowned for its fish dishes and its fi…
• Constanzer Wirtshaus – A riverside tavern converted from an 1899 officers' club, featuring a beer garden facing the Rhine and the Old Town, wi…
• Ophelia – A two-Michelin-star restaurant helmed by Dirk Hoberg, located in a 1909 Art Nouveau villa at the Riva Hotel, with a ter…
• Brasserie Colette Tim Raue – A French brasserie in the Old Town by Michelin-starred chef Tim Raue's brand, combining French cuisine with local ingre…
• Tolle Knolle – A local potato-themed restaurant operating for about 30 years, famous for its potato pizza, with outdoor seating on Bod…
• Brauhaus Joh. Albrecht – A house-brewery in the Niederburg Old Town that has been brewing for over 30 years, famous for its Messing and Kupfer b…

Itineraries

• German Alpine Road: Lindau to Berchtesgaden – Drive east from Lake Constance to Lake Königssee along Germany's oldest scenic route.
• Lake Constance Boat Tour: Konstanz to Lindau – Explore the German shores of Lake Constance without a car, visiting World Heritage monastic islands, flower islands, an…
• Southern Germany Grand Loop: Frankfurt to Munich – A grand self-drive route connecting Heidelberg, the Black Forest, Lake Constance, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Zugspitze.