Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) sits where Germany, Austria and Switzerland meet, with the Alps visible across the water on clear days. This guide covers the German shore in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria: Konstanz and its flower island Mainau, the monastic island of Reichenau, the hillside town of Meersburg with its castle, Uhldingen-Mühlhofen with the prehistoric stilt-house museum, Friedrichshafen, birthplace of the Zeppelin airship industry, and Lindau, whose old town sits on an island. Inland, Singen in the Hegau volcanic landscape also belongs to the region.
Below are the sights we rate most highly, a day trip built around the Konstanz–Meersburg car ferry, a two-day route across the lake, practical tips on boats, trains and airports, and what changes in the 2026/27 off-season, when several places shorten their hours. Prices and times are as of October 2026; each attraction page has the details.
Our picks for a first visit — each with a short reason why.
Gardens & parks
Konstanz
Mainau Island in Lake Constance, part of the city of Konstanz, is Germany's famous "Flower Island" and one of the top day trips in the south of the country. Its roughly 111 acres (45 hectares) hold rose and dahlia gardens, an arboretum beg…
1. Flower island with a Baroque palace, arboretum, butterfly house and dahlia garden. From 19 October 2026 the winter price of EUR 14 applies instead of EUR 29.50; under-13s go free.
Churches & monasteries
Reichenau
Reichenau Island, the "Monastic Island" in Lake Constance near Konstanz, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. It preserves three Romanesque churches whose origins reach back to a Benedictine abbey founded in the 8th century, s…
2. UNESCO-listed island with three Romanesque churches founded from the 8th and 9th centuries, monastery gardens and vegetable fields, linked to the mainland by an 1838 causeway. Best explored by bike.
Castles
Meersburg
Meersburg Castle on Lake Constance is often called the oldest inhabited castle in Germany. Its stocky Dagobert Tower rises above the old town of Meersburg, and inside, more than 35 furnished rooms trace castle life from the dungeon to the…
3. Often called Germany's oldest inhabited castle: more than 35 furnished rooms from dungeon to the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff's study, visited at your own pace. Open daily; adults EUR 12.80.
Museums
Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
The Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (Lake Dwellings Museum) on the northern shore of Lake Constance is one of the most memorable things to do in southern Germany: wooden boardwalks lead you through reconstructed Stone Age and Bronze Age vill…
4. Open-air museum with 23 reconstructed Stone and Bronze Age stilt houses on boardwalks over the lake. Daily until 1 November 2026, then weekends only in November and guided winter tours December–February.
Museums
Friedrichshafen
The Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen holds the world's most important collection on the history of airships and is one of the top things to do on Lake Constance. Housed in a listed 1930s harbor station right on the waterfront, it tells t…
5. The leading airship collection, in the old harbour station, with a 33-metre walk-through section of the Hindenburg. Closed on Mondays from November to April; reduced EUR 9 entry after 4 pm.
Old towns & squares
Lindau (Bodensee)
Lindau harbor, with its stone lion and white lighthouse guarding the entrance, is one of the most photographed sights on Lake Constance. It sits on Lindau Island in Germany's far southwestern corner of Bavaria, where Germany, Austria and S…
6. Lindau's harbour entrance with the 6-metre Bavarian Lion and Germany's southernmost lighthouse, free to walk at any time. The island station is right on the promenade.
From Konstanz take ring bus 4/13 or drive to the car park at the island bridge. From 19 October to 18 November 2026 admission is 9 am–4 pm and you may stay until sunset. Allow at least two hours for the palace, arboretum and gardens.
Places: Mainau Island
The car ferry from Konstanz-Staad crosses to Meersburg in a short ride. The castle is in the upper town on Schloßplatz; the self-guided tour takes about an hour, then wander down to the lakefront.
Places: Meersburg Castle
A few kilometres west by bus or car. Allow 1.5 to 3 hours for the boardwalks, houses and the museum of original finds; open daily 10 am–5:30 pm until 1 November 2026, last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Train to Reichenau (Baden) station, then bus 204 across the causeway, or cycle. See the minster in Mittelzell with its treasury and herb gardens, St. Georg in Oberzell with 10th-century wall paintings, and St. Peter und Paul in Niederzell.
Places: Monastic Island of Reichenau
Ring bus from Konstanz. The dahlias peak in autumn; the butterfly house keeps its own hours.
Places: Mainau Island
Ferry across from Konstanz and walk up to the castle. Kids can pick up a quiz sheet at the ticket desk.
Places: Meersburg Castle
Continue to Friedrichshafen; the museum is on the harbour. Allow two to four hours. Adults EUR 14.50, family ticket EUR 33.
Places: Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen
About half an hour on to Lindau. Walk out along the lion pier, then through Maximilianstraße to the painted Old Town Hall.
Places: Lindau Harbor
By air. Zurich (ZRH) is the nearest major airport; Swiss trains run from Zurich to Konstanz via Kreuzlingen on the border. Munich (MUC) suits the eastern shore: long-distance trains between Munich and Zurich stop at Lindau-Reutin. Friedrichshafen has a small regional airport, and Stuttgart (STR) works if you rent a car.
By train. Konstanz is the end of the Black Forest Railway from Offenburg. For Reichenau, get off at Reichenau (Baden) on the mainland and take bus 204. Lindau has two stations: Lindau-Reutin on the mainland for long-distance trains, and the island station right on the harbour for regional trains. Friedrichshafen has a harbour stop outside the Zeppelin Museum. Meersburg has no railway; buses run from Friedrichshafen and Überlingen. From Uhldingen-Mühlhofen station it is about a 25-minute walk to the stilt houses.
By boat. Scheduled boats link Konstanz, Mainau, Meersburg, Unteruhldingen, Friedrichshafen and Lindau, with far fewer sailings in the winter half-year – check the timetable. The Konstanz–Meersburg car ferry saves the long drive around the lake, and the Friedrichshafen–Romanshorn ferry crosses to Switzerland.
By car. B 33 for Konstanz and Reichenau, B 31 along the northern shore, A 96 to Lindau. Parking is tight on Lindau island and in Meersburg's old town.
April to October is the main season: Mainau moves from tulips to roses to dahlias, boats run frequently and Reichenau's market gardens are green. Summer weekends and school holidays get crowded at Mainau and the stilt houses; arrive early.
Off-season 2026/27. Mainau switches to winter prices from 19 October 2026 and hosts the evening Christmas Garden from 19 November 2026 to 9 January 2027. The stilt-house museum opens only on Saturdays and Sundays in November, then offers guided winter tours Tuesday to Thursday at 2:15 pm from December to February. The Zeppelin Museum closes on Mondays from November to April. Meersburg Castle stays open daily all year.
On a rainy day, head for the Zeppelin Museum or Meersburg Castle, or the butterfly house on Mainau.
One day covers Mainau, Meersburg and the stilt houses using the Konstanz–Meersburg ferry. Two days let you add Reichenau, the Zeppelin Museum and Lindau. With more time you can cross to Bregenz in Austria or into Switzerland.
Zurich is the closest major airport, with trains to Konstanz via Kreuzlingen. Munich is better for Lindau, served by Munich–Zurich long-distance trains at Lindau-Reutin. Friedrichshafen has a small regional airport.
Yes. Trains serve Konstanz, Reichenau, Friedrichshafen and Lindau, buses reach Mainau and Meersburg, and in season scheduled boats link the main towns. The Konstanz–Meersburg ferry also carries foot passengers.
Mainau is free for children up to 12, with a butterfly house and free handcarts in the flower season. The stilt-house museum shows Stone Age life on the water, the Zeppelin Museum has hands-on stations and a flight simulator, and Meersburg Castle has a dungeon and armour.
As of October 2026, adults pay EUR 29.50 at the gate in the summer season to 18 October (EUR 26.90 online) and EUR 14 from 19 October 2026 (EUR 13 online). Children up to 12 are free. Parking costs EUR 6 per day in summer, with the first hour free.
The region brings together attractions from these towns. Open a town guide or its list of attractions.
Churches & monasteries
Reichenau
Reichenau Island, the "Monastic Island" in Lake Constance near Konstanz, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. It preserves three Romanesque churches whose origins reach back to a Benedictine abbey founded in the 8th century, s…