Lago de Constança, Germany: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Lago de Constança, the Bodensee to the Germans, lies at the meeting point of three countries: Germany, Suíça and Austria. The Rhine enters the lake on the Austrian side and leaves at Constança, the largest town on the shores. On the German side the waterfront is divided between Baden-Württemberg, with Constança and Meersburg, and Bavaria, with Lindau on an eastern tip.

Lindau's entire old town is on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge and a railway causeway. At the harbour entrance stand the Bavarian lion and a lighthouse that can be climbed in season. Constança was the seat of bishops for more than a thousand years and hosted the Council from 1414 to 1418; the statue Imperia turns in the harbour and recalls that chapter with irony.

Meersburg sits on the north shore opposite Constança, with a medieval castle atop the cliff, a Baroque palace beside it and vineyards sloping down to the water. Nearby are the reconstructed pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen and the Baroque church of Birnau. On the Constança side, the islands of Mainau, of the gardens, and Reichenau, of the monasteries, complete the trip.

Regular boat services link the towns in season, and the ferry between Constança and Meersburg runs year-round.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Constança, Lindau, Meersburg.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Lago de Constança is

Contornos: © BKG (2026), dl-de/by-2-0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Lago de Constança

✈ Flughafen Zürich (ZRH), in Zurique (Suíça) · 70 km to Constança

Confirm before buying. For Lindau, the most common route is to take the train from Munique. For Constança and Meersburg, many people use the airport of Zurique, in Suíça, and continue by train or car. There are also trains to Constança from Stuttgart.

Suggested arrival point: Constança

Baden-Württemberg · Lago de Constança Suggested arrival point

Constança

Constança is the largest town on Lago de Constança, at the point where the Rhine leaves the lake, adjoining Suíça. It was the seat of bishops for more than a thousand years and hosted the Council from 1414 to 1418. Little damaged in the Second World War, the old town preserves the Konstanzer Münster, the Konzilgebäude on the harbour, the statue Imperia and the lanes of the Niederburg. Boats leave from here to the island of flowers Mainau, the island of monasteries Reichenau and the ferry to Meersburg.

Baviera · Lago de Constança

Lindau

Lindau is the only Bavarian town on Lago de Constança and has its old town on an island of less than 1 km², connected to the mainland by a bridge and a railway causeway. A former Free Imperial City, it preserves the Maximilianstraße with houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, the painted Altes Rathaus, the Mangturm tower and, at the harbor entrance, the Bavarian lion and the lighthouse that can be climbed in season.

Baden-Württemberg · Lago de Constança

Meersburg

Meersburg lies on the northern shore of Lago de Constança, opposite Constança, and is divided into two parts: the Unterstadt, next to the water, and the Oberstadt, atop the cliff. Up there are Burg Meersburg, a medieval castle presented as the oldest still inhabited castle in Germany, and the Neues Schloss, a Baroque palace of the prince-bishops. Vineyards slope down to the lake, and near the town are the pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen and the Baroque church of Birnau.

The local experience

Things to do in Lago de Constança

Meersburg · Baden-Württemberg · Castle

Burg Meersburg

Medieval castle atop Meersburg, presented as the oldest inhabited castle in Germany. It houses a museum with furnished halls, a dungeon, and the rooms of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff.

Lindau · Baviera · Port

Hafeneinfahrt Lindau

The entrance to Lindau's harbor, with the six-metre león da Baviera on a jetty and the Neuer Leuchtturm of 1856 on the other side. The lighthouse, the only one in Baviera, can be climbed in season.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Cathedral

Konstanzer Münster

The former cathedral of the bishops of Constança, one of the largest Romanesque churches in southwest Germany, consecrated in 1089. It hosted sessions of the Council from 1414 to 1418 and has a tower with a viewpoint.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Historic site

Konzilgebäude

Large stone warehouse from 1388 in the harbor of Constança, where in 1417 Pope Martin V was elected during the Council. It is regarded as the largest preserved medieval civic building in southern Germany.

See 15 more places in Lago de Constança

Lindau · Baviera · Historic tower

Mangturm

Square tower from the 12th century on Lindau's quay, a former watch and signaling tower for the harbor until 1856. The roof of glazed, colored tiles is one of the island's symbols.

Meersburg · Baden-Württemberg · Palace

Neues Schloss Meersburg

Baroque palace that was the residence of the prince-bishops of Constança from 1750 to 1803, with a staircase designed by Balthasar Neumann, a chapel with frescoes and a terrace overlooking the lake.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Monument

Imperia

A nine-metre concrete statue at the end of the port jetty in Constança, by Peter Lenk (1993). It turns slowly and satirises the power of the emperor and the pope at the time of the Council.

Lindau · Baviera · Street

Maximilianstraße

The island’s main street, for pedestrians only, with merchant and artisan houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, arcades, bay windows and old hoists on the roofs.

Meersburg · Baden-Württemberg · Museum

Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen

Open-air museum with 23 stilt houses reconstructed over the water, showing how people lived on the shores of the lake in the Stone Age and the Bronze Age. It is about 6 km from Meersburg.

Lindau · Baviera · Architecture

Altes Rathaus

The old town hall of Lindau, built from 1422 in the Gothic style and remodelled in the Renaissance, with stepped gables, a covered staircase and a painted façade depicting scenes from the town’s history.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Historic neighborhood

Niederburg

The oldest neighbourhood of Constança, between the Münster and the Reno, with winding lanes, medieval houses bearing names and dates on their façades, wine taverns and artisan workshops.

Meersburg · Baden-Württemberg · Church

Wallfahrtskirche Birnau

Baroque pilgrimage church built between 1746 and 1749 on the vineyards of the north shore, with frescoes by Gottfried Bernhard Göz and sculptures by Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer, such as the little putto Honigschlecker.

Lindau · Baviera · Church

Peterskirche

The oldest church in Lindau, in the former fishermen’s quarter, with Passion of Christ frescoes from the late 15th century. Today it serves as a memorial to the victims of the wars.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Museum

Rosgartenmuseum

Museum of art and history of Constança and the lake region, founded in 1870 in a former guild house. It ranges from Stone Age finds to paintings and objects from the time of the Council.

Meersburg · Baden-Württemberg · Historic neighborhood

Unterstadt und Seepromenade

The lower part of Meersburg, by the lake, with the Seepromenade, the boat harbour and old houses, linked to the upper town by the Steigstraße, a steep street of half-timbered houses.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Garden

Insel Mainau

Constança's flower island: 45 hectares of gardens, an arboretum, a butterfly house and a baroque palace, about 7 km from the centre. Open year-round, with the flower season from March to October.

Lindau · Baviera · Church

Münster Unserer Lieben Frau

Baroque church on Lindau’s market square, rebuilt between 1748 and 1752 by Johann Caspar Bagnato. Opposite stands St. Stephan, the town’s largest church, with a bulbous cupola tower.

Lindau · Baviera · Museum

Haus zum Cavazzen

Baroque mansion from 1729–1730 on the market square, with a tall curved roof and painted façade. It houses the city museum, with Lindau's history and temporary art exhibitions.

Constança · Baden-Württemberg · Historic site

Klosterinsel Reichenau

The largest island on the lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the former Benedictine monastery, with three Romanesque churches such as St. Georg, which has wall paintings over a thousand years old. It is about 10 km from Constança.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to September the days are long, boats run more frequently and the gardens of Mainau are at their peak. April and October are quieter, with mist over the water on many mornings. In winter, from December to February, it's cold, there are fewer boats and the Christmas markets usually run from the end of November until near Christmas.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

With 3 days you can see the essentials: one day in Lindau, one in Constança and one in Meersburg, crossing by ferry. With 4 or 5 days you'll have time for the island of Mainau, the island of Reichenau, the pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen and a long boat trip on the lake.

Which city to stay in

Constança is the most practical base: it has the train station in the old town, boats to the whole lake and the ferry to Meersburg. Sleeping in the old town or near the harbour keeps everything within walking distance. Lindau is worth a night on the island itself, with the harbour lit up. Meersburg is small and crowded with day visitors, but becomes peaceful at night in the lower part by the lake.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Lago de Constança

How many days to allocate for the lake?

Three days cover Lindau, Constança and Meersburg without rushing. If you want to include the islands of Mainau and Reichenau, the pile dwellings of Unteruhldingen and a long boat crossing, plan on 4 or 5 days. Since the towns are on different shores, it's worth choosing a base and doing the rest as day trips.

Do I need a car to get around the lake?

No. Regional trains link Lindau, Friedrichshafen and Constança, buses serve Meersburg and Unteruhldingen, and in season regular boats connect the shores. The Constança–Meersburg ferry carries pedestrians and cars year-round. A car only helps if you want to stop in small villages and wineries off the boat routes.

Do the boats operate all year?

Not all year. The main season for regular boat services usually runs from April to October, with fewer departures at the start and end. In winter the service drops sharply. The ferry between Constança and Meersburg is the exception: it runs day and night all year. In years with very low water levels some docks may be left without boat service. Confirm before you go.

Is it possible to do a day trip from Munique or from Zurique?

From Zurique, Constança is just over an hour by train, and a day trip works well. From Munique, Lindau is about 2 hours by train; you can go and return the same day, but there's little time left for the rest of the lake. To see all three towns it's ideal to stay at least two nights in the region.

Can I cross into Suíça or Austria during the visit?

Yes. Constança is adjacent to Kreuzlingen, in Suíça, and you can cross on foot. Lindau is a few kilometres from Bregenz, in Austria. Take your passport for the crossings. In Suíça the currency is the Swiss franc, and many places accept cards.

Lago de Constança

A region to enjoyat your own pace.