Table of Contents:
When to travel to Friedrichshafen
How to get to Friedrichshafen from Frankfurt
How to get to Friedrichshafen from Stuttgart
How to get to Friedrichshafen from Munich
Where to stay in Friedrichshafen
What to see & do in Friedrichshafen
When to travel to Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen is a small picturesque town located on the shores of Lake Constance. Lake Constance, or Bodensee as it is also called, is the largest lake in southwestern Germany, which is why the place is known as a regional water resort. There are several resort towns on the Bodensee, including Friedrichshafen, located on the northern side of the lake. The Constance Lake is located in the Baden-Wurttemberg region. It is the south-west of the country. I travelled to this region and I can say it is a pretty picturesque area with a lot of natural attractions.
The best time of the year to travel to Bodensee is a summer indeed. In case you want to swim and get sunbathe you`d better to choose the period between mid-June and mid-September when the weather is sunny and the water is getting warm. Other seasons suites best for nature walking, seeing attractions and enjoying the cultural heritage.
How to get to Friedrichshafen
Where do you fly into to get to Friedrichshafen? Bodensee is located in the very south of Baden-Wurttemberg region and close to borders of Switzerland and Austria. The nearest major cities to the lake are Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Munich. These cities have international airports and are the fastest way to get to Baden-Württemberg region. Check the current timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I often use Aviasales to find available flight options and it helps me to compare and choose the suitable one. Further, to get directly to Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, you need to use any means of public transport – train or bus. You also can rent a car to travel on your own. In addition, there is also a small airport a few kilometers from Friedrichshafen, you can fly there directly from Frankfurt and some other large European cities.
How to get to Friedrichshafen from Frankfurt
The distance between Frankfurt and Friedrichshafen is almost 400 km. The route #A81, which connects the cities, stretches from north to the very south. You can overcome this impressive distance by train (with a change), by bus (direct) or by car.
By train: There are no direct trains between Frankfurt and Friedrichshafen, but you can use the routes with changes (short in time). Changes are available, for example, in Ulm or Stuttgart. Travel time takes from 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the duration of your change. Both high-speed and regional trains run between the cities. Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. Tickets to Friedrichshafen can be purchased online or at the ticket office of the Frankfurt railway station. I tried both variants and as a rule when booking online in advance I have more options available.
By bus: From 6 am, a direct bus service starts running between Frankfurt and Friedrichshafen. Buses in Frankfurt depart either from the central railway station or from Terminal 2 of the airport. Travel time varies from 7 to 8 hours. There are also buses with changes between cities (the shortest trip with a change in Freiburg, other options take much longer time).
By renting a car: Another popular way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Frankfurt. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. Frankfurt and Friedrichshafen are connected with highway # A81 (see on the map). I travelled a lot along the autobahns in Germany and I can confirm they are pretty much comfortable and it is often the fastest way to get to the desired destination.
How to get to Friedrichshafen from Stuttgart
Based on my research, the distance between Stuttgart and Friedrichshafen is 200 km. They are connected by highway #A81. You can get to the resort by train, bus or car.
By train: Both direct regional trains and high-speed trains run between Stuttgart and Friedrichshafen with a change in Ulm. Travel time is practically the same (change in Ulm is minimal in time) and ranges from 2 to 2.5 hours. Trains run throughout the day; direct trains depart once every 2 hours (starting at 7 am). Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. Tickets to Friedrichshafen can be purchased online or at the ticket office of the Stuttgart railway station.
By bus: There is also a bus service between the cities. You can choose direct bus, or bus with a short change in Freiburg. A trip on a direct route takes about 3.5-4 hours; a trip on a route with a change takes 5-6 hours. In Stuttgart, buses depart both from the airport and from the railway station.
By renting a car: One more advisable way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Stuttgart. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I checked out both services and they have a lot of positive reviews.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. Stuttgart is connected with Friedrichshafen by highway № A81 (see on the map).
How to get to Friedrichshafen from Munich
I did some research and found out that the distance between Munich and Friedrichshafen is 200 km, the cities are connected by the A96 highway. You can get from Munich to Friedrichshafen by train with a short change in Ulm or by direct bus.
By train: High-speed trains run between cities on the Munich-Ulm section and regional trains run on the Ulm-Friedrichshafen section. The change in Ulm is minimal in duration, so it practically does not affect the travel time, which is about 2.5 hours. Trains run throughout the day twice an hour. Train timetables can be checked at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope when planning my trips in advance. In my opinion, it is a very convenient service, because I can compare different routes, duration of the train journey and many other useful options.
By bus: You can get from Munich to Friedrichshafen even faster by bus. Flixbus direct buses run between the cities. Travel time is only 2 hours 2 minutes. The first bus departs from the Munich Central Bus Station at 3.30 am, the last one leaves at 19.00. During the day, up to 15 buses run along the route. Check the bus timetable on the Flixbus online service.
By renting a car: One more advisable way to travel between cities in Germany is to rent a car. You can rent a car right at the airport upon arrival, or at any other rental offices in Munich. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc.
◊A useful tip: Compare a few of booking services to choose the best price. Roads in Germany are high-speed (the so-called autobahns), so you can move along quickly and comfortably. Munich is connected with Friedrichshafen by highway № A96 (see on the map).
Where to stay in Friedrichshafen
I did some research and I can say that tourists can find a lot of different accommodation options to stay here. Friedrichshafen is a relatively small town, but there are a sufficient number of hotels, guest houses and apartments for accommodation, since the town is considered to be a water resort. However, in the “high” season, hotels should be booked in advance.
Hotel City Krone 4* – The hotel is located a few steps from the lake. The train station is also situated within the walking distance. In addition to a good location, the hotel offers its guests an indoor swimming pool and a sauna. The hotel bar has a seasonal veranda. Wi-Fi is available free of charge. There is private paid parking. Luggage storage is also available. The hotel has single, double and triple rooms of different categories. All rooms are equipped with mini-bar, safe, hairdryer, telephone, TV, radio, internet connection. Buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel received the best reviews for its location, cleanliness of the rooms and professionalism of the staff. Check-in is from 14.30, check-out is until 11.00.
Ringhotel Krone 4* – This hotel is located in a quiet, cozy place, in the nearest suburbs of Friedrichshafen. The hotel has a spa, outdoor pool and mini golf course. There is also a local restaurant with an outdoor terrace. The hotel offers its guests free private parking (reservation is not required). Wi-Fi is available for free. Luggage storage and currency exchange are also available. The hotel has rooms decorated in different styles. In all rooms you find air conditioning, safe, hairdryer, TV, telephone, mini-bar. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the best ratings for professionalism of the staff and the cleanliness of the rooms. The front desk is open 24/7. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.
Hotel Knoblauch 4* – The hotel is located a short distance from the lake and the city center. It has its own spa and several pools. In addition, guests can enjoy the services of a restaurant and a bar. Wi-Fi is available free of charge. Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed). The hotel has rooms of various categories. All rooms are equipped with TV, Wi-Fi, safe, hairdryer, telephone, mini-bar. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the best ratings for the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, as well as for the quality of the Wi-Fi provided. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.
Hotel Traube am See 4* – The hotel is located 100 m from the lake, you can walk to it in a few minutes. The hotel offers its guests an indoor swimming pool and a local restaurant. The hotel’s spa area includes a sauna and a steam room. Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed). Wi-fi is free of charge. The hotel has standard and superior rooms equipped with a balcony, TV, telephone, radio, hair dryer. Breakfasts, depending on the type of room, may be included in the price. The hotel received the best reviews for the cleanliness of the rooms and professionalism of the staff. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00.
What to see & do in Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen got its name in honor of the German King Frederick I. To date, the city has preserved some several interesting historical attractions, but, of course, the main attraction is the Lake Constance and everything connected with water.
If you are, like me, interested in architecture, in the central part of Friedrichshafen, you can find significant historical monuments. These, in particular, include the Schlosskirche, or castle church, which was built back in the 17th century. Other religious buildings, which are also worthy of seeing, are the Catholic churches of St. Nicholas and St. Petrus Canisius.
You may be surprised, but Friedrichshafen in Germany is the center of airship building, where the first factory for zeppelins is located. Now in the town you can find several museums, devoted to aeronautics. You can even ride zeppelins over the Lake Constance! This is popular local activity.
It would be strange not to mention another popular entertainment in Friedrichshafen – these are boat trips on Lake Constance. In the spring and summer, boat trips are very popular among the tourists. Tourists are served by several boat companies organizing water trips, so finding a suitable water route is not so difficult. In addition, on the Bodensee you can ride not only on the motor ships, but also experience more thrills, for example, rent a catamaran, a boat or even a whole yacht.
Based on my research, water transport rental services are also offered in Friedrichshafen. The Bodensee also offers a wide range of water sports. There are express courses in scuba diving, sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing and others.
The Bodensee is surrounded with beautiful and picturesque countryside, so another popular lakeside activity is cycling. Bicycle rental in Friedrichshafen is so popular that you can even buy a special bike card here with additional bonuses. Such a map for cycling can be found at the Friedrichshafen Tourist Office.
In addition, walking tours are organized in and around the city in case you do not want to explore the city on your own. During the excursions, you can learn a lot about the history of the town, see non-tourist places and learn about the lake surroundings. Other resorts on the lake are Konstanz with the Mainau flowers island, Meersburg with its thermal springs and Lindau. They are also popular destinations for travelling.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out a travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerged medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase an insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Huub Janssen
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…