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Table of Contents:
When to travel to Lake Constance
How to get to Lake Constance from Frankfurt
How to get to Lake Constance from Stuttgart
How to get to Lake Constance from Munich
Where to stay on Lake Constance
What to see & do on Lake Constance
When to travel to Lake Constance
Lake Constance, or as it is also called, Bodensee is located in the south of Germany and in the area of two German regions – Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria. Also, on its other side, the lake is situated on the shores of Switzerland and partly of Austria. The lake is divided into upper and lower by the island of Mainau, the famous island of flowers. Bodensee in Germany is a popular holiday destination.
The best time of the year to visit Lake Constance is summertime. In case you want to swim and sunbathe you`d better choose the period between mid-June and mid-September when the weather is sunny and the water is getting warm. Other seasons suit best for nature walking, seeing architectural attractions and enjoying the cultural heritage.
The largest towns on the lake on the German side are Friedrichshafen, Meersburg and Konstanz in Baden-Wurttemberg and Lindau in Bavaria. These towns are most often chosen by the tourists for their holiday time. I have travelled extensively around Southern Germany and I was impressed by the combination of natural and architectural attractions concentrated in this area.
How to get to Lake Constance
Where do you fly to get to Lake Constance? It is more convenient to get to Friedrichshafen, Meersburg and Konstanz from Frankfurt or Stuttgart. It is more convenient to get to Lindau from Munich. Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich have their own international airports. Check the current timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I usually use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options.
How to get to Lake Constance from Frankfurt
I did some research and I found out that the distance between Frankfurt and Lake Constance is on average about 400 km. You can get from Frankfurt to Lake Constance by public transport or by rented car.
By public transport:
✓ You can reach Friedrichshafen by train with a change in Ulm or Stuttgart, or by direct bus.
✓ You can get to Meersburg by train only with a change in Friedrichshafen, since there is no railway station in Meersburg. You need to make a change of transport in Friedrichshafen to get to Meersburg and take a taxi car or a local bus, the distance is about 15 km.
✓ There are no direct trains from Frankfurt to Konstanz, but you can get there with a change in Offenburg; the travel time is about 4.5 hours. There is also a direct bus once a day, which departs from Frankfurt Central Station at 11 am, the travel time is almost 6 hours.
You can check the train schedule at the Raileurope booking service. I use this service when planning my trips in Europe in advance. It helps me to sort various available options by the duration of the trip, departure and arrival points, price, etc.
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 Lake Constance are connected with highway # A81.
How to get to Lake Constance from Stuttgart
The distance between Stuttgart and Bodensee is on average 200 km. You can get from Stuttgart to Lake Constance by public transport or by rented car.
By public transport:
✓Friedrichshafen can be reached from Stuttgart both by direct regional train and by high-speed train with a short change in Ulm. By bus, you can also get on a direct route, or on a route with a change in Freiburg.
✓ You can get to Meersburg by train only with a change in Friedrichshafen, since there is no railway station in Meersburg. You need to make a change of transport in Friedrichshafen to get to Meersburg and take a taxi car or a local bus, the distance is about 15 km.
✓There are no direct trains to Konstanz from Stuttgart, but there are options with a change in Singen (travel time is about 3 hours). Direct buses run even faster along the route, than the trains, – within 2 hours on the way. Buses depart from both the city center and from Stuttgart Airport. Direct buses run on the route more than 5 times a day.
You can check the train schedule at the Raileurope booking 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 Stuttgart. You can also book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. Based on my thorough research, both services have lots of positive reviews, so I can recommend them.
◊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 to Bodensee with highway № A81. I travelled a lot along the local autobahns in Germany and based on my experience, 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 Lake Constance from Munich
Munich is located 180 km from Lindau. You can get from Munich to Lake Constance by public transport or by rented car.
By public transport: Lindau has its own train station, so you can get here from Munich by train. High-speed and regional trains run from Munich to Lindau on direct routes every 2 hours, on routes with a change twice an hour. Travel time varies from 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the type of the train.Trains run throughout the day.
You can check the train schedule at the Raileurope booking service.
You can also get from Munich to Lindau by bus. By bus, the journey takes about 2 hours. Buses depart from the Central Bus Station up to five times a day.
By renting a car: You can rent a car in Munich right after arrival. The rules for renting a car in Germany are relatively simple; anyone with an international driver’s license can rent a car. You can book a car in advance on the different booking services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. Munich and Lindau are connected with highway # A96. The distance is 180 km.
Where to stay on Lake Constance
I did some research and found out that most of the Bodensee hotels are divided into urban and suburban; you need to choose according to your plans, whether you want to stay in the center of cultural life, or you want to relax in the countryside. Also, when choosing a hotel, it is worth considering the distance to the lake. Some hotels have their own access to the beach, while others are located a few kilometers from the shore. Since the Bodensee is considered to be a popular resort in the summer, it is worth reserving accommodation in advance for a holiday in the “high” season.
Bodensee-Hotel Sonnenhof 4* – This hotel is located in the town of Kressbronn. The hotel can offer its guests panoramic views of the lake, private beach, spa, swimming pool, restaurant. Parking and internet access is free for hotel guests. The hotel is located 2 km from Kressbronn train station. The hotel has standard, deluxe, premium and suite rooms. All rooms have a safe, mini-bar, hairdryer, TV, telephone, radio. Some of the rooms are equipped with balconies. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the highest ratings for the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms, as well as for the location. The hotel offers luggage storage. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 12.00.
Hotel Der Löwen 3* – The hotel is located in the town of Hagnau, in its green area and is considered to be a country hotel. Here you can find a private beach, a Japanese garden, a traditional restaurant and a terrace. The nearest railway station is about 10 km away. Wi-Fi is available free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. In the rooms you can find everything you need to relax, including telephone, radio, satellite TV. The hotel is situated in a cozy historic building. The hotel received the best reviews for the cleanliness of the rooms and professionalism of the staff. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00.
Landhaus Müller 3* – This hotel is located in Immenstadt. Lake Constance is within walking distance. The hotel offers its guests to use the sauna, free parking and wireless internet. The hotel has single and double rooms, most of which have balconies. Buffet breakfasts are included in the price and are served in the garden or on the terrace. In the rooms you can find a TV, telephone, mini-bar, refrigerator. The hotel received the best ratings for professionalism of the stuff and the cleanliness of the rooms. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 10.30.
Seehotel Kressbronn – This hotel is located in the green area of Kressbronn, a 15-minute walk from the centre. The hotel has its own beach and terrace on the lake. There is also a local restaurant on site. Free public parking is available nearby. Wi-Fi is available on site free of charge. The hotel has single and double rooms. Some of the rooms have views of the lake, others have views of the garden. Inside you can find a telephone, TV, safe, hair dryer. Breakfasts are included in the price. The hotel received the best reviews from guests for its location and cleanliness of the rooms. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00.
What to see & do on Lake Constance
The attractions of the Bodensee include numerous architectural monuments located on the lake. In addition, another unique attraction of Lake Constance is the Mainau flower island, which is most conveniently reached from the town of Konstanz. If you are, like me, also interested in architecture, you can find some hidden gems travelling around lake towns too.
Friedrichshafen is known for several historical monuments that have been preserved here. For example, the castle church of the 17th century deserves attention, as well as the Catholic churches of St. Nicholas and St. Petrus Canisius. But the city gained the greatest fame for the development of airship building here. The city has several museums dedicated to aeronautics. In addition, flying zeppelins can often be seen over Lake Constance.
Meersburg can boast of two castles, which have been preserved here. One of them, the so-called Old Castle, dates back to the 7th century, the second – the New one – was built in the 18th century. Both castles are open to visitors, now museums are located here. In addition, Meersburg can offer relaxation at its thermal complex, which has been opened recently, but has already gained popularity and may well compete with the Baden-Baden thermal baths. The modern and equipped thermal complex of Meersburg has several swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and hammams, water attractions and hydromassage facilities.
Not many historical monuments have been preserved in Lindau; the town is more suitable for observing and walking along the lake than for sightseeing. Nevertheless, the architectural monuments of Lindau include, for example, the Catholic Church of St. Mary, decorated with paintings by Baroque masters, the old City Hall, which was built at the beginning of the 15th century and the Mangturm lighthouse tower dating back to the 11-12th centuries. The Lindau City Museum, which tells about the history of the region, also deserves attention. On the waterfront of the town there are many attractive buildings and villas, as well as a Tuscan-style Park.
Konstanz is more fortunate with architecture worthy of attention. The old part of the city has been preserved almost untouched, therefore, walking here, you can see many historical buildings. The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary is considered to be the central historical monument of the city. It was built in the 15th century in the Gothic style.
The building of the local Benedictine abbey, which was built 10 centuries ago, also attracts attention. Now it is an Archaeological Museum. Be sure to visit the University of Konstanz with its botanical gardens, located on the Gissberg mountain, which overlooks the old city. There is also an Aquarium in Konstanz, which is interesting to visit for both adults and children. Konstanz is also the starting point for a trip to the Mainau flowers island.
Visiting the island of Mainau is a great way how to spend a holiday on Lake Constance. Mainau Island is the third largest island on the lake, it is connected to the mainland by a pedestrian bridge. There is a vast landscaped garden with rare species of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. In addition, here is the elegant baroque palace of the Swedish dynasty of Bernadotte in the center of the island.
It makes sense to visit the island from the early spring, as more and more new species of plants and flowers are constantly blooming here, continuously replacing each other throughout the year.
There are many different areas on Mainau, divided by plant species. So, here you can find a dahlia garden, an arboretum, a garden of perennial flowers, a sequoia alley, a Mediterranean-style terrace, a meadow of spring flowers, a staircase made of Italian species of flowers, a plane tree alley, a hydrangea corner, a promenade of spray roses, a rhododendron slope, as well as many interesting and original buildings and sculptures such as Butterfly House or Palm Greenhouse. I collected some practical information for visiting:
- The gardens, as well as Bernadotte palace, are open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Ticket price for adults starts from 24 euros depending on the season;
- Getting here: there is a pedestrian line, leading to the island from Konstanz town. The car parking area is situated on the mainland right before the pedestrian line. You can reach the island by foot, by bike or by boat, no vehicles are permitted though.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Germany, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase 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: Keith Roper
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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 about the author…