Konstanz
Konstanz is a university town at the western end of Upper Lake Constance, where a medieval old town sits beside the Swiss border.
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Konstanz is a university town of about 83,000 people at the western end of Upper Lake Constance, in Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany. It is the largest town on the lake. The Rhine leaves the lake under the Old Rhine Bridge, and the German-Swiss border runs through the city, which is joined to the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen. The old town and the Paradies district lie south of the Rhine, and the Münster cathedral dominates the skyline. The Niederburg has narrow lanes, wine taverns and workshops.
The Council of Constance met here from 1414 to 1418, and its 1417 papal election was the only one held north of the Alps. Jan Hus was burned at the stake in 1415 during the council, and the Hus Museum covers his story. The University of Konstanz, founded in 1966, lies north of the Rhine and gives the town a younger side. A car ferry crosses to Meersburg in about 15 minutes, and Mainau island is reached by a bridge from the mainland.
Konstanz in five
- Walk the harbor to Imperia and the RosengartenThe harbor promenade, the Imperia statue and the old town are a half-day stroll. Add the lakeside Rosengarten for a sunset walk.
- Take the car ferry to MeersburgA short ferry from Konstanz-Staad crosses to Meersburg in about 15 minutes and runs most of the day. Check the schedule before you plan the return.
- Visit Mainau by boat or busThe flower island is a few kilometers from the center. Check opening hours and ticket rules on the island's site, and go on a weekday in spring or summer for fewer crowds.
- Bring your passport for SwitzerlandKreuzlingen is a walk across the border. Checks are rare, but carry ID, and note that Swiss francs are used in shops there. Check whether your mobile plan roams in Switzerland.Schengen 90 in 180 explained
- Take the Black Forest Railway to the westThe Schwarzwaldbahn from Konstanz to Offenburg is a scenic route, about 3 hours. Combine it with a stop at Triberg or end the day in Freiburg.Freiburg travel guide
Things to do in Konstanz
See all attractions in Konstanz
Need to know
- Airport
- Zurich (ZRH), about 1.5 hours by train
- Getting there
- Train: Zurich about 1 hr 20 min, Stuttgart about 3 hrs, Freiburg about 3 to 3.5 hrs
- Getting around
- Walkable center; buses, boats and ferries
- Best base
- Near the harbor or Hauptbahnhof
- Time needed
- 1 day for the city; 2 to 3 with the lake
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh4°Low-1°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Cold, greyFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- MarchRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Cool, springMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spring
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Mild, tulipsAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, tulips
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Warm, boats startMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, boats start
- JuneRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low14°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, long days
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, swimmingJulyRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, swimming
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 162 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Mild, goldenSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, golden
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°Fog, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Fog, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low0°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Konstanz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Konstanz
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 4°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Konstanz
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue9°6°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°6°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°5°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°5°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat9°4°9%Saturday: Rain. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sun12°6°26%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 26%.
Updated 07:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Mainauabout 20 minutes by bus or 30 minutes by boatA flower island with gardens and a butterfly house.
- Meersburgabout 15 minutes by ferryCastle, vineyards and a cobbled lakeside old town.
- Freiburgabout 3 hours by trainBlack Forest gateway with a Gothic minster.Read the guide
Before you go to Konstanz
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Rules for Konstanz, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules before you book.
- The German and Swiss border runs through the city, so carry your passport or ID at all times, especially when you cross to Kreuzlingen.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Germany.
- Non-EU visitors can claim VAT refunds on purchases above €50.01 per receipt. Ask shops for the refund form and have customs stamp it when you leave the EU.
Plan around Konstanz
Cities, castles and the south
Read the guideFreiburgBlack Forest gateway by regional train
Read the guideBlack ForestTriberg, Titisee and forest trails
Read the guideUlmCathedral tower, about 3 hours east
Read the guideStuttgartState capital, 3 hours by train
Read the guideIs a Eurail pass worth it?Regional tickets or a pass in the south
Read the guideKonstanz FAQ
Is Konstanz worth visiting?
Yes, for the lake setting, the harbor and the easy trips to Meersburg and Mainau. It is more relaxed than a big-ticket sights city and works well in summer.
How many days do you need in Konstanz?
One day covers the old town, the harbor and a lakeside walk. Two or three days let you add Mainau, a ferry to Meersburg and a day trip to Switzerland.
Can you visit Switzerland from Konstanz?
Yes. Kreuzlingen borders the city and Zurich is about an hour and a half by train. Carry your passport, and expect to use Swiss francs on the Swiss side.
How do you get from Zurich to Konstanz?
By regional train in about 1 hour 20 minutes, with frequent departures across the border. Check ticket rules for the Swiss section before you board.
When is the best time to visit Konstanz?
May to September for swimming, boats and festivals on the lake. April brings bloom on Mainau; winter is quiet with a Christmas market.