Lake Constance
Go for ferry-linked lakeside towns, flower gardens on Mainau, medieval churches on Reichenau, and swimming and cycling in the warmer months.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Lake Constance, called Bodensee in German, lies at the northern foot of the Alps, where Germany, Austria and Switzerland meet. The German shore, in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, holds several of the main towns, including Konstanz, Lindau, Meersburg and Friedrichshafen. Ferries link the shores and islands, so boats are as useful as trains and buses for getting around.
Visitors come for lakeside old towns, castles and flower gardens. Mainau is a flower island with a palace and gardens. On Reichenau, early medieval monastery churches are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Friedrichshafen has a Zeppelin museum, tied to the region's airship history. Swimming and boat trips suit summer, spring brings flowers to Mainau, and autumn is quieter. Two or three days cover the main towns and islands by ferry and train, and a week leaves time for cycling and walks along the shore.
Lake Constance in five
- Carry your passport when you cross to KreuzlingenKreuzlingen is a Swiss town directly beside Konstanz, and border checks can happen at any land crossing. Keep your passport or ID on you, even for a short walk.
- Carry Swiss francs for the Swiss sideKonstanz uses euros, but shops in Kreuzlingen price in Swiss francs (CHF). Check whether your card works there before you plan a day across the border.
- Set up an eSIM that covers SwitzerlandFerry times, the lakeshore path and map apps all run on mobile data. Confirm that your plan covers Switzerland as well as Germany before you cross.Phones and eSIM
- Take the boat to the island of MainauMainau is an island garden reached by boat from Konstanz. Check the ferry timetable and island entry on the official site before you plan the day.
- Get a vignette before you drive Swiss or Austrian motorwaysThe road around the lake crosses Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the last two need a motorway vignette. Buy one before you join a motorway.
Things to do in Lake Constance
See all attractions in Lake Constance
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR); Swiss franc (CHF) on the Swiss side
- Entry
- Schengen rules; visa-free short stays for many passports Read more
- Emergency
- 110 police, 112 fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Round up or add about 5 to 10 percent in restaurants
- Time
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer (daylight saving); Swiss side is the same
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, grey
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchCool, early spring
- AprilMild, blossom
- MayMild, flowers
- JuneWarm, busy
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustWarm, crowded
- SeptemberMild, quieter
- OctoberCooler, clear
- NovemberCool, damp
- DecemberCold, short days
Right now in Lake Constance
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- -1°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 29 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Lake Constance
11:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today6°2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue6°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed7°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu8°5°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°5°4%Friday: Rain. High 7°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat10°3°15%Saturday: Rain. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sun11°2°18%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 18%.
Updated 09:44 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Meersburgabout 20 to 30 min by ferryA lakeside town with a castle, across the water from Konstanz.
- Mainauabout 15 to 20 min by boatA flower island with a garden and palace park, best seen in spring and summer.
- Lindauabout 1 to 1.5 hours by trainAn island old town on the Bavarian side, with a harbour and a lakeside lighthouse.
Before you go to Lake Constance
Rules for Lake Constance, checked
- Non-EU visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area, including Germany and Switzerland. Count your days before booking a long stay.Source
- Non-EU visitors are registered at Schengen borders under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check its current status on the official EU travel site.Source
- Motorways in Switzerland and Austria need a vignette. Check the current rules with Swiss Federal Customs (EZV) and the Austrian motorway authority before you drive.
- Border checks can take place at the Konstanz to Kreuzlingen crossing and at any land border, so keep your passport or ID with you.
Plan around Lake Constance
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Germany trip
Read the guideThe city of KonstanzThe city on the Rhine outflow and a common base for the lake
Read the guideWhere to stayStays in Konstanz and along the lakeshore
Read the guideGetting aroundFerries, trains and buses between the lake towns
Read the guideMoney and costsEuros and Swiss francs for a day on both sides
Read the guideVisas and entrySchengen rules and the Swiss border crossing
Read the guideLake Constance FAQ
Is Konstanz worth visiting?
Yes, for the cathedral, the harbour and an easy base on the lake. It is compact, so one or two days cover the old town, the lakeshore and a ferry trip.
Can you visit Mainau from Konstanz?
Yes, by ferry from the Konstanz harbour. Check the ferry timetable and island entry before you go.
Do you need Swiss francs in Konstanz?
Konstanz itself uses euros. Kreuzlingen uses Swiss francs, so carry some if you plan to shop or eat there.
What is the best time to visit Lake Constance?
May to June and September to October suit lakeside walks, with mild weather and fewer crowds than July and August. Spring brings flowers on Mainau.
Is Lake Constance good for a first trip to Germany?
As an add-on, yes. It is a calm lakeside break in the south, with easy trains and ferries. It is less suited to big-city nightlife.
Can you drive around Lake Constance?
Yes, the road around the lake crosses Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Carry your passport for each border.