Lake Constance: The most beautiful places for a relaxing holiday by the lake

Contents:

• The most beautiful places on Lake Constance: the best starting points for your trip
• The most beautiful day trips around Lake Constance: islands, old towns and promenades
• Travelling across Lake Constance by boat: panoramic views included, stress-free planning
• Activities on Lake Constance: cycling, hiking and relaxing by the water
• Events at Lake Constance in 2026: wonderful occasions to visit from spring through to Advent
• Conclusion: A destination you’ll love to return to

The most beautiful places on Lake Constance: the best starting points for your trip

Around Lake Constance in Germany, there isn’t just one perfect place for everyone – there are several, depending on how you’d like to travel. That’s precisely what makes the region so appealing: every place has its own character, and often the choice of the right base determines whether your trip feels lively, stylish, peaceful or particularly varied.

• Konstanz (Germany) is one of the best choices for anyone who likes to be right in the thick of things. The city combines a beautiful old town with a harbour, a promenade, plenty of restaurants and excellent transport links throughout the region. If you like to keep your options open and want to combine culture, city life and that lakeside atmosphere, this is the place for you.
• Lindau (Germany) is particularly well-suited if you’re looking for a classic Lake Constance setting. The historic island town, with its harbour entrance, pretty alleyways and views of the water, instantly evokes that holiday feeling. Lindau is a particularly lovely choice, especially for a romantic or atmospheric stay.
• Überlingen (Germany) is perfect for anyone who wants to experience Lake Constance in a slightly quieter and more stylish way. The lakeside promenade, the relaxed atmosphere and the well-kept surroundings make it the ideal place for enjoyable days by the lake. If you’re looking for relaxation, lovely walks and an elegant atmosphere, you’ll find this a particularly pleasant base.
• Meersburg (Germany) is a lovely base for anyone who prefers a charming and somewhat more historic setting. The combination of the castle, vineyards, old town and lake views gives the town a special character. Meersburg feels a little smaller and more intimate, which is precisely why many find it a particularly atmospheric choice.
• Bregenz (Austria) is ideal if you want to combine Lake Constance with culture and panoramic views. The town is beautifully situated between the water and the mountains and, with its lake-side stage and the Pfänder, offers a delightful blend of nature, views and urban flair. If you’d like to experience Lake Constance with a little extra variety, this is the perfect place for you.
• Rorschach (Switzerland) – or indeed the Swiss side of the lake in general – is particularly worth a visit if you appreciate a somewhat quieter, more relaxed atmosphere. Life here is often more laid-back, and that is precisely what makes this side of Lake Constance so pleasant for peaceful holidays with a lake view.

Your trip is usually at its best when you consciously choose a place that suits your travel style – rather than trying to do everything at once. Lake Constance thrives on the idea of staying in one place for a while, hopping on a boat on a whim, lingering on the promenade or going on a little excursion without a fixed plan. It is precisely this relaxed way of travelling that suits this area so well.

The best day trips around Lake Constance: islands, old towns and promenades

Lake Constance is ideal for day trips where the journey itself is part of the experience. Precisely because so many places are so close together, you can wonderfully combine a wide variety of experiences – from a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge to charming old towns and visits to islands with a special atmosphere. That’s exactly what makes the region so enjoyable: you can discover so much without the trip ever feeling rushed.

• A particularly lovely day trip takes you to the island of Mainau (Germany). This ‘flower island’ is perfect for a peaceful, enjoyable day amidst well-tended gardens, ancient trees, Mediterranean charm and beautiful views of the water. If you want to experience Lake Constance at its most relaxed and almost elegant, this is the place for you.
• Quite different, but just as rewarding, is a detour to Stein am Rhein (Switzerland). This small town on the Untersee delights visitors with its wonderfully preserved old town, painted façades and an atmosphere that feels almost a little like a fairy tale. For anyone who loves historic places full of charm, Stein am Rhein is one of the most beautiful day trips in the region.
• Reichenau (Germany) is also not to be missed. The island feels more peaceful and tranquil than many other places on Lake Constance and is perfect for a few relaxing hours away from the more traditional tourist spots. Those who prefer to travel at a more leisurely pace and appreciate places with a special atmosphere will find a very pleasant contrast here to the livelier lakeside towns.
• For a relaxing time right by the water, the lakeside promenade in Überlingen or the harbour promenade in Lindau are also well worth a visit. Here, it’s less about a packed programme and more about exactly what makes a holiday on Lake Constance so enjoyable: strolling, stopping for a bite to eat, gazing out over the water and simply savouring the moment.

• Anyone who likes to experience Lake Constance from above should plan a trip on the Pfänderbahn in Bregenz. At the top, one of the most beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains awaits.

One of the most appealing things about Lake Constance is that such excursions can be combined with ease. A morning in an old town, lunch by the water and later a short stroll on an island or along a lakeside promenade – that’s often what a perfect day here feels like. Lake Constance thrives not only on its famous destinations, but also on this relaxed way of constantly discovering something new.

A boat trip across Lake Constance: panoramic views included, stress-free planning

A boat trip is almost a must on Lake Constance, as many of the most beautiful places are directly connected by water. The connection between Constance and Meersburg is particularly convenient: the ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the crossing takes around 15 minutes. This makes it very easy to plan a day out — stroll through Konstanz in the morning, take the ferry over to Meersburg at lunchtime and enjoy the afternoon right by the lake.

The Constance–Friedrichshafen route is also ideal for a relaxing day out. The catamaran connects the two cities all year round. This connection is particularly lovely if you want to include Lake Constance not just as a backdrop, but as an integral part of your travel experience — it’s fast, direct and offers plenty of views of the water along the way.

If you’re setting off from the Austrian side, the classic scheduled ferry service from Bregenz is an excellent option. The Vorarlberg Lines ferries will operate on the VSU scheduled service from 3 April to 18 October 2026. From Bregenz, you can travel to destinations including Lindau, Wasserburg, Nonnenhorn, Friedrichshafen, Meersburg, Mainau, Konstanz and Überlingen.

If you’d like to explore the lake as flexibly as possible, you should also take a look at the BSB day tickets. These allow you to get on and off as often as you like throughout the day within the zones you’ve booked – ideal if you want to combine several destinations at a leisurely pace by boat. The Lake Constance Card PLUS is also worth considering: in 2026, it costs from CHF 83 for 3 days or CHF 131 for 7 days. The Bodensee Card PLUS includes 2 days’ free travel on VSU scheduled services with the 3-day ticket and 4 days’ free travel with the 7-day ticket. Exclusions include, amongst others, the Konstanz–Meersburg ferry and the Konstanz–Friedrichshafen catamaran.

Activities on Lake Constance: cycling, walking and relaxing by the water

Lake Constance is ideal for anyone who wants to combine their holiday with a bit of exercise without it having to be too strenuous. Cycling tours along the Lake Constance Cycle Route are particularly popular, for example on lovely stretches such as Lindau–Bregenz, Konstanz–Kreuzlingen or Meersburg–Hagnau. These sections are particularly well-suited if you want to take it at a leisurely pace, stopping every now and then to enjoy the lake at your own pace.

On warm days, a dip in the lake is, of course, a must. All round the lake, lido beaches, stretches of shoreline and promenades invite you to spend a few peaceful hours right by the water. What makes this particularly enjoyable is that a day spent swimming at Lake Constance can easily be combined with a stroll through the town, a boat trip or a leisurely stop for refreshments. Those who wish to experience the lake in a more active way can also plan to go stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing or take a short boat trip. It is on the quieter stretches of the shore in particular that Lake Constance reveals its particularly relaxing side. It is precisely this blend of activity, water and a sense of ease that makes the region so attractive for active holidays.

Events at Lake Constance in 2026: wonderful reasons to visit from spring to Advent

In 2026, too, there will be a number of wonderful occasions for a trip around Lake Constance. In spring, the orchid show on Mainau Island is particularly worth a visit; it takes place from 21 March to 10 May 2026 and lends the ‘flower island’ a particularly atmospheric feel once again. Also well suited to this time of year is the Bregenz Spring, the international dance festival at the Festspielhaus Bregenz, which runs from March to June 2026.

In summer, the Konstanz Lake Night Festival is undoubtedly one of the region’s best-known highlights. Scheduled for 8 August 2026, the festival takes place right by the lake and once again brings a lively atmosphere to the shore. A special highlight of the summer is the Bregenz Festival. The major production on the lake stage in 2026 will be Verdi’s *La traviata*, which premieres on 22 July and can be enjoyed on Lake Constance until 23 August. It will be complemented by further operas, concerts and productions as part of the festival.

Those who prefer to experience Lake Constance in a slightly quieter and more atmospheric setting will also find wonderful reasons to visit in late autumn and during the Advent season. The Christmas market by the lake in Konstanz is particularly atmospheric; it is scheduled to run from 26 November to 23 December 2026 and, with its location right by the water, fits in particularly well with the region.

Conclusion: A destination you’ll be happy to return to

Lake Constance is one of those places that doesn’t need to be bustling to leave a lasting impression. The combination of water, beautiful lakeside towns, relaxing excursions, cultural experiences and moments of pure enjoyment makes the region a particularly atmospheric destination. That is precisely why Lake Constance is so well suited to holidays that are meant to be carefree, varied and relaxing all at once – and that is precisely why it is a place you’ll be happy to return to.