Bodensee Region

The Bodensee Region of Germany in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, consists of the coastline of Lake Constance, known as Bodensee in German, and Upper Swabia (Oberschwaben) immediately to its north. Lake Constance itself is within Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Most known for jigsaw puzzles and board games, the Upper Swabian city of Ravensburg hides its size behind the small-town facades

Konstanz is beautifully located on both shores of the Bodensee right where the Rhine river flows out of it

Cities

• 1 Konstanz - a beautiful port city picturesquely located at the western tip of the Lake, where the river Rhine flows out of it
• 2 Friedrichshafen - known for the longest lakeshore promenade and prominent contributions to the history of aviation
• 3 Laupheim -
• 4 Meersburg - a town on the shore of Lake Constance, with two castles - a medieval and a baroque one
• 5 Pfullendorf - with the Hohenzollern Castle
• 6 Radolfzell - beautifully located further west from Konstanz, with mementoes to long and rich history
• 7 Ravensburg - the medieval inland city which is just as nice as the famous jigsaw puzzles made there
• 8 Rot an der Rot - a small town around a large baroque abbey
• 9 Sigmaringen - one of Germany's most beautiful castles on a tall rock over the river Danube
• 10 Tettnang - the local capital of beer for the hops grown there
• 11 Überlingen - the second-largest city in Bodenseekreis, with both architectural and natural wonders
• 12 Wangen im Allgäu - an important centre for local trade and industry in the Middle Ages

Other destinations

• 1 Mainau - garden island with flowers and a park landscape with views on the lake
• 2 Reichenau - The largest island in Lake Constance
• 3 Uhldingen-Mühlhofen - a reconstructed early settlement on stilts at the shore of Lake Constance

Understand

Only two Landkreise in the Bodensee Region actually have access to the Bodensee - the aptly-named Bodensee-Kreis around Friedrichshafen, and Landkreis Konstanz, centred around the namesake city. The other three Landkreise in the Region - Biberach, Ravensburg and Sigmaringen - are at the core of Upper Swabia, with a gently hilly landscape and a number of medieval and baroque castles and quaint little towns and villages. Although not immediately adjacent to the lake, they share a cultural and geographic continuum with the lakeside areas and, due to the small distance, are most often visited together.

It is worth noting that the Landkreis Lindau in Bavarian Swabia also includes a small strip of the Lake Constance shoreline, with the city of Lindau being an island on the lake.

Get in

By plane

The only airport in the region with scheduled passenger service is that of Friedrichshafen. Konstanz is one hour by train from Zurich Airport. Ravensburg, Sigmaringen and Friederichshafen can also be reached by direct train from Stuttgart. Changing at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof allows a connection to Stuttgart Airport.

The airport of Memmingen (FMM ^IATA) is also in the vicinity of the region; it is mostly served by low cost carriers that market it as closer to Munich than it actually is.

By bus

See also: Intercity buses in Germany

Get around

Public transport in Germany and the neighbouring states is generally very good. Information on train connections can be found on the site of the German railway (https://www.bahn.de/p/view/index.shtml) or Swiss federal railway (https://www.sbb.ch/). There is also a very well developed cycle path around Lake Constance. The best way to get there and to travel around is by bike, anyway. Of course, you can also reach many parts of the lake by boat.

The hilltop castle in Sigmaringen is arguably one of the most picturesque in Germany

See

If you are at Lake Constance, the variety of possibilities make choosing difficult. The website of the tourist information office in Konstanz (http://www.konstanz.de/) offers a good overview of the local possibilities. You can also find travel information and recommendations for your stay at the regional travel information page Bodensee Germany.

Pfahlbauten Uhldingen-Mühlhofen

Do

Besides a multitude of different attractions, the region with its three neighbouring countries offers above all many possibilities for those interested in outdoor activities. Hiking, mountain biking, speed boating, rafting, everything is possible. In addition, culture and art lovers will find a rich offering here. The cities on Lake Constance are characterized by cultural and historical diversity.  

Eat

The local cuisine is characterized by the three countries and the influence of southern countries. No matter if typical Austrian Kaiserschmarrn, Swiss Cordombleu or German Butterspätzle, the gourmet gets his money's worth here. One of the countless restaurants by or near the lake is the Karrenrestaurant in Dornbirn, Austria. Here you can combine a beautiful view with great food.

Drink

The German region has some very good wine varieties. Also the Swiss area offers local specialities. Müller Thurgau comes from the Swiss region of Thurgau, which borders the lake. Local beers are also recommended.

Stay safe

The region is generally very safe. Special precautions do not have to be taken.

Go next

• Ulm