Lake Constance: laid-back tour

Lake Constance laid-back

Lake Constance is a real holiday paradise. Follow the beautiful bike trail on short stages around the lake and enjoy the time on the bike as well as a number of relaxing breaks. You can discover the gorgeousness of the flowers on Mainau Island as well as Unteruhldingen, a 2200 year-old village dating from the Stone Age and the pituresque town centre of Meersburg and Lindau Island. Make your trip even more unforgettable with a gondola trip up the Pfänder mountainl. You will have enough time for everything you might want to visit.

1. day Arrival in Constance

Individual arrival to the council town Constance with the many sights. You can find the living Middle Ages at the Rosgartenmuseum. The cafeteria in the inner courtyard of the museum invites you to stay.

2. day Constance - region Stein am Rhein, ca. 30-40 km

Through picturesque fishermen's villages, along the Untersee lake, you reach the medieval city Stein am Rhein. High above the town lies the Hohenklingen castle, dating back to the Middle Ages. Pay a visit to the Lindwurm museum, before continuing to cycle to Gailingen, the pearl of the High Rhine.

3. day Region Stein am Rhein - Radolfzell, ca. 20 -35 km

In the morning, you have time for a stroll through the city, before you arrive at the fishermen's village Radolfzell. The town enchants you with its charming atmosphere and a unique view of the Untersee lake. After its founding Radolfzell developed from a small, wine-growing settlement into a place of pilgrimage that is well known throughout southern Germany. 

4. day Radolfzell - region Überlinger See, ca. 25 - 35 km

The appealing city Bodman decoys with its castle grounds. Pass the picturesque town Sipplingen and the monastery church of Birnau, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. In Unteruhldingen, a visit to the pile dwelling museum is recommended. It is one of the largest open air museums in Europe!

5. day Region Überlinger See - region Friedrichshafen, ca. 25 - 45 km

Meersburg, the city of museums, invites you back to the Middle Ages with its romantic corners. Your way leads you through wine and fruit cultures to Friedrichshafen with its zeppelin museum, which you should absolutely pay a visit.

6. day Region Friedrichshafen - Bregenz/Höchst, ca. 30 - 45 km

You reach the Lake Constance metropolis Lindau through the natural reserve Eriskircher Ried. Pay a visit to the historic town and the lighthouses with the Löwenmole, the landmark of Lindau. In Bregenz, you should enjoy the beautiful view on the Pfänder (mountain) after riding up with a cable car.

7. day Region Bregenz/Höchst - Swiss shore, ca. 20 - 35 km

You reach Switzerland through the natural reserve of the Rhine delta and continue cycling to the city Rorschach with its beautiful "Kornhaus" (museum). Fruit and berry cultures still dominate this region.

8. day Swiss shore - Constance, ca. 35 - 40 km

The last day belongs to the alpine upland of the Thurgau. The lakeshore invites you to relax, before you cycle back to Constance. At the SEA LIFE centre, you can plunge into a fascinating underwater world.

9. day Departure Constance

Today your tour at  Lake Constance comes to an end, unfortunately. Individuel departure. 

Worth knowing about the Lake Constance bike trail: the laid-back tour

Please find more information about the Lake Constance - Laid-back tour below. If you have any further questions feel free to contact us by phone: 0049 - (0)6421 - 886890.

Arrival by train

Constance is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. We recommend to take a taxi from the station to get to our partner hotels in Konstanz. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.
Train schedule information

Parking facilities at the hotel

At the first hotel paid parking is possible, partialy. It is also possible to use free parking spaces on public roads or public parking spaces / car parks. Parking garages (fish market, Dammgasse, old town, Benedictine square), costs apprx. 10-20 EUR per day / car. Furthermore it is possible to park your car for the duration of the bicycle tour on our partners' company area (cost: EUR 50,-  per trip / per car), the number of parking spaces is limited. Reservation not possible

Condition of cycle paths

You cycle mostly on flat, paved bike trails near the shore around the lake. Occasionally there are short sections of unpaved roads. The first sections takes place around the peninsula Höri through hilly terrain. In the area of Friedrichshafen, the bike path goes along the main road. The lakeshore is largely open to the public

Available rental bikes

You can choose between either 7-speed gear shift bike with coaster brake or 21-speed gear shift bike with freewheel. Please note that although there are women's and men's bikes (with a crossbar), more unisex bikes are being provided in the future. Unisex bikes have a special frame suitable for both women and men. This means that the men's bike does not have the usual crossbar and thus looks similar to a women's bike. Electric bikes are avaialable as well.  Rentals bikes are equipped with a waterproof, spacious saddle bag as well as a tool set, an air pump,
an odometer and a bicycle lock. You will also receive a handle-bar bag per room.

Currencies in Switzerland

For Switzerland, we recommend to exchange Swiss franc. Although you can pay in Euros. Franken can easily be lifted by debit or credit card at an ATM.

Extra costs which are not included in the price

A possibly applicable city tax is not part of the price and has to be paid at the hotel locally.

7 days hotline service

Just in case the bike chain is broken, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: you can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

Information on current decisions of the German Federal Government can be found here:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/corona-these-rules-and-restrictions-apply

Current information on entry requirements to Germany can be found here:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Constance

With over 82,000 inhabitants, Constance is the largest city on Lake Constance and has maintained its long tradition as a city of trade and culture up to the present day. The cultural city is characterized by many historically significant buildings, such as the "Cathedral of Our Lady of Our Lady", which for twelve centuries was the cathedral of the Bishops of Constance and served as the meeting room of the Council of Constance (1414-1418). The Stadttheater, which is the oldest permanent stage in Germany, 400 years old, is another highlight. 

Constance

The Archaeological Landesmuseum Constance

The Archaeological Landesmuseum Baden-Württemberg is responsible for the archaeological archaeological discoveries of Baden-Württemberg, archiving the archaeological finds and presenting them in special exhibitions and several museums. The Austentelle in Konstanz is home to the most important permanent exhibition of the Archaeological State Museum of Baden-Württemberg.

Archaeological Landesmuseum

Mainau Island

With an area of about 45 hectares, the Mainau is the third largest island in Lake Constance. Because of its extremely rich subtropical, partly also tropical vegetation, the Mainau is also known as the flower island in Lake Constance.

Island Mainau

Affenberg Salem

The Affenberg Salem is an animal park and Germany's largest monkey reserve. The main attraction of the over 20 hectares of woodland are 200 berberoes who can move freely there and can be fed by the visitors with specially prepared popcorn

Affenberg Salem

Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen

The Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen is an archaeological open-air museum, which is located on the shore of Lake Constance, with a museum building. It is the oldest open-air museum in Germany. The Freilichtmuseum contains several reconstruction sections and has been rebuilt several times since the opening of the museum in 1922. Since 1922 over 10 million visitors have visited the pile houses.

Pfahlbaumuseum

Meersburg Castle

The Meersburg Castle, also the Old Castle or the Old Castle in Meersburg on the Lake Constance, is the oldest inhabited castle in Germany in the 7th century. A tour of the Burgmuseum gives an insight into more than 30 rooms. Including the old Burgküche, the Dürnitz, the Palas, the Brunnenstube, the Waffenhalle, Wehrgangs, Rittersaal, Burgverlies, two chapels, stable, Nordbastion and much more. Also the living rooms and the dying room of the poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff are included in this tour. In addition, you can climb the "Dagobertsturm" with a view of the city, the lake and the Alps. In the tower is a 19th century prison room as well as the Renaissancesaal with treasure chamber. In the deepest part of the tower, the torture chamber gives insight into the jurisdiction of the Middle Ages.

Meersburg Castle

Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen

Opened in 1996, the Zeppelin Museum houses the world's largest collection on the history and technology of the Zeppelin airship.

Zeppelin Museum

Bregenz

The state capital of Lake Constance has many sights to see, so you can get inspired by historical buildings, traditional landmarks and modern architecture. A special highlight is the Festspielhaus and the world-famous Festspiele on the largest lake stage in the world.

Bregenz

Pfändergondel Bregenz

With the Pfänder-Panoramagondel you hover quickly and comfortably to the mountain station at Pfänder (1064m). The unique panoramic view of Lake Constance and the 240 Alpine summits of Austria, Germany and Switzerland make the Pfänder the most famous vantage point in the region

Pfändergondel

Stage at the Lake, Bregenz

Especially the world's largest stage on Lake Constance is a magnet for a large number of visitors. It is known for the beauty of the natural setting.

Stage at the lake, Bregenz