Why Honeymoon at Lake Constance
The light and the views do most of the work. The lake is around 63 km long, so it feels like an inland sea and from the German side you look south across it toward the Alps. Evenings on a harbor wall with a glass of local wine are the whole point.
It is also easy. Ferries connect the main towns, a cycle path circles the lake and trains run along much of the shore, so you can plan very little and still have a full day.
The mix of countries adds variety. Bregenz in Austria and Swiss towns such as Stein am Rhein are easy outings. And because the region is a German favorite rather than a US tour stop, you will feel like you discovered it yourselves.
When to Go
May to September is the main season. Mainau's flowers are at their peak in spring and early summer, with tulips in April and May giving way to roses and dahlias. June to August brings swimming in the lake, outdoor dining and busy ferries.
September and early October are wine season. Grapes are harvested around Meersburg, Hagnau and the islands and towns hold harvest festivals. The water is still swimmable early in September.
From November to March many ferries run reduced schedules, some hotels close and fog often settles on the lake for days, hiding the Alps. Christmas markets in Lindau and Konstanz are a pretty exception, including one in Lindau's harbor, but winter is not the lake at its best.
Where to Stay
Lindau's island old town is the most romantic base. You sleep in a pedestrian town of painted houses and the harbor with its stone lion and lighthouse is a short walk from almost every hotel. Hotels on the mainland shore just outside town tend to have gardens and private lake access.
Meersburg suits wine lovers. Stay in the lower town by the water or up the hill near the castle and take the ferry to Konstanz for an evening out.
Konstanz has the widest choice and the most nightlife. The Steigenberger Inselhotel occupies a former Dominican monastery on a tiny island by the old town and has a lakeside terrace. Überlingen, on the quieter northwestern arm, has a long promenade and spa hotels. Book well ahead for summer weekends.
Romantic Things to Do
Spend a morning on Mainau before the crowds. The Bernadotte family runs the island as a garden, with an arboretum, a butterfly house, a baroque palace and terraces of flowers that change through the season.
Ride the car ferry from Konstanz to Meersburg, then walk up through the vineyards to the old castle. Taste the local Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Noir in a wine tavern.
Take an evening walk around Lindau's harbor as the lights come on across the water in Bregenz. In summer, catch an opera on the floating lake stage at the Bregenz Festival, just over the Austrian border.
For a splurge, book a sightseeing flight in a Zeppelin NT from Friedrichshafen, home of the airship and its museum. On a calmer day, rent bikes and ride part of the lakeside cycle path between towns.
Getting There and Around
Zurich is the easiest gateway from the US, with several nonstops from US hubs and Konstanz is about an hour away by train or car. Munich has more US nonstops and is about two and a half hours from Lindau by train or car. Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH) sits on the lake but mainly serves European routes.
On the lake, the ferries are part of the fun. Passenger boats link Lindau, Bregenz, Meersburg, Konstanz, Mainau and other towns from spring to autumn and the Konstanz to Meersburg car ferry runs year-round. Trains cover much of the shore.
A car is useful for wineries and hill villages but not essential. Many hotels lend or rent bikes and the cycle path around the lake is well marked.
Food and Drink
Lake fish is the local specialty. Look for Felchen, a whitefish from the Bodensee, served fried, smoked or simply pan-cooked with butter and herbs. Smoked fish stalls at harbors make good picnics.
The Swabian and Bavarian kitchens meet here, so you will also see Maultaschen, large stuffed pasta squares and Käsespätzle, egg noodles baked with cheese and crisp onions.
Lake Constance is a recognized wine area, with vineyards on sunny slopes around Meersburg, Hagnau and Reichenau. Müller-Thurgau is the classic white and Spätburgunder the main red. Wine taverns serve them with simple food in season. Apples and fruit brandy come from the orchards inland and fruit stands line the roads in late summer.
Honeymoon Tips
Check the ferry timetable before you plan a multi-stop day. Summer service is frequent, but spring and autumn schedules are thinner.
Crossing into Austria or Switzerland is easy, but Switzerland uses the Swiss franc and is noticeably more expensive. Carry a card that works abroad and keep your passport with you.
Swimming is popular at public lidos called Strandbäder, which charge a small admission and often have lawns, kiosks and jetties.
Germany carries a Level 2 State Department advisory for terrorism, like several Western European countries. The lake towns are calm and safe and the advice is to stay aware in crowded places such as festivals. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
