An Overture
Lindau is a charming island town on the eastern shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee), at the meeting point of Germany, Austria and Switzerland — and the eastern starting point of the German Alpine Road. Its compact, car-light medieval old town fills a 68-hectare island in the lake, and its harbour mouth — guarded by a 6 m Bavarian lion and Bavaria's only lighthouse — frames an Alpine panorama on clear days. It's a relaxed base for lake life (boating, biking the shoreline) and the most scenic gateway between the Alps and the Black Forest.
Top Things to Do
The harbour (Hafen)
Walk out between the 6 m Bavarian Lion statue (1856) and the 37 m lighthouse (Bavaria's only one) for the Alpine-panorama view across the lake.
Maximilianstraße
The main street lined with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque façades; the Altes Rathaus has an entirely painted south wall depicting Lindau's history.
Peterskirche
The oldest church on Lake Constance, holding the Lindau Passion frescoes.
Walking Tours
Island walk to the harbour
From the island station along Maximilianstraße's Gothic-to-Baroque façades, past the painted south wall of the Altes Rathaus and the lake's oldest church, to the Mangturm watchtower and out between the Bavarian Lion and the lighthouse at the harbour mouth.
Bahnhof → Maximilianstraße (Zum Sünfzen) → Altes Rathaus → Peterskirche → Mangturm → Hafen (Neuer Leuchtturm)
Day Trips & Beyond
Boat trips on Lake Constance
Excursions toward Bregenz (Austria) and the Swiss shore; the 536 km² lake mirrors the Alps on clear days.
SearchMeersburg / Mainau / Konstanz
Medieval castle, flower island and the lake's largest town, all linked by ferry.
SearchFüssen / Neuschwanstein
The start of the Alpine drive — see the Füssen & Schwangau page.
SearchTriberg / Black Forest
~45 min north-west toward waterfall-and-cuckoo-clock country.
SearchHidden Gems
Biking the Lake Constance shore
Rent a bike and ride village-to-village along the flat, scenic lakefront — the Bodensee cycle path is one of Europe's best.
SearchFood & Dining
Signature Dishes
Where to Stay
- Budget
- Mid-range
- Premium
Practical Notes
Getting There
- By car: ~50 min / 60 km from Füssen; ~45 min to Triberg. The island is car-restricted — use the parking garages at the island edge.
- By train: Lindau is a rail junction (lines from Munich, Ulm and toward Switzerland/Austria); the island station puts you right in the old town — excellent car-free.
- By boat & air: Bodensee passenger ferries link Lindau, Bregenz, Konstanz, Meersburg and Mainau. Friedrichshafen Airport is ~20–27 km away.
How to Do the Lake
- On foot: The island is best on foot — don't try to drive into the old town.
- Ferries over driving: Combine with the ferry network rather than driving the whole lake.
- Timing: Clear days deliver the Alpine reflection; the lake is also great in shoulder season when shoreline towns are quieter.
Notable Insights
Critic Voices
- The scenic pivot: OneRoadTrip position Lindau as a scenic pivot between Füssen and the Black Forest, with the harbour lion-and-lighthouse as the signature image.
- Bike-and-ferry culture: kimkim emphasise the lake's bike-and-ferry culture — a “leisurely bike ride” plus island-hopping ferries make for a low-stress, car-optional day around the Bodensee.