Centre based tour Constance

You’ll check into your hotel in Konstanz, a city that still retains its medieval charm today. In 1414, it was the site of the only church council held north of the Alps. A small museum commemorates the Czech reformer Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake here. The city’s landmark is the statue of Imperia, which serves as a memorial to the prostitutes of the Council era. The aquariums at the Sea Life Center and the State Archaeological Museum are also highly recommended.

Today’s bike tour takes you via Friedrichshafen to Langenargen, always along Lake Constance—more specifically, along the Obersee. Charming little villages like Wasserburg and Nonnenhorn are mostly located right on the shore, offering plenty of opportunities to take a break at a beer garden or on a beach. The destination for this leg of the journey is Lindau, the Bavarian “metropolis on the lake.” The historic old town on the island in Lake Constance is a popular destination for visitors. In the afternoon, you’ll take the ferry back to Constance.

You’ll have the entire day to explore Mainau Island (admission not included), the most visited attraction on Lake Constance. The mild climate of Lake Constance even allows palm trees to grow here. Depending on the season, a wide variety of plants bloom on the island. The season begins in the spring with the blooming of thousands of tulips and hyacinths. After that, the rhododendrons are in full bloom. In September and October, dahlia bushes and some 30,000 rose bushes all come into full bloom.

The boat first takes you from Wallhausen to the other side of Lake Constance, to Überlingen. The Lake Constance Cycle Route takes you to the Birnau pilgrimage church. From here, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Constance before following the Prälatenweg to Salem. The castle, formerly a monastery, is an impressive example of South German Baroque architecture. A special attraction is the Affenberg (not included), where over 200 semi-wild monkeys roam. From the medieval town of Meersburg, home to both an old and a new castle, the ferry takes you across the lake back to Konstanz.

The first stop on today’s bike tour around Lake Untersee is Reichenau Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, from where a boat will take you to Gaienhofen. Here you can visit the Hermann Hesse House. You’ll then continue cycling along the Höri Peninsula through Hemmenhofen—where Otto Dix lived for a time—to Stein am Rhein. This charming little town features houses adorned with frescoes. The return route follows the Lake Constance Cycle Path along the southern Swiss shore of the Untersee, via Steckborn and the small village of Gottlieben, to Konstanz.

After breakfast, your star-shaped cycling tour around Konstanz comes to an end. We'd be happy to extend your stay in Konstanz with an extra night.