This trip was possible thanks to Bodensee Tourismus
How many times can you travel to three countries in just one day? At the Lake Constance region or as in German, the Bodensee, you not only enjoy the beautiful natural environment but also the cultural variety, with important music and theater festivals, great gastronomy, and even see (or fly) in a real Zeppelin.
The borders and waters of Lake Constance are shared by three countries, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and you can visit the three countries in just one day! You could even visit four countries on the same day by including Lichtenstein as it’s also part of the region -only 30 minutes from the lake area- and check one of the smallest countries on the continent.
Lake Constance is the largest drinking water reservoir in Europe and the third-largest lake in Central Europe. It’s also an important drinking water source for southwestern Germany.
The lake is formed by two main parts -the Obersee, or Upper Lake, and the Unterseee, or lower lake- and are connected by the Rhine river, covering a total area of 571.5 km² and a total shore length of 273 km, of which two-thirds are in Germany.
To travel in the region, if you have a European Sim card, you will not have coverage in Switzerland, so I suggest you save the travel information for your journey so you can access offline.
Visiting SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA, and GERMANY in one day
During my trip to the Bodensee Region, one of my favorite days was the one I could visit three countries on the same day!
GERMANY
Konstanz
I started in Konstanz, a beautiful city in Germany that is located right on the southern shore of the lake and one of my favorites too. The beautiful and well-maintained historical center borders Switzerland, Lake Constance, and Lake Rhine and is having a very lively and diverse vibe, lots of people enjoying the areas around the lake, beautiful architecture and wide variety of shopping and gastronomy options.
From Konstanz, two of the day trips you shouldn’t miss while exploring the Bodensee are the island of Reichenau and Mainau.
Reichenau is the largest island on Lake Constance and a UNESCO World Heritage site is the ideal place to enjoy the beauty of the Lake. Ideal place for outdoor activities like cycling and walking, known for its vegetable fields, vineyards, the Romanesque churches and all surrounded by an idyllic scenery.
Mainau Island is a very unique open-air botanical garden that only allows pedestrians to walk within the 45-hectare of impressive gardens including a Rhododendron Slope, Italian Rose Garden, Dahlia Garden, and Hydrangea Path or the Herbaceous Garden. It’s also home to the second biggest Butterfly Garden in Germany!
The good thing about the Bodensee region is that you can get a Bodensee Ticket that allows you to use any public transportation in the countries included with no limit, so if you, like me, don’t catch the direct train, you can still combine with the local buses plus the next train in the next town.
Recommended in Konstanz
Konzilgaststätte Konstanz
One of the good restaurants in the city, Konzilgaststätte Restaurant is located right in the harbor area inside a historic house that was the place where the Council was having its place in former times.
They offer a wide menu including local preparations, a daily menu and a good offer of wine.
Eugens Bio Restaurant
An alternative option to the, in general, more heavy options in the local cuisine, the Eugens is offering a menu including lots of salads and bowls with fresh products and different options for all the tastes. Just as an anecdote, it’s almost located in Switzerland, so the network of my phone was not working there.
Hotel Augustiner Tor
Locate in the perfect spot, very close to the train station and the main shopping area, the Augustiner Tor Hotel is a small hotel with simple yet cozy rooms. The service is friendly, and their breakfast is simple but having fresh products, perfect to start the day.
SWITZERLAND
Saint Gallen
Arriving in Saint Gallen the best is to go directly to the Old Town area. The area is a big part of the history of the area, with remnants of the economic development of the region related to the embroidery factories.
You can explore this World Heritage site, the abbey district still keeps the spirit of the Benedictine monks and its library which is the oldest library in the world with a collection of over 150.000 volumes, includes the baroque cathedral that is a UNESCO World Heritage since 1983.
St. Gallen also offers and good offer for museums, cultural sites, and regular festivals.
Don’t miss in St. Gallen:
Confiserie Roggwiller St. Gallen
This family running the Roggwiller Confiserie is creating delicious baked products since 1941 and is one of Switzerland’s leading confectioneries.
They create hand-made amazing chocolates, pastries and also, they have one the most delicious Gingerbread or Biber, I’ve ever tried, using as many raw materials as possible from the region. I could see how it’s prepared and get to explore the different stations inside the house!
Within the whole Bodensee area it was very easy to travel without speaking German.I live in Germany and this is not everywhere, but here most people in services know good English enough to communicate and help to make your experience the best.
AUSTRIA
Bregenz
Bregenz is the perfect place if you love culture as its hosting the largest floating stage, the Seebühne, which is the main actor at the famous annual opera festival, the Festspielhaus happening every summer in Bregenz right on the lakeshore.
The cultural offer in Bregenz makes it a multicultural city with a great gastronomic and cultural offer, but also for nature lovers, as it’s surrounded by beautiful hills, like the Pfänder.
This is one of the nicest viewpoints in Lake Constance, you can reach it hiking or take the cable car to get a unique view. If you are lucky you will not only have views over Lake Constance but also Germany, Switzerland and 240 Alpine peaks.
From Saint Gallen, it is very easy to reach Bregenz by train or bus. You can also reach Bregenz by ferry from the other towns around the lake, like Friedrichshafen.
Recommended in Bregenz
Pier69 Hafenrestaurant
Located right on the lakeside and near the port, Pier 69 it’s a very good place to enjoy local food. With a sunny terrace during summer and great service, this was the perfect point to enjoy the relaxed vibe of Bregenz during the end of summer.
GERMANY
Friedrichshafen
The day finished crossing the lake and enjoying the magnificent views of towns and landscapes around the lake while arriving at Friedrichshafen, back to Germany.
The city is known for the relation with the history of the Zeppelins, hosting an interesting museum where you can learn a lot about their history and how they are related to the tragedies but also the achievements of Count Zeppelin.
Friedrichshafen is a good place for a short break and the lakeside promenade is one of the longest and most attractive on Lake Constance.
The area of the harbor is having a relaxed atmosphere and numerous street cafés to enjoy the view of the lake, which can be also done from the 22-meter-high observation tower.
I arrived in Friedrichshafen by ferry from Bregenz with the VSU (The fleet of the Vereinigten Schifffahrtsunternehmen für den Bodensee und Rhein) which offers different routes connecting the most attractive locations on Lake Constance. You can check the schedules here.
There are different opportunities to get away from the daily routine while traveling through the lake, like a glass of wine, or gala dinner or a firework display, or to check the different Christmas Markets in December!
Recommended in Friedrichshafen
Restaurant Felders Friedrichshafen
Located in the perfect place right near the harbor and on the main promenade path, the Felders is definitely one of the best places to get great food paired with an interesting offer of local wines. My dinner was perfect, and I can still remember that perfect dessert!
Café Höpker in Fischbach
This small restaurant is definitely a gem of the area since 1953. Located a bit outside Friedrichshafen’s main area, the Café Höpker is like going for lunch to your grandmother’s house. With a beautiful wild garden full of trees and flowers and tables around the patio during summer, and a cozy interior, the food and especially their cakes are out of this world!
Hotel Knoblauch Jettenhausen
Located a bit outside the city center and the lake, in the area of Jettenhausen. The Hotel Knoblauch is the right spot for you when you want to enjoy the areas around with a local touch. While the property is not brand new, their rooms are decorated in a modern style, and their facilities include an indoor swimming pool, restaurant, and sauna.
You can check here the best prices for planing your accommodation at the Bodensee area
Booking.com
Conclusion
Lake Constance is one of the most beautiful regions in Europe not only by its natural treasures but also by the architecture of the cities around. The variety of activities makes it the perfect place to visit during the whole year and for anyone who likes to enjoy some nature, gastronomy, culture and outdoor activities.
The possibility of visiting three countries in just one day with no border controls involved makes it especially attractive to avid travelers wanting to see more on a shorter time.
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