Lindau (Lake Constance island)

Lindau's old town lies entirely on a 68-hectare island, linked to the mainland by a railway embankment since 1853; around 3,000 people live here among patrician houses, lanes and lake walls. The town was a free imperial city from 1274/75, and in 1496/97 the Imperial Diet met in the Old Town Hall (1436). Its landmark is the harbour entrance: on the left the Bavarian Lion of 1856, six metres tall and around 50 tonnes, carved from sandstone; on the right the New Lighthouse from the same year – 36 m high, with a clock in its façade and 139 steps to the viewing platform, the southernmost lighthouse in Germany. Its predecessor, the Mangturm of about 1230, stands a few steps further along the promenade. Maximilianstraße runs through the island with arcades and painted façades, pedestrianised since the 1970s.

Our suggestion: take the train from Bludenz to Bregenz and on to Lindau-Insel, whose terminus station sits right by the harbour – or in summer cross the lake on the Vorarlberg Lines express boat in 22 minutes and return by train. By car it is 87 km / 75 minutes; on the island there is the Inselhalle multi-storey car park (€2/h), cheaper are the car parks just before the island and the Blauwiese park-and-ride with town bus (€5 per day, per lindau.de). Lighthouse and Mangturm together cost €5. In rain the town museum in the Baroque Cavazzen and the Lindau marionette opera beckon; in summer the lidos on the mainland. Lindau is in Germany – bring your ID.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026