Constance
A stroll through the historic city center. A coffee on the market square. A stroll along the Seestraße. A day of swimming at the Hörnle. Enjoying the view from the cathedral tower. Get a taste of the Middle Ages in Niederburg Castle. Set sail on an excursion boat. Enjoy sun-kissed wines in a wine tavern. Constance has all this and much more to offer. With 88,000 inhabitants, the largest city on Lake Constance delights young and old with its high recreational value.
Constance can look back on an eventful history. The Romans once built a border fort here. For centuries, Constance was of supra-regional importance as the seat of a bishop and as the intersection of important trade routes. for 260 years, the city belonged to Austria, then passed to Baden. It survived the Second World War almost unscathed, preserving its medieval townscape. With the founding of the two universities in the 20th century, Constance finally made a name for itself as a center of science.
For tourists, Constance is an ideal starting point for exploring Lake Constance and the hinterland. The train takes you quickly to Thurgau, St. Gallen and the Appenzell region, as well as to Hegau, which is characterized by volcanic cones and castle ruins. The catamaran trip to Friedrichshafen takes just under an hour. Many other places on Lake Constance and along the Rhine can also be easily reached by boat. And of course Constance is the perfect starting point for a bike tour.
Sights
The nine-metre-high statue by Lake Constance artist Peter Lenk embodies a courtesan holding two dwarf-like figures - the Pope on the left and the Emperor on the right - in her hands. The Imperia is symbolic of the conditions during the Council of Constance, which was supposedly characterized by the rule of mistresses. When it was unveiled in 1993, there were fierce protests from the church and conservative city councillors, but they were unable to prevail. Today, the Imperia is perhaps the most popular photo motif in the city!
The cathedral is of outstanding historical and art-historical importance. It was consecrated in the 11th century and changed its appearance both inside and out in later centuries. The cloister and crypt are particularly worth seeing.
Our tip: Between April and October, head up the cathedral tower. After climbing 193 steps, you will have the city at your feet - including a view of the lake.
The massive stone building with a hipped roof served as the venue for the only papal election on German soil between 1414 and 1418. After that, it was used as a trading house, as before. Since the beginning of the 20th century, concerts and events have been held in the Konzil building.
Our tip: On the first floor is the Konzil Lounge with an outdoor terrace, offering a magnificent view of Lake Constance, the Alps, the harbor and the Imperia.
Into the Middle Ages! The pretty, winding streets of Niederburg, lined with half-timbered houses, have a lot to tell. Look for the illustrious house names! These hint at the former surroundings or the former inhabitants. I wonder what the house "Zum Regenbogen" is all about? Located to the north of the cathedral, craftsmen and fishermen once lived in the Niederburg. Today, you will mainly find wine taverns and small stores here.
The medieval butchers' guild house has been home to the museum since 1871. Changing exhibitions complement the existing collections on the art and cultural history of the Lake Constance region and the city of Constance. The museum café and the idyllic inner courtyard are ideal for a short break.
Old stones are boring? Not at the ALM! The Archaeological State Museum is committed to providing a particularly vivid experience - from permanent exhibitions on pile dwellings and life in the Middle Ages to shipping in southwest Germany. Visitors can also gain an insight into the working methods of archaeologists. Great for children: changing Playmobil exhibitions take place on the top floor, showing different periods of history using toy figures.
A fascinating underwater world is presented here in over 30 fresh and salt water basins with a total of 660,000 liters of water. On a tour, you follow the Rhine from its source in the Alps to its mouth in the North Sea.
From May 2 - 25, 2026, over 70 events from the fields of music, theater, dance and literature can be experienced in 20 locations throughout the Lake Constance region. The theme of the 38th Lake Constance Festival is "in motion".
Program: Program overview - Lake Constance Festival
Maritime festival with sailing regattas, rowing competitions, water ski shows and a maritime exhibition.
The German Sailing Association calls it "one of the top sailing events in the country". Around 160 top ships with around 1200 athletes from the neighboring countries, but also from New Zealand, Scandinavia and Italy, are expected to compete over four days in maneuver-rich regattas - racers in the ORC classes as well as Olympic classes and vintage yachts.
Further information
Lively hustle and bustle on the arbor and on the Seerhein, numerous street musicians and small artists, regional and international delicacies and the special flair on the water create a unique atmosphere at the largest sustainability event in the four-country region of Lake Constance. Live music and DJs provide the right background music to turn the market into an event for all the senses. The route leads along Kreuzlinger Straße to Kreuzlingen, over the Laube and along the Seerhein.
The starting signal is given in the evening: 1.000 stalls, 24 hours, 9 kilometers of running, 2 countries, 1 flea market.
Further information
An enjoyable festival on St. Stephen's Square with regional wines, culinary specialties and live music.
Further information
The Stadtgartenfest takes place before the main festival and is celebrated for three days. It offers regional gastronomy, live music, family programs and a magical illumination of the Stadtgarten. This festival serves as a relaxed prelude to the big Seenachtfest.
Admission: free of charge
Further information
Look forward to music-synchronized lake fireworks, a varied programme with fire shows, water acrobatics, street music, dance performances and live music as well as games for children, puppet theater and hands-on activities for families.
Along the Seestraße, visitors will find a market with arts and crafts, jewelry, accessories and regional gastronomy. The variety of goods and food on offer invites you to stroll and enjoy.
Further information
In Konstanz gibt es für Familien viel zu entdecken. Im Bodensee-Tierpark können Kinder Tiere hautnah erleben, das Sea Life entführt in eine faszinierende Unterwasserwelt, und am Hörnle-Spielplatz wartet jede Menge Platz zum Toben. Wer Lust auf ein kleines Abenteuer auf dem Wasser hat, kann eine Bootsfahrt über den Bodensee unternehmen. Diese Übersicht zeigt, wo Familien besondere Momente erleben und gemeinsam unvergessliche Zeit verbringen können.
Sea Life Constance: a journey into the underwater world
Here you can immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the seas. From native fish to exotic sea creatures, there is plenty to discover. The glass tunnel, through which you can walk under a school of sharks, is particularly impressive. Children love the interactive stations where they can learn through play.
A visit to Sea Life can be wonderfully combined with a walk through the old town of Constance. The short distances make it easy to plan your day flexibly.
Areas | SEA LIFE Constance
M10 True Active
M10 True Active offers unforgettable experiences for young and old. Attractions such as the ninja course, 3D minigolf and laser maze await you here!
M10 True Active in Constance
The Affenberg Salem: experience animals up close
A unique excursion destination on Lake Constance with almost 200 alert Barbary macaques that live here as if in the wild in a 20-hectare forest. Optionally, you can experience the Barbary macaques in the trees at a height of 12 m from the treetop walkway / treewalk*.
Affenberg Salem - Barbary apes up close - almost like in the wild. Impressive stork colony, fallow deer and much more.
Allensbach Wildlife & Leisure Park
Here you will find over 300 animals (wolves, lynxes, wild boars), a giant playground, rope slides, a petting zoo and even a 400 m long toboggan run in summer.
The Allensbach Wildlife and Leisure Park on Lake Constance
Schwaketenbad
The Schwaketenbad is more than just an indoor pool - it is a place where fun has found a home. Slide through light effects over a hundred meters into the depths, dive from the diving tower into the pool from a height of five meters or do your laps in a sporty way: Both young and old bathers will find more than just one way to turn the day into an experience. The Schwaketenbad is also ideal for families with small children: in addition to a non-swimmer's pool with a small slide, a large children's area with a water playground is a paradise for splashing around and getting their first experience of water.
The largest leisure pool on Lake Constance | Schwaketenbad
Playgrounds:
Here you will find a list of all playgrounds in Constance with pictures and ratings.
Overview of all playgrounds
Bathing areas
The Rheinstrandbad
At the Rheinstrandbad, you can not only enjoy the refreshing water on the first kilometer of the Rhine in Germany, but also have a view of the old town. From the sunbathing lawn, you can dive directly into the Seerhein. For those who like sports, the two table tennis tables are the right place to go. And when you get hungry, the Rheinterrasse restaurant is right next door.
There is a children's paddling pool with lots of water adventures and a children's playground for the youngest bathers. And very importantly: the youngest children are well protected from the sun by a movable awning.
Open daily in good weather from 12 - 8 p.m. / with admission
Horn lido / "Hörnle"
The "Hörnle", as the lido is called by the people of Constance, is located at the end of the Bay of Constance near the Lake Constance Stadium and offers a fantastic view of the Obersee and Lake Überlingen. In summer, the largest lido on Lake Constance, with over 50,000 square meters of sunbathing lawn and 600 meters of shoreline, is the meeting place par excellence and popular with all age groups. There is also a stand-up paddling rental station.
The Hörnle has a family area with a sand/mud and play area (climbing frames, balancing ropes, hanging bridge, play ship), as well as a trampoline (for a fee). There are four beach volleyball courts, nine badminton courts, table tennis tables and chess courts.
The lido is open to the public and is open around the clock.
Wallhausen lido
At the Wallhausen lido, children can play in the sand on the shallow shore and adults can sunbathe on the sunbathing lawn and enjoy the fantastic view of the lake. But there is much more to discover. If you want, you can hire bikes, canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) and explore the lake from the water, let off steam playing beach volleyball or play a round on the 18-hole mini golf course.
On sunny days, the Ufer 39 restaurant and café with terrace and kiosk is open for you. In the summer months, visitors to the lido can purchase cool refreshments and sweet and savory snacks at the kiosk to satisfy their appetite.
The lido is open to the public and is open around the clock.
Dingelsdorf lido
At Dingelsdorf lido, you can enjoy the view of Lake Überlingen and swim in natural surroundings right next to a nature reserve. The lido also offers entry points for diving. A kiosk with a terrace provides refreshments in between. And children can let off steam in the playground.
The lido is open to the public and is open around the clock.
Litzelstetten lido
Swimming with a view of the island of Mainau and Unteruhldingen: Everyone gets their money's worth at the Litzelstetten lido. A large sunbathing lawn invites you to relax, while there is an extra sand and mud area and a playground for younger bathers. Active visitors can really let off steam on the beach volleyball court. And the kiosk with terrace and lake view offers refreshments for bathers.
You can always tell whether a lifeguard is present or not by the flags that are hoisted: A white flag indicates that a supervisor is present. If the flag is red, there is no lifeguard present.
The lido is open to the public and is open around the clock.
