From our guests Ivonne and Michael
A long weekend, two bikes and Lake Constance - that's all it took for Ivonne and Michael to experience a real adventure.
Their three-day Lake Constance cycle tour started in Constance and took them via Meersburg, Friedrichshafen and Lindau to Romanshorn. Along the way, they enjoyed the varied landscape with vineyards, small harbors and idyllic bathing bays, always with a wonderful view of the glistening lake.
Special moments were the panoramic view from the Pfänder near Bregenz, the charming old towns along the route and the relaxed breaks right by the water. With each stage, the enthusiasm for the perfect combination of exercise, enjoyment and relaxation grew. Three days full of unforgettable impressions that will stay with you for a long time.
Arrival day
Cheers to Ivonne - Our first big bike tour on Lake Constance
Cheers to Yvonne, in more ways than one!
Firstly, to my wonderful wife, who has always charmingly brought up the idea of a bike tour together on Lake Constance. Secondly, to the high pressure area of the same name, "Yvonne", which also gave us the perfect weather to top it all off. Who says the sky isn't listening?
Our e-bikes are now over a year old and have been faithful companions on many tours around our home. And at some point we thought: Now let's get serious. Lake Constance was calling and we understood.
Birthday idea with a tailwind
As it is with good ideas: If you express them often enough, they eventually fall on open ears. And so the sentence "Lake Constance would be nice" became the brilliant idea for a birthday present with a long-term effect: a three-day cycle tour around Lake Constance. Said, planned, booked!
During my research, I quickly came across Radweg-Reisen from Constance. The itinerary sounded well thought out, the prices were attractive and the luggage transport from hotel to hotel was the icing on the cake. Drop off your luggage in the morning, get on your bike and just start cycling - just our thing!
The booking was straightforward and a short time later we had the documents in our letterbox: a well-organized folder with a detailed cycle map, tour book, information on places of interest, bike service stations for emergencies, ferry tickets and admission vouchers. No wish was left unfulfilled and our anticipation grew with every glance at the information package.
Thank you so much Yvonne!
We chose a long weekend in June for our tour and what can I say: the weather couldn't have been better. Blue skies, sunshine from morning to night and the whole weekend was literally under "High Yvonne". I had to smile, my wife is a stroke of luck in every respect!
Three days, three stages, many unforgettable moments around Lake Constance.
Arrive and breathe a sigh of relief
Our first overnight stay took us to the Hotel Kreuzlingen am Hafen, a wonderful choice. Arrival went smoothly, there were plenty of parking spaces (even for cars with bike racks), and the hotel staff immediately put another smile on our faces: warm, prepared and attentive.
Check-in in record time and a member of staff who personally escorted us to our room and explained everything we needed to know about the hotel. That's what I call service culture! We immediately felt we were in good hands.
Romance by the lake
After unpacking, we were drawn directly to the restaurant opposite, and what can we say: a romantic beer garden right on the lake, free seats, warm evening sun, cool drinks. There was no better way to end the first day of our trip. We sat there, looked out over the water, let our minds wander and knew that this was just the beginning.
Day 1: Tailwind, romance and cycling bliss
Rested, full of anticipation and in high spirits, we start our first "real" day of touring. But before we start pedaling, we first have a good breakfast. A steaming cup of coffee, fresh bread rolls and a buffet that even converts breakfast grouches - the perfect start to a perfect cycling day. We are almost impatient to finally set off. But there is still something to do: We have to take our car to Radweg-Reisen in Constance to park it safely.
Another point on the positive list: The employee on site was perfectly prepared, luggage acceptance and car handover went absolutely smoothly. A quick nod, a friendly "All right, have a good trip!" and we were already on our bikes. Departure towards Lindau - around 60 kilometers of cycling pleasure lie ahead of us.
First we head for the ferry from Constance to Meersburg. The cycle paths in Constance? Excellently signposted. We find the port without any problems and lo and behold: the ferry is ready to depart from the harbor. With perfect timing, we are the last to roll on board, without waiting, without stress. The breeze is fresh, but wonderful. We are tingling, not from the cold, but from anticipation. A feeling of lightness and freedom. I get goose bumps...
After about 25 minutes, we dock in Meersburg. Our bikes take us through the charming lower town, a picture-book setting: cobblestones, small cafés, quaint stores. The view up to the historic Meersburg is reminiscent of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, who once lived here. But the road is calling, our next stage destination: Friedrichshafen.
We cycle directly along Lake Constance. Sometimes with a clear view of the water, sometimes shielded by green hedges and dense bushes that repeatedly open up into small, secret bathing bays. Here the locals bathe almost invisibly in the sun, enviable.
We pass Stetten and reach the pretty village of Hagnau, which enchants with its vineyards, old villas and lakeside promenades. We make a short stop at the FFH nature reserve, a place to take a deep breath and marvel.
A little later, we discover small works of art made of stone along the way. A mini sculpture park surrounded by greenery, including the creative spirit typical of Lake Constance.
In Langenargen, we finally get hungry. At the public beach, we get some classic kiosk food and who would have thought that a simple sandwich could make us so happy? Afterwards, we treat ourselves to a little nap on the shore.
Until my wife says with a smile: "Come on, let's test the water." No sooner said than done, but the entrance via the pebble beach is... let's say sporty. Tip for all travelers: Take your bathing shoes with you. Unsexy, but pain-avoiding! 😉
Freshly cooled down, we set off for Lindau, no more stops. We cycle through Nonnenhorn, take a quick look at the fool's fountain with phylloxera and grape guardian and treat ourselves to an ice cream.
Then finally: Lindau in sight! Our hotel is right next to the island train station, and thanks to the great documentation from Radweg-Reisen, we find it straight away. Another highlight: the luggage is already there. The bikes are safely stored in the locked backyard.
After a refreshing shower, our hunger drives us to the harbour, less than 100 meters from the hotel. And again we are lucky: a table right at the front, with a direct view of the hustle and bustle on the water.
A glass of wine for Ivonne, a cold beer for me, delicious food and a sunset over Lindau harbor - a perfect end to a day that had so many moments of happiness, big and small.
Day 2: Summit views, border crossings and great enthusiasm
The first rays of sunshine tickle us awake, and as soon as we open our eyes it's clear: this is going to be a good day. We hit the breakfast buffet in high spirits, enjoying fresh coffee and a hearty breakfast. But inside, we are already back in the saddle. The thirst for adventure is calling, and it's calling loudly.
In the bike storage room, the first little shock: we are the last ones! Although we were in such a hurry, our fellow cyclists were obviously even more motivated. Well, we take it in good humor, saddle up and set off.
A real highlight awaits us today: we cross the border for the first time and cycle into charming Austria, more precisely to Bregenz, the capital of Vorarlberg.
And we can feel it as soon as we arrive: There is something special in the air here. The combination of lake and mountain, the Pfänder in the background, the Mediterranean flair - all this immediately creates a vacation atmosphere at the highest level.
Our destination: the Pfänderbahn.
We reach the valley station via a fantastic lakeside promenade, always with a view of the glistening water or the majestic mountain backdrop. We can leave our bikes there again, relaxed and safe. A real plus for the whole tour: well thought-out, secure bike parking everywhere. You can tell that they are geared towards cyclists here.
We take tickets from the ticket machine, no problem of course, and are already standing in the small queue with anticipation. The gondola arrives, we get in and off we go. We take off in no time and leave the city, lake and everyday life behind us. The view from the gondola is simply magical: the higher we climb, the wider the horizon opens up - a real goosebump moment, not because of the wind, but because of the feeling of freedom.
Once we reach the top, we are surprised: the Pfänder is more than just a viewpoint. A wildlife park with mouflons, deer and goats, a playground, sunbathing areas and a rustic restaurant welcome us. But first: the viewpoint. What a view! A 360-degree panorama over Lake Constance, the surrounding countries and mountains. You stand there and realize: life is beautiful.
After an enjoyable break in the mountain restaurant, we head back downhill on the gondola, but still at the top in our minds. Once we reach the bottom, we get back on our bikes and continue our ride along the lakeshore. And suddenly we are right in front of the impressive backdrop of the Bregenz Festival. We take a curious look over the fence - it's impressive to see everything on and behind the stage!
On we go, our stomachs are rumbling. A small restaurant right on the lake entices us with its beautiful terrace, friendly service and fantastic food. Plus the view of a small harbor: pure postcard idyll. Happy, full and satisfied, we set course for our stage destination: Arbon in Switzerland.
First we cycle through the green Rhine delta, a true natural paradise with floodplains, streams, small lakes and dense reed beds. Again and again we catch glimpses of the lake, then again surrounded by pure greenery. This area has been a nature reserve since 1976 and you notice this with every pedal stroke.
We pass the Swiss border unnoticed and decide to take a short break on the lakeside promenade in Rorschach. Here we also discover a public lido, the perfect opportunity for some spontaneous refreshment! And lo and behold, getting into the water via footbridges and steps is not only painless, but almost luxurious. No gravel, no whining, just crystal-clear water and a soft bottom. Like a lawn under water. Bathing pleasure deluxe!
The last few kilometers to Arbon are a real challenge, not because of the route, but because of the many temptations along the way. Along the entire route, we pass beautiful beaches and outdoor pools that literally call out "Jump in!" and invite you to swim and relax. With so much idyllic scenery, it's almost a little hard to keep going.
We find our hotel straight away thanks to the great documents from Radweg-Reisen. And another highlight: a warm welcome, perfect service and, how could it be otherwise, our luggage is already waiting for us. The bikes can rest safely behind the hotel, we treat ourselves to a shower and get ready for the evening.
And just like the last few days, this one ends on a relaxed note: a glass of wine for Ivonne, a beer for me and a delicious dinner. Our gaze wanders over the city again, the day slowly draws to a close and we fall into bed satisfied, full of impressions and with a smile.
Day 3: The last section: farewell with a view
After a restful night, we start the day relaxed, accompanied by a bright blue sky and temperatures in the pleasant feel-good range. Breakfast in the garden?
A delight, not only in culinary terms, but also in terms of atmosphere. The perfect setting for our last leg of the tour.
A quick glance to the west (thanks to the position of the sun) and we're back on our bikes. The stage to Romanshorn awaits. We still have a small but beautiful stretch ahead of us.
The route leads us directly along the lakeshore past idyllic campsites and inviting restaurants with lake views - it's easy to imagine spending a few more days here. When we pass the Romanshorn lakeside resort, we are amazed: huge, beautifully situated, definitely a place for the next swimming stop on a future tour. Make a note!
The route continues to meander along the lake, past impressive lakeside properties with houses that could have come straight out of an architecture magazine. We daydream a little "If we lived here ..." and take in the scenery.
Suddenly we recognize familiar coordinates: the restaurant in Kreuzlingen where we ate the first evening is in front of us again.
And there it is, the moment when we realize: Our little adventure is coming to an end. A touch of melancholy mingles with the joy, hadn't we only just set off from here?
But there is one last item on the agenda: the Rosgarten Museum in Constance. With our voucher in our pockets, we look forward to culture and coffee.
After a short final spurt, we reach the museum in the heart of Constance's old town. The only downside: unfortunately, bicycles are not welcome here, at least not in the immediate vicinity. Bicycle racks? Not a chance. But improvisation suits us and so we quickly find a creative solution.
Founded in 1870, the museum inspires us with a successful mix of history, art and natural history around Lake Constance. There is currently even a special exhibition on "Folly on the Lake". A nice, slightly bizarre end to our tour.
Then it's time to saddle up one last time. The journey home begins. We briefly report back to Radweg-Reisen: arrived, delighted, grateful. And then: bikes stowed, engine on, off we go.
We ride the first few kilometers in silence. Not out of tiredness, but out of a silent understanding. Each of us reviews the last few days, on our own, but with the knowledge that this was not our last tour: This was not our last tour.
What remains? Lots of memories, great moments and a big grin on your face.
