Lindau on Lake Constance

Historic old town, Mediterranean ambience and a top-class cultural programme: the island town of Lindau is an internationally renowned and popular holiday destination. Whether strolling through the romantic, winding alleyways of the island, spending a relaxing day by the water or visiting the new Hundertwasser Art Forum: There is now plenty for guests of all ages to experience all year round, as the range of cultural and leisure activities on offer has also been significantly expanded in the winter months. Events such as the town festival, wine festivals such as ‘Komm & See’ and the ‘Rund Um’ sailing regatta in summer, as well as the funfair and harbour Christmas in winter, attract thousands of visitors every year. Germany’s southernmost and Bavaria’s only lighthouse, together with the Bavarian Lion, also forms a striking, historic ensemble at Lindau harbour.

Promenade and narrow alleyways

With an area of around 70 hectares, Lindau Island is the second largest island in Lake Constance. Its shape is reminiscent of a lime leaf and thus of the tree that gave the town its name: in 882, a monk first mentioned the ‘island on which lime trees grow’ in a document. The small settlement with fishermen’s houses and an aristocratic convent became a prosperous town. The spacious promenade Maximilianstrasse is lined with magnificent patrician houses, the surrounding narrow streets are lined with centuries-old houses and traditional hotels on the harbour promenade welcome their guests with an impressive view of the Austrian and Swiss Alps. Thanks to its central location in the border triangle of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Lindau is also well connected to international transport routes, including the Eurocity line from Munich to Zurich.

Historic buildings and southern charm

The 36 metre high lighthouse, the elaborately decorated Old Town Hall, the baroque ‘Haus zum Cavazzen’, the 1,000 year old St Peter’s Church or the fortified Powder Tower as part of the city walls: there are historical sights to discover on almost every corner, and the tour guides can tell many amusing anecdotes. But there is also a breath of fresh air in the medieval town. The southern flair of Lindau Island transports visitors to Mediterranean climes. Small galleries and individual shops invite you to stroll and shop, and guests can relax and feast in the numerous cafés. The 2021 garden show has created a new, attractive leisure area on the rear island with playgrounds, a skate Park, spacious lawns and, last but not least, the wide steps to the lake, which make the already popular place for a sundowner even more attractive.

Modern conference centre Inselhalle

In addition to the high quality of leisure activities, Lindau also has a lot to offer as a place to work and live: internationally active companies with innovative concepts, a wide range of accommodation options in hotels, holiday flats and excellent campsites. For conferences and congresses, the modern Inselhalle with its special location directly on the lake and at the gates of the historic old town is an ideal place to exchange ideas, develop ideas and network. It is precisely for this reason that Nobel Prize winners and the most promising young scientists from all over the world have been coming together in Lindau every year since 1951 to promote interdisciplinary exchange, share knowledge and inspiration and support the next generation of researchers.

Hundertwasser Forum and Cavazzen

Art and culture enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy in Lindau, as two highlights are located here and are open all year round: After extensive renovation work, the city museum in the “Haus zum Cavazzen” reopened last year. In addition, Lindau gained a Hundertwasser Art Forum, which presents the works of artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the former art museum at the island railway station. Until 2029, four different exhibitions invite visitors to learn about the work and influence of Friedensreich Hundertwasser and interpret its significance for the present day.

Following last year’s opening exhibition “Hundertwasser – The Right to Dreams,” this spring will see the special exhibition “The Art of Diversity.” This part focuses on Hundertwasser’s original graphics. For the first time, printing blocks, test prints, and documentary photographs will provide a deep insight into the creation of his printed works.

Swimming, paddling and boating

In summer, guests can sunbathe and swim in lidos such as the Lindenhofbad, the Lindau thermal baths with their outdoor areas or the particularly exclusive Art Nouveau pool at the Hotel Bad Schachen. Canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddle boards can be hired at various locations. And if you want to go a little further out, you can hire a motorboat or sailing boat to enjoy the tranquillity and vastness of Lake Constance on a private tour. The Alpine panorama can also be admired on board the White Fleet excursion boats, which operate scheduled services between the three countries from April to October and special trips in winter, for example during the harbour Christmas.

On foot or by bike from the lake to the mountains

Visitors can relax, picnic, stroll, walk and jog in Lindau’s gardens and parks. The Lindenhofpark along the Bavarian Riviera, a stretch of shoreline lined with imposing villas, is particularly fascinating with its vastness, huge old trees and one of the most beautiful views of Lindau Island. There is also plenty to discover in the area around Lindau, which is characterised by apple orchards, meadow orchards and vineyards – for example on a cycling or hiking tour, including in the surrounding mountains. The Pfänder offers a view of Lindau and the entire region. You can take a break with the wine and fruit growers, who serve delicious home-grown produce in their farm shops and seasonally open ‘Rädlewirtschaften’.

Event highlights 2026

When the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, there is plenty going on outdoors in Lindau again. The ‘Rund Um’, the long-distance night regatta around Lake Constance, attracts numerous sailors to this year’s 75th anniversary celebration. This year, the event will take place from 4 to 6 June. Another 75th anniversary will be celebrated this year by the Nobel Laureate Meeting. Several hundred young scientists from all over the world will gather in Lindau from 28 June to 3 July. At the ‘Komm & See’ wine festival on 3 and 4 July, visitors can wander from one winegrower to the next, sit together among the vines and soak up the Lake Constance lifestyle. The children’s festival on 29 July is a deeply rooted tradition for the people of Lindau and puts the whole town in a festive mood. And from 4 to 6 September, the Lindau Oktoberfest will be ‘O’zapft’.