The top thing you need to see in Bodensee is see Lake Constance’s Garden Island: Mainau!
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Mainau is one of the bigger islands on Lake Constance. It’s now a gorgeous botanical garden and the best day trip to take in the area!
Where to Stay in Lake Constance to See Mainau
If you’re looking for where to stay in Lake Constance, I’d recommend Meersburg. It’s a charming town that hits the sweet spot of plenty of places to eat, historic streets to explore, but not the major city associated with Lake Constance.
My top rec is Hotel Seehof. It’s just off the lake front and easy access to the rest of Meersburg.
I’ve put my favorite sights, restaurants, and more into a full Meersburg city guide!
Logistics & Tips
Book online, even if you book same day – a few euros cheaper and then you don’t wait in line.
You can take a boat over from Meersburg. It’s really easy! You can even get a combo ticket to cover both your travel and entry to Mainau. You can book onboard, but it’s typically a few Euro cheaper if you book online.
If you’re road tripping, there’s also a ferry that takes you to the mainland a mile or two outside Mainau. From there you have a 5 minute drive to the island! If you’re road tripping around southern Germany, I recommend going by car on the day you’re moving on! Then it’s easy to continue on your route.
It’s easily a day trip. You can spend a couple hours here or if you’re really into plants you could be here all day!
Lake Constance’s Garden Island: Mainau
Because the entire island is one big garden, you don’t need to see anything in a particular order!
Your entry point is different depending on if you arrive by land or water. So here are the highlights, and you see them in whatever order you want!
One thing that’s worth pointing out is that Mainau has a great balance of structured garden beds and more wild spaces. Even the walk from the parking lot to the entrance is tree lined!
Their seasonal offerings are one of the best things to see, so check what’s coming up for your trip! I highly recommend the dahlias in summer or early fall if you’re can. Literally hundreds of species of dahlias in bloom. It’s stunning.
No matter the season, Lake Constance’s Garden island has rotating specialty exhibits all year long. Whether you’re here for tulips, hydrangeas, roses, or Christmas light displays, all of seasonal displays are included in the price.
A smaller feature that’s still my favorite is the Italian fountain garden. It’s a cascading fountain that’s gorgeous from the top or bottom! You can walk amongst it or see the full effect from the bottom.
If you’re traveling with kids, there are spots specifically for them! There’s a small farm with sheep, rabbits, alpacas and more. If you go early you can see them being fed. Next door is a dedicated playground and sandbox if kiddos need to burn some energy.
Like any good German island, it has a castle. Schloss Mainau was built in the 1700s and the lower floor is open to the public. If you want to see more, there are occasional tours and special events held in other parts of castle.
The other main “indoor” spaces are greenhouses. One is the butterfly house! Packed with butterflies in all colors, it’s lovely. The other is the Palm house, focused on warm weather plants. This place is massive, fitting full grown trees! While I was there they had a chili exhibit. I cracked up when I saw they were giving out recipes for chili con carne in German – how spicy do you think they went?
A few small bits to keep your eyes out for:
- there’s a map of Bodensee (Lake Constance) made out of flowers!
- I always find it interesting to see what the local veggies are, so if you’re interested walk through the vegetable garden. It’ll teach you a few German food words too!
- The arboretum features redwoods from the US, before the US was a country. Wow.
Where to Eat in Lake Constance’s Garden Island
There are a bunch of food options on Mainau. There are a few cafes, a casual grill restaurant, or a beer garden for everyday meals and snacks. There’s even a farm stand, which feels so perfect at Lake Constance’s garden island!
If you’re feeling fancy, there are two nicer sit down restaurants as well. Or there are special events all year long, like pop up restaurants or Sunday brunches.
This is the perfect time of year to check out Lake Constance’s garden island of Mainau!
Want more travel guides to explore the area? Try Meersburg, the Black Forest (lake or mountain versions), or Liechtenstein!
