How to Plan a Family Bike Trip around Lake Constance (Bodensee)

If you’re seeking a family bike trip, look no further than the enchanting shores of Lake Constance. Straddling three countries – Germany, Austria, and Switzerland – this stunning lake offers an idyllic setting for a bike trip that’s perfect for all ages.

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Table of Contents

• Why Take a Bike Tour with Kids?
• Why Lake Constance?
• Day 1 Konstanz
• Day 2 Stein am Rhein
• Day 3 Rhine Falls
• Day 4 Friedrichshafen
• Day 5 Lindau/Bregenz
• Day 6 Konstanz
• Tips for a Successful Family Bike Trip
• Lake Constance Bike Travel Tips

Why Take a Bike Tour with Kids?

There’s something truly magical about sharing the simple joys of a bike trip with your children. Biking is not just an eco-friendly way to explore, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn and grow, to connect with nature, and for the family to connect with each other. The pace of biking allows you to appreciate the nuances of the scenery, stop for impromptu picnics, spot wildlife, and to slow down and discover more about the area you are traveling through than you ever would in a car or train. A family bike trip isn’t just about the destination; it’s about the stories you’ll tell and the bonds you’ll strengthen with every turn of the wheel.

Why Lake Constance?

Lake Constance, known as the Bodensee in German, is more than just a body of water; it’s a treasure trove of scenic beauty and gentle cycling paths. The Lake Constance Cycle Path follows the lake’s perimeter for about 260 km, most of which is adorned with captivating landscapes, quaint towns, and historic landmarks.

In addition to the great bike paths, there are ferries running frequently from one destination to another. If you have a very rainy day, you can easily take the ferry with your bike to shorten your day. In addition to the wonderful and relatively flat biking and ferry system, you have historic towns dotted around the lake to explore, beach clubs (Strandbad) in and between most every town, boat rentals scattered around the lake, farmer’s markets in summer, nature playgrounds, and more. This combination of flat and scenic bike paths with ferries and many fun activities on the way are the right ingredients for a successful Lake Constance family bike trip.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 Konstanz

Start your journey in Konstanz, brimming with medieval architecture and lively markets. Arrive and settle in and explore old town, including historical townhouses and the Münster Cathedral. Don’t miss the Emperor’s Fountain and the Imperia statue on the harbor. If you’ve rented bikes for the trip, collect your bikes and get comfortable on them. If you’d like to test out your bikes, take the 6 km trail to Mainau Island with its St. Marien castle church, stunning gardens, and arboretum.

Day 2 Stein am Rhein

Ride roughly 40 km (primarily in Switzerland) to Stein am Rhein,known for its well-preserved medieval buildings with stunning frescoes. Stein am Rhein sits at the intersection of the Bodensee and the Rhine River. Check out the Rathausplatz with painted half-timbered houses and St. George’s Abbey. We stayed in Radolfzell on our trip, but would recommend the Hotel Restaurant Rheinfels for a stay in a historic building and for an excellent meal overlooking the river.

Day 3 Rhine Falls

Today you’ll take a day trip from Stein am Rhein to the awe-inspiring Rhine Falls. As you leave Stein am Rhein behind, the route unfolds along the gentle curves of the Rhine River, leading you through lush vineyards and verdant meadows. After about 20 km, you’ll be treated to the sight of Europe’s largest waterfall.

The bike path offers various vantage points from which to witness this magnificent display, allowing you and your family to experience the raw power and beauty of the waterfall. You can choose to bike the same path back to Stein am Rhein, or hop on a train back to your starting point. You’ll spend the night in Stein am Rhein.

Day 4 Friedrichshafen

Today you’ll head back into Germany, biking along the north shore  towards Friedrichshafen. Make a stop in Meersburg, with its charming town and the medieval Meersburg Castle. Enjoy a lunch break at the Hotel Seepromenade, known for its terrace overlooking the lake and excellent seafood.

There is a short stretch after Meersburg that is on the road towards Friedrichshafen. It was our one truly rainy day, so we chose to take a short ferry for this stretch rather than dealing with the crowded and wet roads. When you reach Friedrichshafen, explore the Zeppelin Museum.

Day 5 Lindau/Bregenz

The lunch time destination for today is the historic town of Lindau. The painted half-timbered houses on the old town island are unique and a great place for a lunch break. After lunch, find a Strandbad where you can relax for the afternoon, before heading on to Bregenz (Austria).

Day 6 Konstanz

On your last day of your Lake Constance Bike Trip, head back to Konstanz along the southern shore of the lake. You’ll start in Austria and will wrap up in Germany again.We enjoyed a great stopover at the Strandbad in Romanshorn. When you arrive back in Konstanz, take some time to explore town if you didn’t have a chance to up front, visit Mainau island, or head to the Sea Life Aquarium, with its 3500+ sea creatures. There are plenty of outdoor concerts in summer to enjoy as well.

Tips for a Successful Lake Constance Bike Trip

Based on the age and cycling ability of your children, decide whether they are ready to do a point-to-point ride, or if you are better off starting with a Lake Constance family bike trip where you stay in one location the whole time.

• Point to point: In this case, unless you are comfortable carrying all of your gear with you on your bikes, sign up for a self-guided (or guided) tour with a company such as Radweg-Reisen. They typically reserve the lodging and transfer your gear each day. You leave your bags at the reception of your hotel by 9 am, they will have them delivered to your next hotel by 5 pm (times may vary).
• Based in one location: You can still bike around all of Lake Constance over 4-6 days, even if you stay in one location. Just take a ferry to your starting point for the day, bike to your end point, and ferry back to your lodging.

Family-Friendly Distances

Determine the distance that is reasonable for your group, adapting these to the youngest rider. We averaged 40-50 km (25-30 miles roughly) a day on our family bike trips when the kids were younger, though they were very comfortable on their bikes. If you’d like to do shorter days, you can split this trip across more days, or simply plan to hop a ferry for portions of the trip instead of biking it all.

Take frequent breaks at the numerous beaches and playgrounds along the route. Engage in activities like boat rides, visiting museums, and exploring nature trails. Don’t get too focused on getting to the destination, missing out on activities you come across during your bike days.

A typical bike day on Lake Constance

• We’d have our bags ready for pickup at reception by 9 am. After a good breakfast, we’d head out on our bikes by 9-9:30 am, always bringing along plenty to drink, snacks, and swim clothes/towels.
• We’d do the lion’s share of our biking in the morning, leaving no more than 5-10 miles for the afternoon. If someone saw something interesting, we’d stop. This could be a playground, zipline, farmer’s market, animals, etc.
• Lunch was our big meal of the day, and we’d tend to linger there, getting a break from biking and from the sun. We’d also spend time after lunch exploring whichever town we were in.
• After lunch, we’d bike to the next interesting Strandbad (beach club). We found ones with diving platforms or ziplines over the water, trampolines on the water, and some with paddleboard rentals. Most of our afternoon would be spent here, leaving just enough energy to make it to our destination on our bikes.
• We’d typically wrap up our biking day by 4-5 pm, taking a bit of time to explore town and figure out where to have a bite to eat for dinner.

Ready to embark on your own family bike trip? Pack your bikes, gather your loved ones, and set off for an unforgettable experience around Lake Constance!

Lake Constance Bike Travel Tips

How to Get to Konstanz

International travelers can fly into Zurich Airport and take a 1 hour train ride across the Swiss border, revealing the lush landscapes of the region as you approach.

If you’re coming from within Germany, direct trains from major cities like Stuttgart or Munich bring you to the heart of Konstanz without the hassle of transfers. The train from Munich takes close to 4 hours, while driving takes a bit more than 3 hours.

Getting Around

The easiest way to get around, other than on bike, are the ferries. You can find the Lake Constance ferry schedule here.

Alternatively, book a train between towns here.

Bike Tours

We chose to do a self-guided bike tour for Lake Constance, and used Radweg-Reisen. We had a great experience with their service and support.

If you prefer to arrange your own hotels, and would like to schedule guided day-bike tours, there are a large number of options available at Getyourguide and Viator.

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