Major city · Germany
LindauLindau (Bodensee)
Give Lindau one full day and one night on the island; two nights if you want a boat day to Bregenz or Friedrichshafen.
Lindau's old town sits on a small island in Lake Constance, joined to the mainland by a bridge and a rail causeway. The island is walkable in an afternoon: harbour, lighthouse, old town hall, market square. Long-distance trains now stop at Lindau-Reutin on the mainland, so check which station your train uses before booking a bed near the water.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (many sights and boats closed)
- Airports
- FDH · MUC · STR · ZRH
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Germany ↗Germany is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Germany ↗Nazi symbols and gestures are criminal offences, including as jokes or souvenirs.
- Germany ↗Many city centres are low-emission zones: a car needs the right sticker (Umweltplakette) to enter.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Lindau112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Lindau, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR).Germany-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelekom, Vodafone and O2 are the networks; Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect and congstar resell them cheaply in supermarkets and electronics shops.Germany-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.Germany-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or add 5–10%; say the total you want to pay as you hand over money or card.Germany-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Germany-wide
- SafetyLindau is a low-crime small town; the real issues are seasonal closures, lake weather and the two-station confusion.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsStation toilets cost €0.50–1.50 (≈ US$1–2) (Rail&Fresh WC); restaurant toilets are for customers…Germany-wide
- Emergency numbers112 fire and ambulance · 110 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close on Sundays and public holidays nearly everywhere except stations and airports.Germany-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportFDH Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen (Closest airport; rail link to Lindau, about 30–40 min).
- Getting aroundWalk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and a bakery pastry€4–7 (≈ US$5–9)
- Beer0.5 l in a lakeside restaurant€4.50–6 (≈ US$6–7)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus single ride€2.90 (≈ US$4) (2024)
- Museum or sight ticketLighthouse climb / city museum entry€1.80 (≈ US$3)€3 (≈ US$4)
- Budget bedCampsite pitch (tent), a night, per room€20 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room€150 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per room€260 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €60 (≈ US$70) · Mid €110 (≈ US$130) · High €200 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- FDH Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen (Closest airport; rail link to Lindau, about 30–40 min) · MUC Munich Airport (EuroCity trains toward Lindau; about 2.5–3 h by rail) · STR Stuttgart Airport (Rail via Friedrichshafen or Ulm; longer and slower) · ZRH Zurich Airport (EuroCity toward Munich stops at Lindau-Reutin; about 2 h)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Feb
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Mar
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Dec
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C) low), wettest Jun (14 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Lindau: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
10 rd
Feb
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
9 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
11 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
12 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
13 rd
Jun
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
14 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
13 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
13 rd
Sep
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Nov
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
Dec
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk. The island is small and largely pedestrian, and you can cross it in about 15 minutes. City buses (routes 1–5) link the island with the mainland and Reutin; a single ticket was €2.90 in 2024. Bikes rent on the island and at the youth hostel on the mainland. Boats (BSB) run seasonal lake services April–October.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Bregenz, Austria
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min
BSB boat from Lindau harbour, 22 min, or regional train from Inselbahnhof
Boat fare was €5.70 adult one way; climb the Pfänder cable car for lake views.
Friedrichshafen
goDoor to door: About 1 h by boat
BSB boat along the lake, or bodo bus line 200 westbound
Zeppelin Museum and the airport; a full half-day.
Mainau Island
cautionDoor to door: 2 h+
BSB boat via Meersburg/Friedrichshafen, or rail to Konstanz then boat
Garden island; long for a return day from Lindau, better as a stop on a lake circuit.
Rorschach, Switzerland
goDoor to door: About 1 h
BSB boat, three times a day each direction
Full crossing was €12.70 / CHF 17; take your passport.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Island old town
Everything on foot, harbour views, highest prices and the fewest rooms; book weeks ahead for summer.
Near Inselbahnhof (island station)
Regional trains only; handy if you arrive by boat or regional rail and want bags dropped fast.
Reutin / mainland near Lindau-Reutin
Where long-distance trains stop; cheaper beds, 15–25 min walk or a short bus ride to the island.
Camping and hostel belt (Eichwald, Herbergsweg)
Budget option on the mainland; lakeside swimming nearby, island by bus or bike.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- €100–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
- High
- €180 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 1 night × €150 | €150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €110 | €220 |
| City bus single ticket2 × €3 · 2024 price | €6 |
| Boat Lindau → Bregenz, one way2 × €6 | €11 |
| Lighthouse climb2 × €2 | €4 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €10 | €20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €41 |
| Trip total≈ €226 per person per day, bed included | €452≈ US$550 |
2026 estimate in euro; long-distance rail and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and a bakery pastry | €4–7 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Plate of lake fish or a schnitzel in a tavern | €14–24 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Beer, 0.5 l in a lakeside restaurant | €4.50–6 (≈ US$6–7) |
| Ice cream on the island | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) per scoop |
| City bus single ride | €2.90 (≈ US$4) (2024) |
| Boat Lindau → Bregenz, one way | €5.70 (≈ US$7) |
| Lighthouse climb / city museum entry | €1.80 (≈ US$3) / €3 (≈ US$4) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Two stations: long-distance trains use Lindau-Reutin on the mainland, not the island station. Check your ticket before you book a hotel.
- Many island sights, the city museum and the lake ferries are seasonal; outside roughly April–October expect closures.
- Car parking on the island is limited and expensive; park on the mainland and walk or take the bus.
- Lake weather turns fast: afternoon storms are common in summer, so keep a rain layer for boat trips.
- Crossing to Bregenz (Austria) or Rorschach (Switzerland) means a border: carry your passport or ID card.
Emergency numbers
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
- Police
- 110
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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LindauLindau (Bodensee)
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Zu dieser Adresse, bitteTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire and ambulance112
- Police110
Embassy
No embassies in Lindau; the US and UK have consulates-general in Munich, most other countries have embassies in Berlin.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Boat Lindau → Bregenz: €5.70 (≈ US$7) adult one way, 22 min
- Train Bregenz → Lindau, ÖBB machine: €2.40 (≈ US$3) single (DB machine about €4.80 (≈ US$6))
- City bus single ticket: €2.90 (≈ US$4) (2024)
Say or show
- Grüß Gott — Hello (gruess got)
- Danke schön — Thank you (danke schoen)
- Die Rechnung, bitte — The bill, please (dee rekh-noong, bit-teh)
- Eine Fahrkarte nach Bregenz, bitte — One ticket to Bregenz, please (eye-neh far-kar-teh nakh breh-gents, bit-teh)
- Wo ist der Hafen? — Where is the harbour? (vo ist dair hah-fen)
- Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ikh mit kar-teh tsah-len)
Tourist-Information Lindau, Alfred-Nobel-Platz 1, opposite the island station (check hours).
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lindau. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (many sights and boats closed) · month by month →
- 4 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Field-check the two-station split: which trains stop at Lindau-Reutin vs Inselbahnhof, and last connections from each.
- Island walking route with opening hours for lighthouse, Mangturm, city museum and the old town hall.
- Boat timetable fixture for BSB April–October, with Bregenz and Rorschach fares.
- Summer vs winter page split so seasonal closures are obvious before booking.
Sources
- officialLindau city website
- officialLindau Tourismus
- officialStadtwerke Lindau city bus
- officialBSB Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe
- officialBodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen
- secondaryWikivoyage: Lindau, revision 5237024 (CC BY-SA 4.0)