National park · Germany
Mainau
Pay the island entry once, arrive at opening (09:00) or after 16:00 to dodge coach groups, and walk the 3.2 km shoreline loop plus the castle terrace in 3–4 hours; skip it if you want free lake scenery — Reichenau costs nothing.Pay the island entry once, arrive at opening (9:00 AM) or after 4:00 PM to dodge coach groups, and walk the 3.2 km shoreline loop plus the castle terrace in 3–4 hours; skip it if you want free lake scenery — Reichenau costs nothing.Pay the island entry once, arrive at opening (09:00) or after 16:00 to dodge coach groups, and walk the 2 mi shoreline loop plus the castle terrace in 3–4 hours; skip it if you want free lake scenery — Reichenau costs nothing.Pay the island entry once, arrive at opening (9:00 AM) or after 4:00 PM to dodge coach groups, and walk the 2 mi shoreline loop plus the castle terrace in 3–4 hours; skip it if you want free lake scenery — Reichenau costs nothing.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
0 km²0 sq mi
approximate
Established
1932
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
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.
At a glance
- Country
- Germany
- Area
- 0 km²0 sq mi
- About 45 ha: 1.1 km long, 600 m wide, 3.2 km of shoreline; highest point 425 m (check).
- Established
- 1932
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Konstanz
Mainau is a 45-hectare garden island in Lake Constance, bought by Grand Duke Frederick I of Baden in 1853 and run since 1974 by the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation; the Bernadotte family still lives in part of the castle. It is a paid, cultivated garden rather than wild country: 500 tree species in the arboretum, about 200 rhododendron and azalea varieties, some 30,000 rose bushes in 1,200 varieties and about 20,000 dahlias in 250 varieties, plus a tropical butterfly house and a palm house. There are no mountains and no long trails — the whole island is 1.1 km long with 3.2 km of shoreline, walked on flat gravel paths in three to four hours. The ticket is the decision: Reichenau, the large vegetable island a short ferry ride away, is free to visit, and the mainland shore gives lake views at no cost.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1932.
Size and age
0 km²0 sq mi · national park since 1932
About 45 ha: 1.1 km long, 600 m wide, 3.2 km of shoreline; highest point 425 m (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Konstanz.
Why go
- A garden island you can walk end to end in an afternoon, with the lake on every side.
- The butterfly house is one of the largest in Germany — a warm indoor stop when the weather turns.
- The arboretum holds trees planted in the 1860s, including giant sequoia and dawn redwood.
- Spring bulbs, then 30,000 rose bushes and 20,000 dahlias carry the season from April to October.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanClosed; gardens dormant
- FebClosed
- MarOpening weeks; early bulbs, few beds out
- AprTulips and spring bedding at peak
- MayRhododendron and azalea; mild walking
- JunRoses start; long daylight
- JulDahlias begin; busiest and hottest
- AugFull flower, peak crowds
- SepDahlias at their best, crowds thinner
- OctAutumn colour; season winds down
- NovClosed
- DecClosed
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterflies in the tropical houseAll year · Indoor year-round; hundreds of free-flying species. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Spring bulbs and blossomMar–May | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| RosesJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| DahliasJul–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Waterfowl on the lake shoreOct–Mar · Seen from the mainland shore and the ferry when the island is closed. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Konstanz
Bus line 4 toward Mainau, or the lake ferry from the Konstanz harbour; by car follow Mainaustraße to the mainland car park.
15–25 min
Open the page →
From Meersburg
Lake ferry across to the island landing stage.
20–30 min
From Überlingen
Lake ferry to the island landing stage.
40–60 min
From Lindau and the eastern lake
Train to Konstanz or Friedrichshafen, then bus or ferry; a car takes the lake road around the western end.
1.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Bodensee Region
Where to base yourself on the lake and how to link the towns.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Harbour and entrance | Landing stage, ticket gate, Comturey restaurant, bakery and beer garden. | Open with a ticket. |
| Castle and terrace | The former Teutonic Order castle, the Schlosscafé and the view over the island and lake. | Terrace open; the Bernadotte family still lives in parts of the building. |
| Palm house and Mediterranean terraces | Palms, orange trees, agaves and cacti on the warm south-facing slope. | Open with a ticket. |
| Butterfly house | A humid tropical hall with hundreds of free-flying butterflies. | Open with a ticket; warm and damp inside. |
| Arboretum and rose garden | Old specimen trees, the Italian rose garden with pergolas and fountains, and the dahlia beds. | Open with a ticket. |
Sketch map
- 1Mainau landing stage and gate · Gate≈47.705, 9.195Approximate; ferry landing and ticket entrance on the north side.Map ↗
- 2Castle and terrace · Viewpoint≈47.705, 9.200Map ↗
- 3Palm house · Headquarters≈47.704, 9.200Map ↗
- 4Butterfly house · Cave≈47.706, 9.194Map ↗
- 5Arboretum · Trail≈47.705, 9.198Map ↗
- 6Comturey harbour area · Town≈47.705, 9.201Map ↗
- 7Mainland car park · Ranger station≈47.706, 9.193Approximate; cars stay here, island is on foot.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island entry, adult | EUR 20–30 | person | 2026 estimate; the rate moves with the season and the garden's flowering stage — check the day's price before you travel. |
| Island entry, child | EUR 8–15 | person | 2026 estimate; reduced rate for children, students and disabled visitors (check). |
| Car park outside the island | EUR 0–4 | car | Charged in the main season, free off-season (check). |
| Boat from Konstanz or Meersburg | EUR 6.8–8.2 | person | One-way lake ferry; some cruise packages bundle the return trip and island entry. |
| Wine tasting at the Torbogenkeller | EUR 5 | person | Island wine, about 30 minutes; first and third Friday of the month in the main season (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Island entry ticket permit or guide
Vehicle access no permit
Park rules
- No cars or bicycles
- Vehicles stay in the mainland car park; the island is on foot only.
- Dogs
- Not allowed on the island, with the usual exception for assistance dogs (check).
- Picking plants
- Do not take cuttings, flowers or seed from the beds and arboretum.
- Butterfly house
- Keep bags closed and do not touch the butterflies or the plants.
- Barbecues and picnics
- No barbecues; use the restaurants and cafés rather than spreading a picnic in the beds (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Konstanz
The closest city: hotels, hostels and the bus and ferry to the island.
Near the park
Meersburg
Small lake town with the shortest ferry hop to the island.
Near the park
Überlingen
Quieter base on the north shore, ferry to the island landing stage.
Safety
Crowds at the gate and in the butterfly house medium
Heat on the open terraces low
Slippery paths after rain low
Missing the last ferry medium
Accessibility
- Most of the island is step-free and reachable by wheelchair; some garden sections and the castle terrace are not.
- The shoreline loop is flat; the climb to the castle and the terraces has steps.
- Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the entrance (check).
Visiting lightly
- The island is run as a garden and a foundation, not a theme park; follow the signed routes and keep off the beds.
- Take the bus or the ferry instead of driving — parking is outside the island and limited in the main season.
- Eat and drink on the island so the garden's upkeep is paid for by visitors rather than by new attractions.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mainau?
Adult entry is roughly €20–30 in 2026, with a reduced child rate around €8–15; the exact price depends on the season and how much is in flower, so check the day's rate before you go. Parking outside the island is about €4 in the main season and free off-season.
What are the best hikes in Mainau?
There are no mountain hikes — the island is 1.1 km long. The best walks are the 3.2 km flat shoreline loop (1–1.5 hours), the short climb to the castle terrace for the lake view, and the shaded arboretum and rose garden paths. All are easy; the castle steps are the only real climb.
When is the best time to visit Mainau?
April to June for bulbs, rhododendrons and the first roses, or September for the dahlia beds with thinner crowds. July and August are the fullest and hottest. The island closes in the winter months, so a January or November visit is not possible.
How long do you need on Mainau?
Three to four hours covers the shoreline loop, the castle terrace, the palm house, the butterfly house and a coffee stop. Add an hour if you eat a full meal at the Comturey or the Schwedenschenke.
Can you stay on Mainau?
No. There is no accommodation on the island. Sleep in Konstanz, Meersburg or Überlingen and come over by bus or ferry.
Can you drive or cycle on Mainau?
No. Cars and bicycles are not allowed on the island; park on the mainland and walk in. An evening restaurant reservation is the only case where a car may be driven onto the island.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go