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Friedrichshafen

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Friedrichshafen is located at the northeastern corner of Lake Constance (Bodensee), near the lake's widest point in the German federal-state of Baden-Württemberg. This mostly modern city was almost completely rebuilt after bombing in World War II. It has one of the longest waterfront promenades of any town along the lake. It also has a nice view of Austria and Switzerland and the alps across the lake on a clear day. In addition, the town's other highlights are three interesting museums and the dome-capped Schlosskirche, the premier remaining reminder of Friedrichshafen's baroque past.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By airplane

Friedrichshafen's small international airport [1] with direct flights from Dublin, London, Berlin, Prague. From the airport's train station, there are regular commuter trains to Friedrichshafen (or in the opposite direction to Ravensburg and an hourly service to Ulm). A cab from the airport to downtown will cost between EUR 10-15, depending on where you go.

You could also consider to fly to Zurich/Switzerland and take one of the hourly trains to Romanshorn and take the ferry over the Lake of Constance. Since the last ferry in the offseason period leaves around 19:30h this is not an option for late arrivals.

[edit] By car

22km (14 miles) West of Lindau, 20km (12 miles) South of Ravensburg

[edit] By ferry

A 45-minute car ferry service links Friedrichshafen to Romanshorn, Switzerland. From there, you can board express trains to Swiss cities like Zurich, Lucerne and Berne.

A 40 minute speedboat service (pedestrians and cyclists only) links Friedrichshafen and Konstanz. You can then enter Switzerland from Konstanz. Speedboat Website

[edit] By train

There is a regular train service from Stuttgart and Ulm to Friedrichshafen. Another train line runs along the Lake of Constance (though mainly inland and not very scenic) from Lindau via Friedrichshafen to Radolfzell, Schafhausen and Bale. In summer time, the trains to and from Friedrichshafen might be crowded with groups of cyclists (making the long-distance travel to the lake on the train).

[edit] Get around

The town of Friedrichshafen covers a fairly large area along the lake side and the hinterland. There is public transportation, esp. a fairly priced night-bus system, but the best way to get around is by bike or car. During high-season in summer roads can get quite crowded and traffic jams getting in and out of Friedrichshafe are frequent. In particular on the B31 (Lindau-Friedrichshafen-Immenstaad-Hagnau-Meersburg-Überlingen).

There are plenty of opportunities to rent bikes in Friedrichshafen.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Zeppelin Museum, Seestrasse 22,[2]. This is the town's top tourist attraction. The museum is built around a full-scale recreated section of the Hindenburg, at 245m the largest airship ever made. Take note however, that most signs are in German only. Its worth the price of admission.
  • Schlosskirche, Klosterstrasse. The twin onion-domed, baroque Schlosskirche was built between 1695 and 1701 by the Christian Thumb.
  • Schulmuseum, Friedrichstrasse 14,[3]. This museum traces the development of education between 1850 (when classes were taught by monks and nuns), and 1930 (when education was the responsibility of the German state)
  • Dornier Museum, Claude-Dornier-Platz 1,[4]. This museum brings a century of exciting aeronautic history to life, including legendary classic aircrafts like the Do 27, Do Merkur and Do 31 vertical take-off craft as well as an original space lab.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Cycling

Rent a bike or bring your own and cycle along the lake to Meersburg (in the west) or Lindau (in the east). It is also fairly popular to do a tour around the entire lake in one (sportive with shortcuts), two (reasonable), three or more (leissure)days.

[edit] Canoeing

There are probably more scenic locations along the lake where you can do canoeing, but there is a canoe rental in Friedrichshafen and they also organise tours on one of the small tributaries into the Lake of Constance. Canoe rental

[edit] Climbing

Besides an indoor climbing facility by the DAV (Deutscher Alpenverein)for its members and affiliates see website for details, there is a "adventure park" in nearby Immenstaad (about 12km from Friedrichshafen) that is more geared to families, children or groups on a team building exercise.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

  • Pension Wurster, Georgstr. 14, 88046 Friedrichshafen, +49 7541 72694 (PensionWursterFN@t-online.de, fax: +49 7541 33970). A pleasant, well-kept place that's just a short walk away from downtown Friedrichshafen. A doubleroom with shower, WC and TV costs € 50.

[edit] Get out

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