Cycling around Lake Constance is, in the main, easy riding - very few hills, many lovely little towns and villages, many variations on routes to take, with the added bonus of being able to catch a boat from several points around the lake to add to the variety. It can get very busy with cyclists in the height of summer and we've found June is much quieter than July & August. We've "done" Lake Constance about 4 times over the years, both leaving the car and cycling off for a few days and also doing various day trips from a fixed point or several points. We prefer leaving the car and cycling off as this gives plenty of flexibility. The following isn't necessarily a route we have done all in one go, rather places we have visited on various trips - but it should give an idea of distances and places we have particularly enjoyed.
Day 1
Wasserburg to Meersburg 40km
A good ride with the option to take in Friedrichshafen en route. Here is where Ferdinand von Zeppelin started his air ship factory around 1900 and there is a museum situated near the lake which is worth a visit if time permits. Meersburg is a lovely lakeside town with many cafes and restaurants along the shoreline. The ferries to Konstanz and Insel Mainau leave regularly from here.
Day 2
Meersburg to Dingelsdorf via Uberlingen 18km
Again a really pleasant ride and a stop at Unteruhldigen on the way is of interest . Here you will find an open air museum with lake dwellings or stilt houses showing how people lived in the Stone and Bronze Ages. On to Uberlingen, a really attractive lakeside town with many cafes and restaurants beside the lake which make for a very relaxing and enjoyable lunch break! From Uberlingen a ferry runs to Wallhausen. We took the ferry and then cycled the couple of miles to Dingelsdorf.
Day 3
Dingelsdorf to Stein am Rhein 45km
Good riding - mostly on bike path - except for a 10km stretch at the beginning from Dingelsdorf to Allensbach. Some hills on this ride but not many. Radolfzell is a nice place for a water stop and photo shoot! Again a very attractive town. Stein am Rhein is in Switzerland so no Euros here! This is a beautiful town with some very interesting half timbered buildings and the side roads take you down to the banks of the Rhine where there are plenty of eating places.
(There is a really nice ride from Allensbach to the island of Reichenau - famous for it's vegetable farms and connected to the mainland by a 3km causeway with dedicated cycle track. Cycling around the island , taking in some lovely scenery, is very peaceful. This trip from Allensbach and back is about 17 km. Alternatively I think there is a ferry from Reichenau to Mannenbach from where you can pick up the route to Konstanz)
Day 4
Stein am Rhein to Neuhausen am Rheinfall - return! 45km
A little hilly coming out of Stein am Rhein and after about 5km you are back into Germany. Pass through Busingen which is a German enclave - the town being completely surrounded by Switzerland. Cross the river at Schaffhausen to Neuhausen and take a boat trip to see the Rhine Falls close up! - mainland Europe's largest waterfall. A pleasant ride back along the river from Schaffhausen.
Day 5
Stein am Rhein to Konstanz 30km - then ferry to Meersburg
A good ride to Konstanz via Steckborn, Ermatingen and then on to Konstanz. It's quite a long haul to the ferry once you hit Konstanz but it is well signposted, off road on cycle path and nice to sail past all the traffic jams!! The car ferry is much cheaper than the passenger ferry - and quick!
An alternative to cycling to Konstanz is to "cruise" from Stein am Rhein - a lovely boat ride spending about 2 and a half hours zig-zagging from place to place - makes a nice change to see places from the water and also gives bikes and legs arest!!
Konstanz itself is a lovely city to stroll around. The historic old town was not bombed during the war because of its proximity to Switzerland and so remains intact. There is some good shopping and good restaurants and pavement cafes, ideal for people watching!
Day 6
Boat trip Meersburg to Mainau
A 20 minute boat ride takes you to the island of Mainau known as the Flower Island - best to go early in the day as it' gets very busy as the day goes on. With its exotic plants, butterfly house, arboretum, rose garden and summer palace there is lots to see.
Day 7
Meersburg to Wasserburg 40 km
A good ride back to Wasserburg with perhaps a visit to the museum at Friedrichshafen on the way if not already visited on Day 1. We cycled to Friedrichshafen in the rain on cycle track beside the road which was non too pleasant with the traffic whooshing by so were happy to have a break at Friedrichshafen. What a difference the weather makes!!!
From Wasserburg it is only a few km to Lindau which is well worth a visit.The medieval city lies on an island which is connected to the mainland by a bridge. See the harbour with it's lion sculpture landmark.
We did cycle from Wasserburg to Rohrschach (Switzerland), a distance of 57km, with the intention of travelling from there to Konstanz. But we had left our passports in Wasserburg and were a little nervous of travelling further without them so returned to Wasserburg and never did do this Swiss stretch of the Bodensee. Our experience in Rohrschach, though, was that Switzerland was a lot more expensive!