Brief Trip Report - Bicycling around the Bodensee (Lake Constance)
Jan 27th, 2007 | 04:22 PM
#1
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Brief Trip Report - Bicycling around the Bodensee (Lake Constance)
Because I didn't want to hijack another thread, I'm doing a quick report on last May's bicycling around the Bodensee. For info on hotels, etc., check the website www.bodensee-radweg.de and for buying a cycling map, try www.omnimap.com
I made advance hotel reservations because it was a holiday week. I arrived by train in Lindau on Tuesday evening. My hotel, Gasthof Inselgraben, was only a couple blocks from the station and easy to find. The hotel restaurant is a cozy place with good food, especially breakfast!
I rented a bike Wednesday morning from a bike shop a block from the train station (I could probably come up with the name if somebody wants it). I left my bigger bag at the hotel and took only a backpack with me. Going clockwise around the lake seems to be recommended and it worked great for me. Following the Radweg (bike path) was easy, using my map.
I arrived in Konstanz that afternoon, stayed at the Gaestehaus Centro, a renovated hotel located above a McDonald's, across from the train station and near the harbor. Great location. I had windows facing the lake. Overnight bike storage is secure in the basement.
On Thursday I rode west to Stein am Rhein (loved it!) and back, again staying at Gaestehaus Centro. They don't provide breakfast, but I ate downstairs.
On Friday I rode around Reichenau island and then to Dingelsdorf, where I took the boat across to Meersburg. I didn't take the time to see Mainau, with the gardens, but I wish I had. I spent that night in Immenstaad, at Hotel Heinzler am See.
On Saturday I biked back to Lindau and again stayed at Gasthof Inselgraben.
Hotels were 35-55 Euro per night. I think the bike rental was about 30 Euro. I loved the bike -- it had sort of figure 8 handlebars, which I wish I could find here in the U.S.
This was near the end of May and the weather was mostly good - I wore a rain jacket one day for a couple hours.
The towns along the southern shore of the lake (Switzerland) were nice, but not as interesting as the ones on the east (Austria) and north (Germany) shores. All had nice waterfront parks.
Schuler, hope this helps your planning. If anybody has specific questions, I'll try to answer, but for the next 4 months my detailed journal isn't where I am.
I made advance hotel reservations because it was a holiday week. I arrived by train in Lindau on Tuesday evening. My hotel, Gasthof Inselgraben, was only a couple blocks from the station and easy to find. The hotel restaurant is a cozy place with good food, especially breakfast!
I rented a bike Wednesday morning from a bike shop a block from the train station (I could probably come up with the name if somebody wants it). I left my bigger bag at the hotel and took only a backpack with me. Going clockwise around the lake seems to be recommended and it worked great for me. Following the Radweg (bike path) was easy, using my map.
I arrived in Konstanz that afternoon, stayed at the Gaestehaus Centro, a renovated hotel located above a McDonald's, across from the train station and near the harbor. Great location. I had windows facing the lake. Overnight bike storage is secure in the basement.
On Thursday I rode west to Stein am Rhein (loved it!) and back, again staying at Gaestehaus Centro. They don't provide breakfast, but I ate downstairs.
On Friday I rode around Reichenau island and then to Dingelsdorf, where I took the boat across to Meersburg. I didn't take the time to see Mainau, with the gardens, but I wish I had. I spent that night in Immenstaad, at Hotel Heinzler am See.
On Saturday I biked back to Lindau and again stayed at Gasthof Inselgraben.
Hotels were 35-55 Euro per night. I think the bike rental was about 30 Euro. I loved the bike -- it had sort of figure 8 handlebars, which I wish I could find here in the U.S.
This was near the end of May and the weather was mostly good - I wore a rain jacket one day for a couple hours.
The towns along the southern shore of the lake (Switzerland) were nice, but not as interesting as the ones on the east (Austria) and north (Germany) shores. All had nice waterfront parks.
Schuler, hope this helps your planning. If anybody has specific questions, I'll try to answer, but for the next 4 months my detailed journal isn't where I am.
Jan 28th, 2007 | 08:32 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,549
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Sounds right up our alley. Do you remember if the bikes had a back rack so a set of panniers could be attached if so desired?
I'm glad you thought this was a good bike since so many times we have been so disappointed with bike rentals because all we've been able to find are what we consider to be junkers.
I'm glad you thought this was a good bike since so many times we have been so disappointed with bike rentals because all we've been able to find are what we consider to be junkers.
Jan 28th, 2007 | 09:33 AM
#4
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,236
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Excellent! Good info. Looks like we'll be going to Bodensee at the beg. of May.
We'll just stay in one hotel and take trips from there and maybe ferry back. I'm thinking the area around Meeresburg would be the best.
Besten Dank Travlsolo2!
We'll just stay in one hotel and take trips from there and maybe ferry back. I'm thinking the area around Meeresburg would be the best.
Besten Dank Travlsolo2!
Jan 29th, 2007 | 03:20 PM
#6
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Joined: Oct 2004
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Bitte!
Julies - The bike had a rack on the back, and they attached a basket to the rack for me, so my backpack sat right in the basket. I'm sure panniers could be attached.
Meersburg was nice -- Schuler: I would love to know what the story is behind the fountain (near the waterfront) that includes an old guy and a really old mermaid, among others. I wasn't there long enough to track down the story, but maybe if you're there longer, you could check it out. Or maybe somebody else knows?
The harbor area of Lindau is great fun on weekend afternoons -- there are usually musical performers on the porches at the big hotels, and also a street performer or two. I watched one twice. His name was Theo -- was really good, and pretty funny, and it was interesting to see how he actually drew the crowd.
Julies - The bike had a rack on the back, and they attached a basket to the rack for me, so my backpack sat right in the basket. I'm sure panniers could be attached.
Meersburg was nice -- Schuler: I would love to know what the story is behind the fountain (near the waterfront) that includes an old guy and a really old mermaid, among others. I wasn't there long enough to track down the story, but maybe if you're there longer, you could check it out. Or maybe somebody else knows?
The harbor area of Lindau is great fun on weekend afternoons -- there are usually musical performers on the porches at the big hotels, and also a street performer or two. I watched one twice. His name was Theo -- was really good, and pretty funny, and it was interesting to see how he actually drew the crowd.
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Aug 19th, 2012 | 05:17 PM
#11
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Joined: Oct 2004
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travelgirl2 -- if you have any questions, fire away. I can take a look into my journal for more specific names and such. I was back in Lindau briefly in 2008 and biked only to Friedrichshafen and back; thoroughly enjoyed it again.
