Best Things to Do in Konstanz, Germany in One Day
Konstanz is one of those cities that is best explored without rushing. Located directly on Lake Constance in southern Germany, it combines a lively historic centre, beautiful waterfront views and plenty of history in a city that is compact enough to explore in one day.
Lake Constance, or Bodensee in German, is particularly special because its shores are shared by Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It is perfectly possible to have breakfast in one country, cycle through another and watch the sunset from the third.
Konstanz works really well either as a base or as one of the main stops on a road trip around Lake Constance, surrounded by pretty towns, cycling routes and beautiful lakeside scenery.
So, what are the best things to do in Konstanz in one day? Below we share our favourite places in the city, along with a few tips from our own visits.
Imperia: the symbol of Konstanz
Our first recommendation is to start your visit at the harbour. Here you will immediately see Imperia, the enormous nine metre high statue that has become one of the symbols of Konstanz.
The statue slowly rotates, completing one full turn every four minutes. In each hand, Imperia holds a small naked male figure. They represent King Sigismund and Pope Martin V, exaggerated and caricatured as symbols of secular and religious power.
The sculpture was created by Peter Lenk and unveiled in 1993. As you might imagine, it caused plenty of controversy when it first appeared. Today, however, it is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city.
💡 Interesting fact: the sculpture has a literary connection to Honoré de Balzac’s satirical stories about the beautiful Imperia and the Council of Constance. It is very much a satirical work rather than a literal representation of a historical scene.
Explore Konstanz Old Town
Konstanz Old Town is probably our favourite part of the city. You will find cobbled streets, colourful façades, historic buildings, small shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. Our advice here is simple: forget the map for a while and just wander around.
One detail you will probably notice above the streets during the warmer months is the colourful FlowerBalls. These large decorative spheres hang above different streets in the historic centre and give the city a particularly cheerful atmosphere.
They are installed in spring and remain above the streets until autumn. During winter they are removed and restored before returning the following year.
The centre feels very lively, with students, families and locals enjoying the streets and terraces throughout the day. If you only have one day in Konstanz, do not spend the whole time rushing from landmark to landmark. Sit down for a coffee or a beer and enjoy the atmosphere for a while.
St. Stephan Church and the Karl Steuer Fountain
You will easily come across St. Stephan Church while exploring the Old Town. It is one of the oldest churches around Lake Constance, with references to a church on this site dating back to the early Middle Ages.
Nearby you will also find the Karl Steuer Fountain. It was created in memory of Karl Steuer, a well known figure in the city’s Fasnacht, or Alemannic carnival tradition, who played an important role in shaping carnival celebrations in Konstanz.
Konstanz Minster
The Konstanz Minster, Münster Unserer Lieben Frau, dominates the skyline of the historic centre. If you follow our advice and wander through the Old Town without planning every street, there is a good chance you will eventually arrive here almost by accident.
Its tower rises 78 metres above the city. If it is open during your visit, you can climb the stairs to the viewing platform for fantastic views over the rooftops and Lake Constance.
The Minster was one of the important locations connected with the Council of Constance, which took place between 1414 and 1418 and transformed the city into one of the political and religious centres of medieval Europe.
The Konzil building
Back beside the harbour, another building worth knowing about is the Konzil. It was originally built between 1388 and 1391 as a warehouse and trading building.
Its most important moment came during the Council of Constance. In November 1417, the conclave met on the upper floor and elected Cardinal Oddone Colonna as Pope Martin V, helping to bring the Western Schism to an end.
The building is easy to pass without realising how important it is, especially if you are concentrating on the harbour and Imperia, but its history makes it one of the most significant places in the city.
Holy Trinity Church
The Holy Trinity Church can be surprisingly easy to overlook despite its location in the city centre. It dates back to the former Augustinian monastery founded in the 13th century.
The most interesting feature inside is a series of late Gothic frescoes dating back around 600 years. They were commissioned by King Sigismund during the Council of Constance after he stayed at the adjoining monastery.
If the church is open while you are passing, it is well worth stepping inside for a few minutes.
Lutherkirche
The Lutherkirche stands out from much of the architecture around the historic centre. Its tall and relatively austere exterior creates an interesting contrast with the much more elaborate Konstanz Minster.
Our favourite view is from Paradiesstraße, which is where we took the photograph above.
We have visited Konstanz several times but, somehow, we have never managed to find the church open. If you manage to see the interior, let us know what you think.
What to eat in Konstanz: Flammkuchen
If you have never tried Flammkuchen, this is a good opportunity. Think of it as a much thinner and crispier cousin of pizza. The base is extremely thin and traditionally topped with crème fraîche rather than tomato, together with onions and bacon.
It is particularly associated with Alsace and neighbouring areas of southwestern Germany, although today you will find plenty of different toppings and variations.
We have also eaten Flammkuchen in Lindau, another destination we really like on Lake Constance.
Mainau Island: an easy day trip from Konstanz
📍 Day trip from Konstanz: if you have some extra time, we highly recommend visiting Mainau Island, famous for its gardens and seasonal flowers. The island is managed by the Bernadotte family and is particularly colourful during spring and summer.
You can reach Mainau by car, boat or public transport. The Konstanz city bus ring routes 4/13 and 13/4 stop close to the entrance to the island.
Mainau is a paid attraction and admission prices change over time, so we recommend checking the official Mainau website before your visit.
Besides the seasonal gardens, you can visit the Baroque palace, tropical Butterfly House, old trees and temporary exhibitions. When we visited, there was a beautiful orchid exhibition.
We also have a complete guide to Mainau Island with more information to help plan your visit.
Is Konstanz worth visiting?
For us, definitely.
Konstanz has a lively atmosphere and a historic centre with plenty of character, but it is still compact enough to explore comfortably in one day. That makes it a great stop if you are travelling around Lake Constance.
What we like most is that visiting Konstanz is not simply about ticking monuments off a list. Much of its charm comes from walking through the streets, sitting beside the lake and enjoying the everyday atmosphere of the city.
And that brings us to the end of our guide to the best things to do in Konstanz. If you are travelling around Lake Constance, we think it deserves a place on your itinerary.
If you try Flammkuchen while you are there, let us know what you think. Are you still team pizza or have you joined team Flammkuchen?
See you on the road!
