trip from Konstanz

Hello,

Can anyone suggest a nice day-trip from Konstanz into Austria?

I don%26#39;t want to drive very far but would certainly like to see the alps and any nice tirolean villages en route.

I am travellin in July.

|||

Drive to Brehenz, at the eastern end of the lake. In Bregenz, take the cable car to the top of the Pfaender, on a clear day great views of the lake and part of the Austrian and Swiss alps.

The more scenic (but also more heavily travelled ) drive is on the north side of the lake: Car ferry from Konstanz-Staad to Meerbsurg. From there along the lake to Friedrichshafen, Lindau and on to Bregenz. You could leave the car in Lindau and take the short boat ride T/T to Bregenz, to return the way you came. Or drive to Bregenz and return on the south side of the lake. Not much interesting to see, but it%26#39;s shorter.

|||

Why driving to Bregenz?

Taking a boat from Konstanz to Bregenz is of course slower, but so much nicer. You can return by boat too, or by train.

P.S. there is a high-speed boat from Konstanz to Friedrichshafen

|||

Thank-you both for your interest and suggestions!

What about Bregenz itself? What size, interesting sights etc? Or even if we were to travel a little further into Austria, could you suggest some other destinations?

We are travelling with children(15, 12 and 6 ), so museums and cathedrals are not top of the list!

Instead , we like to arrive at pretty and hopefully lively destinations. Perhaps somewhere with nice walks and good food?

|||

Hi silverapple

the other two guys have suggested the Pfaender at Bregenz, which is a good idea. Catch the boat from Konstanz (which on a nice day is a lovely trip) and once up on the cablecar, there is a bird of prey show, twice daily and a small wildlife park. You could even walk back down through the woods. It will take up a whole day.

Alternatively, have a drive to Bregenz, and up the hill to langen/scheigegg (switching back into germany) and head along the Alpenstrasse to Oberstaufen. Just past the town is a place called the Huendle bahn, which has a chairlift up the hills for walks, a rodelbahn for the kids, crazy golf. Plenty for kids and also an indoor leisure centre with slides, crazy river, outdoor pool, saunas, etc called Aquaria. The views around there are stunning, and although in Germany, it is just over the border from Austria. If you need road numbers, etc I%26#39;ll be glad to help.

www.huendle.de

www.aquaria.de

|||

Thank-you teajay!

Could you please outline the route from Bregenz to the Huendle bahn?

And how long is that in driving-time?

Is a trip along the Alpenstrasse itself a nice thing to do? What stops would you recommend along the way?

|||

Hi silverapple,

there are two routes that are nice. Do one there %26amp; the other back!

Route1:

Get on the motorway A14 at Lustenau and drive thru the Pfaender Tunnel into germany (becomes the A96) and get off at the 2nd turn-off towards Lindenberg/Scheidegg (B308) This is the Alpenstrasse road. It goes upto Lindenberg up a windy, steepish road (great fun!) and at the top are the Scheidegg waterfalls! with a cafe if you fancy a coffee %26amp; cake stop. Carry on to the roundabout, take 3rd exit, then first right (Mcdonalds on the juction, with gardens %26amp; views over the lake). Carry on along to Oberstaufen. There are viewing points along the way as the views is beautiful! There are also cafes and restaurants along the way to stop for lunch! At Oberstaufen, the first turning gets you to the Aquaria (the road goes under the main road, then left turn as tho going back onto it and there is a right turn at the last minute!) A little confusing, but you%26#39;ll work it out! or carry on for about another couple of kms and you%26#39;ll come to the Huendle. It%26#39;s on the main road, on your right hand side. Loads of parking!

Rout 2:

Alternatively, get on the A14 and turn off at Bregenz (the last turn off before the tunnel) keep RIGHT,RIGHT(direction Kennelbach) at r/about take 2nd exit, then past the Eurospar supermarket turn right towards Weiler/Langen. Follow the road thru Langen, then take a right towards Weiler into Neuhaus, turn right towards Scheidegg and that road will take you to up to scheidegg and follow the road thru the town towards Lindenberg to Mcdonalds %26amp; you%26#39;re back at the Alpenstrasse! As you enter Scheidegg there is a ponyhof (for horse riding, lamas, animalyard, cafe etc!) and also an outdoor swimming lake (Alpen freibad), but it costs, About 2euros pp.!!

If you pop into Lindenberg (our home town), head for the Waldsee, which is a peat lake and free for all for swimming. It%26#39;s surrounded by woods, parking and a hotel with outside cafe, if you just want to watch the kids swim! It%26#39;s a blissful place! Might see you there! Not many brits about there!!

Oberstuafen is very touristy and a nice place to stop %26amp; eat.

From Oberstaufen, once down at Bregenz/Lindau, drive along the lake toward Meersberg and jump on the car ferry back to Konstanz (only 20 min ferryride).

I would estimate from Bregenz to Oberstaufen about an hour without stops and a slowish tootle!! I would recommend a night stay on the Alpenstrasse to enjoy the area and not rush around so much! What dates are you going as there are always festivals in the villages/towns that time of year!

God! I hope this helps!!!????

|||

Thank-you so much teajay!

Could you recommend somewhere to overnight along the Alpenstrasse?

In actual fact we will be based in Triberg July 20 to 31, and had thought originally to spend one or two nights of those in Konstanz in order to make a day-trip into Austria and another into Switzerland.

Have you some general comments about the Bodensee area, and perhaps about the Konstanz plan?

P.S. not too worried about the lack of brits in Allgau; not too many of them around here either! Haha!!

|||

Teajay really gave you some valuable advise. As for the overnight aty I trust he will agree with me that the hotel at the Waldsee in Lindenberg is a great and relaxing place to stay. Also, the restaurant is very good; a favorite eating place for the Buerger of Lindenberg. Another place with a number of good restaurants is along the %26quot;Kaesestrasse%26quot;, but tejay will have to help you how to get there. When I was there 2 years ago, my formerLindenberg schooo buddy did the driving and I didn%26#39;t pay any attention.

|||

PS: Obviously, the word should have been %26quot;school buddy%26quot;. From the terrace of the hotel where we ate along the Kaesstrasse, we had a wonderful view of the whole Bregenzer Wald region. Tejjay, does this ring a bell?

|||

Hi

This is very familiar treplow. Allgaeu/bregenzewald area has many beuatiful rest stops and the Kaesestrasse (cheese road) has many places to stop and sample the locally made cheeses! I adore the summer months, stopping off having a quiet drink with glorious views!!

Anyway, silverapple. I can recommend a few places. The waldsee hotel is nice, but it is in the woods and they are renovating the waldsee at the moment (putting flood barriers in), and I am not sure if all the work will be completed by then. I am sure it will, but the hotel is having a refurb as well, and could rocket the prices up! But don%26#39;t let me put you off if you fancy it. There is a hotel called the Bavaria Hotel up on the Alpenstrasse with glorious views, it has a swimming pool and restaurant. I am biased, as we go there alot, but I love the views from there. Martin, the owner is always helpful %26amp; speaks english, if you need it.

www.hotelbavaria.de

www.hotel-waldsee.de/english/willkommen

You are staying in and around the black forest, which is also lovely. The only other highlights I have for the lake area are;

Stein am Rhein (not far from Konstanz)

Rhein falls at schaffhasen in switzerland

Meersberg

Lindau (specially in the evenings for dinner)

Mainua Insel (but only if you%26#39;re into flowers. It%26#39;s a truely lovely day out)

Obviously there are lots of lovely little places, but 2 weeks is never long enough in my opinion, so fit in the best bits!!

Are you in cork?? Ryanair have just opened a new flight route to Dublin from Friedrichshafen and I wanted to do a tour round southern Ireland, so may need some tips off you later!!!

Thanks.