Europe
> Germany >
Bodensee > Boats & ferries
Bodensee (Lake Constance) Excursion Boats
and Car Ferries

ABOVE: The Swiss lake steamer Zürich
on the Bodensee. INSET BELOW: A boat to Mainau, bicyclists boarding a steamer in
Friedrichshafen, and the car ferry Euregia.
By Durant Imboden
Lake Constance,
a.k.a. the Bodensee,
is the third-biggest lake in Europe, and--as you might expect--it's
well-equipped with excursion boats and ferries for residents and visitors.
The
"White Fleet" of lake steamers makes it possible to travel easily from
point to point along the lake, or to spend pleasant hours of sightseeing while
your boat picks up and drops off passengers.
Alternatively, you can book lunch, dinner, or music or dance
cruises, some with special themes (such as an "Country-Western Ferry" or a
"Fondue Ship" culinary excursion).
Other boats cruise into the neighboring lakes
of Untersee and Geller See.
You can even charter a boat for a wedding and
reception.
Car
ferries serve two routes between the south and north sides of Lake
Constance: the quickest and most frequent is from Konstanz to the resort village
of Meersburg; the longest (with a 41-minute crossing) connects Romanshorn with
Friedrichshafen, the largest town on the northern side of the lake and home to
the Zeppelin Museum.
For more information on excursion boats and ferries, see "Bodensee (Lake
Constance) Boat and Ferry Links" below.
Bringing a bicycle
Most boats allow bicycles. Declare
your bike when you purchase a ticket, since you'll need a special ticket for
your two-wheeler. (On some routes, day tickets are available.)
Bodensee (Lake Constance) Boat and Ferry Links

ABOVE: The restored steamer Hohentwiel in Friedrichshafen Harbor, with a Romanshorn-Friedrichshafen car ferry passing
the breakwater.
Passenger boats
Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe (BSB)
A consortium of German, Swiss, and Austrian passenger-ship companies offer scheduled service and themed excursions
around the lake from spring through fall, using antique or modern boats. If you
plan on spending most of your time on the Swiss side of the lake, see the
German-language VSU site.
Der Katamaran
With a top speed of 40 km/h or 25 mph, these hourly passenger ferries
connect Konstanz to Friedrichshafen in 48 minutes.
Hohentwiel
This vintage steamer was built in 1913, decommissioned in 1962, and given a
new life in 1990 after major renovations. Today, it offers excursions from
Friedrichshafen (some with meals, others with music or literature themes).
Car ferries
Konstanz-Meersburg
Ferries run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Romanshorn-Friedrichshafen
Travel time on this route is approximately 40 minutes, and ferries run hourly
from early morning until late evening on most days. (Click the "Fahrplan" links
for timetables.)
Regional tickets and passes
Bodensee Ticket
Buy a one- or three-day Bodensee Ticket to enjoy unlimited regional
transportation by train, bus, and ferry.
Bodensee Card Plus
This regional pass
is valid on boats and some 160 local attractions. It's available in three- and
seven-day versions.