Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [399]
The three-day Bodensee Erlebniskarte (adult/6-15yr €69/37, not incl ferries €39/21), available at area tourist and ferry offices from early April to mid-October, allows free travel on almost all boats and mountain cableways on and around Lake Constance (including its Austrian and Swiss shores) and gets you free entry to around 180 tourist attractions and museums. There are also seven-day (adult/child €90/47) and 14-day (adult/child €123/61) versions.
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On the Rheinsteig is the 15th-century Rheintorturm (Rhine Gate Tower), a defensive tower with a pyramid-shaped red-tile roof. About 200m west along the river, is the squatter, 14th-century Pulverturm (Gunpowder Tower), with 2m-thick walls.
Cross the street to the orange-red, baroque Domprobstei (Rheingasse 20), once the residence of the cathedral provosts.
MUSEUMS
The one-time butchers’ guildhall now harbours the Rosgartenmuseum ( 900 246; www.rosgartenmuseum-konstanz.de, in German; Rosgartenstrasse 3-5; adult/concession €3/1.50, 1st Sun of the month & after 2pm Wed free; 10am-6pm Tue-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun), spotlighting regional art and history.
Running a drag net through your wallet, the borderline kitsch Sea Life ( 128 270; www.sealifeeurope.com; Hafenstrasse 9; adult/3-14yr €13.95/9.95; 10am-7pm Jul–mid-Sep, 10am-6pm May, Jun & mid-Sep–Oct, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun Nov-Apr) immerses you in an underwater world. Highlights include a shipwreck where you can handle starfish and get stingray close-ups, a shark tunnel, and a creepy corner blubbing with oddities like frogfish and, ugh, giant isopods.
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Activities
For some ozone-enriched summer fun, grab your bathers and head to Strandbad Horn ( 635 50; Eichhornstrasse 100; admission free; year-round), near Campingplatz Bruderhofer (opposite), 4km northeast of the centre. The lakefront beach has sunbathing lawns, a kiddie pool, playground, volleyball courts and even a naturist area.
If you would prefer to trundle across the lake, hire a pedalo at Bootsvermietung Konstanz ( 218 81; per hr €8; 11am-sunset Easter–mid-Oct) in the Stadtgarten.
La Canoa ( 959 595; www.lacanoa.com, in German; Robert-Bosch-Strasse 4; canoe/kayak per hr €11/16, per day €28/39; 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat) rents high-quality canoes and kayaks in Konstanz and from various other Lake Constance locations, including Lindau and Friedrichshafen. Visit the website for canoe tour details.
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Sleeping
Rock up between November and February and you may find some places closed. The tourist office has a free booking service.
Campingplatz Bruderhofer ( 313 88; www.campingplatz-konstanz.de; Fohrenbühlweg 50; per person/tent €4.50/6.80; Apr-Oct) Wake up to a pore-awakening splash in the lake at this leafy site in Staad, 4km northeast of the Altstadt.
DJH hostel ( 322 60; www.jugendherberge-konstanz.de; Zur Allmannshöhe 18; dm 1st/subsequent night €21.90/18.60) Occupying a water tower, this hostel has neat dorms, a bistro and gardens. It’s 4km northeast of the Altstadt, served by buses 1 and 4.
Hotel Barbarossa ( 128 990; www.barbarossa-hotel.com, in German; Obermarkt 8-12; s €50-70, d €90-130; ) A makeover has brought the bright, parquet-floored rooms bang up to date at this central hotel, though some kitsch remains and bathrooms can be a tight fit.
Hotel Augustiner Tor ( 282 450; www.hotel-augustiner-tor.de; Bodanstrasse 18; s €80-100, d €110-140) This cleverly restored, turn-of-the-century hotel, offers unrivalled value for money. Streamlined rooms exude Scandinavian simplicity with clean lines, crisp white linens and wood floors.
Villa Barleben ( 942 330; www.hotel-barleben.de, in German; Seestrasse 15; s €95-215, d €165-265) Gregariously elegant, this 19th-century villa’s sunny rooms and corridors are sprinkled with antiques and ethnic art. The rambling lakefront gardens are ideal for dozing in a Strandkörb (beach lounger), G&T in hand, or enjoying lunch on the terrace.
Riva ( 315 46; www.hotel-riva.de, in German; Seestrasse 25; s €130-150, d €200-260; ) This