Überlingen: Lakeside, City History and Garden Culture

Lakeside Paths, Parks and Garden Culture

The lakeside promenade runs along Lake Constance for more than two kilometres. For a stay by the water, the approximately six-hectare lakeside park also offers a variety of features: its naturalistic shoreline, open lake access and play areas make it a place for nature and play. The park is one of the projects that remained after the 2021 garden show—a good example of how a garden show site can continue to shape the cityscape.

A cast-iron pavilion dating from the 19th century stands on a rocky outcrop in the upper town garden, offering panoramic views. The former town fortifications also shape Überlingen’s green side today: they form a belt around the old town and have become an inner-city green corridor and recreational area. The play areas in the lakeside park can be a special attraction for children, while the pavilion and urban greenery offer further reasons to take a break outdoors.

The approximately four-kilometre Garden Culture Trail passes selected parks, gardens and green spaces around the city, where garden culture can be experienced firsthand. Leisurely cycling routes in Überlingen follow the water with almost no inclines, passing lidos, parks and viewpoints. The distances are easy to distinguish: the approximately four-kilometre Garden Culture Trail is followed by the lakeside promenade, which is more than two kilometres long; the premium SeeGang hiking trail connects Überlingen and Konstanz over a distance of more than 50 kilometres.

City History and Special Discoveries

St. Nicholas Minster is Überlingen’s landmark and the largest Gothic church on Lake Constance. The Städtisches Museum Überlingen spans the period from the Stone Age to the 20th century, bringing the history, culture and art of Überlingen and the region to life. The museum’s special features also include one of Germany’s largest collections of dolls’ houses.

Jewish gravestones, among the oldest in Baden-Württemberg, can be seen in the museum garden. The site thus brings together city history and tangible evidence of Jewish history. If you would like to explore Überlingen as you go, you can use the free Zeigmal.App to accompany your walk: short audio stories and historical photographs offer insights into more than 1,250 years of city history. Check the app’s current availability in advance.

The outdoor escape experience “1643 – Konradin’s Escape” leads through the winding lanes of the historic old town, over walls and towers, and along the old town moats. It combines exploring the city on foot with these historic locations. As availability may vary, it is advisable to check the provider’s information in advance.

Hiking or Relaxing by the Lake

The SeeGang is on a different scale from the routes within the city: the premium hiking trail connects Konstanz and Überlingen over a distance of more than 50 kilometres. If you are planning this longer tour, check local conditions before setting out. This gives you a clear choice for planning your trip between urban discoveries, shorter routes through green spaces and an extended hiking trail.

The Bodensee-Therme Überlingen is another option for a more relaxing experience. It has indoor and outdoor pools as well as various saunas; the sauna garden has direct access to the lake. Its facilities make it a distinct option alongside the walking routes and cultural attractions. For current details, contact the operator.

When looking for accommodation, you can decide on your priorities in advance: would you like your stay to focus mainly on city history and garden culture, or does your itinerary include longer activities such as the SeeGang?

The Bodenseekreis District in a Wider Context

The Bodenseekreis district stretches along almost the entire northern shore of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, extending into the Upper Swabian hills and, to the east, the West Allgäu hills. In the Bodenseekreis, the lake and the adjoining hills—with their orchards, vineyards, meadows and forests—shape the landscape; the district has a total of 57.7 kilometres of Lake Constance shoreline.

Cultural attractions in the wider Bodenseekreis destination include the Unteruhldingen pile dwellings, Germany’s oldest open-air archaeological museum. The visitor route includes ARCHAEORAMA, a multimedia show featuring a virtual dive to the pile dwellings in Lake Constance. This regional perspective adds another historical and cultural theme to Überlingen’s own mix of lakeside, city history and gardens.

Discover more destinations: Nußdorf, Tettnang, Roggenbeuren, Immenstaad Am Bodensee, Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Oberteuringen, Meckenbeuren, Meersburg.

View the wider travel overview: Lake Constance.