Konstanz
Konstanz is about 344 km from Geneva Airport, a drive of around 3 h 35 min via Bern, Zurich and Frauenfeld, crossing into Germany at Kreuzlingen. The largest town on Lake Constance, it is a lively university city with a well-preserved medieval old town, a busy harbour and two famous islands nearby. AirportsTransfers.ch drives you straight to your hotel, without changing trains in Zurich or Weinfelden.
- Distance from GVA: about 344 km by road
- Drive time: around 3 h 35 min
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into Germany at Kreuzlingen
- Known for: the Council of Constance, the harbour and Imperia statue, the old town
- Nearby: Mainau and Reichenau islands, Meersburg, Kreuzlingen
Getting there from Geneva Airport
The drive takes the A1 motorway from Geneva through Lausanne, Bern and Zurich, then the A7 past Frauenfeld to Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance. Konstanz begins right at the Swiss border, and the two towns have grown together, so you cross into Germany as you enter the city.
Traffic around Zurich and, on Saturdays, at the border crossings into Konstanz can slow the last stretch, as many Swiss residents come to shop. Arriving on a weekday or in the evening is usually smoother.
History: the Council of Constance
From 1414 to 1418 Konstanz hosted the Council of Constance, a major church council that ended the Western Schism. In 1417 it elected Pope Martin V, the only papal election held north of the Alps. The large medieval warehouse on the harbour where the conclave met is known as the Konzil and is still used for events.
At the harbour entrance, the rotating Imperia statue, a satirical modern sculpture of a courtesan holding a pope and an emperor, recalls the council's era in a playful way. Konstanz's position right next to Switzerland meant that the old town was largely spared bombing in the Second World War, which is why so many medieval and Renaissance buildings survive.
The old town and the lake
The old town, with the Minster of Our Lady on its highest point, is a maze of lanes and squares lined with painted façades. The Niederburg, the oldest quarter near the Rhine, has narrow alleys and small wine taverns. Along the lakefront, the harbour, promenade and city garden are the place for an evening stroll, and the Rhine flows out of the lake past the old town.
Konstanz is a university city, with students giving it a young, relaxed atmosphere. In summer, lake swimming at public bathing areas is a local habit, and boats connect Konstanz with towns around the lake in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Where to stay and day trips
The old town and the lakefront are the most attractive places to stay, close to the harbour and restaurants. Areas near the station are practical, and Kreuzlingen, on the Swiss side, is a quieter alternative within walking distance of the centre.
- Mainau, the flower island, with gardens and a baroque palace
- Reichenau, a UNESCO-listed island with early medieval churches
- Meersburg, across the lake by car ferry, with its old castle
- Stein am Rhein and the Rhine Falls
- Lindau and Bregenz at the eastern end of the lake
Practical tips
Konstanz uses the euro, though Swiss francs are often accepted near the border at less favourable rates. Keep a passport or ID card with you. The city is busy on Saturdays with cross-border shoppers and on summer weekends with lake visitors; spring and early autumn are calmer and still pleasant on the water. Shops close on Sundays.
The car ferry between Konstanz and Meersburg is a pleasant way to reach the northern shore, and the boat trip itself offers fine views of the town. Local food draws on the lake and the surrounding farmland: whitefish known as Felchen, Swabian and Baden dishes such as Maultaschen and Flammkuchen, and wines from the vineyards around the lake, including light reds and Müller-Thurgau whites.
For a stay of several days, the Bodensee region is easy to explore by boat and train, but a chauffeur by the hour can be useful for a day that combines Mainau, Reichenau and Meersburg, or for business visits across the Swiss and German sides of the lake.
Booking your Konstanz transfer
On AirportsTransfers.ch the fixed price for your vehicle is shown before you pay, with secure online payment by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The chauffeur monitors your flight and meets you in arrivals with a name sign, with waiting time included if you are late. Students moving to the university with luggage can take a V-Class, conference visitors an E-Class or S-Class with an invoice, and families can ask for child seats. Contact +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp.
