Lake Constance best place to stay

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I'm looking ahead for summer 2026 and Lake Constance in Germany is looking appealing.
We will be 2 adults, 10 year old and 13 year old. Enjoy swimming, days out, sightseeing.
Does anyone have any recommendations of accommodation or places to stay.

We plan to fly to Stuttgart and then train so needs to be near a train station.

Looking for somewhere kind of gite style if possible- ie self catering facilities, ideally a terrace or garden (shared garden is fine) - basically somewhere to sit outside with a cuppa in the morning. Close to Lake, lido, etc.

Oooo following! Would love to swing by here en route to lake annecy.

Konstanz itself is lovely - good hotels, but also apartments, and on the main railway line.
Much easier to fly to Zurich than Stuttgart - there is a direct train from Zurich Airport to Konstanz.
It's also pretty easy to travel from Basel.
If you are feeling rich, the Riva is a fab hotel, with its own pool, but you don't necessarily need a pool on site as the Konstanz Therme is the best pool complex, and right by the lake too.
A bit further out, try Wallhausen, and rent an apartment. Nice little lakeside beach.
Bus routes are excellent, and your tourist tax will give you free bus travel, so a bargain.
Meersburg and Uberlingen (via car/foot ferry across the lake) are both nice small towns.
Stick with the German side of the Bodensee, as the Swiss side isn't as special, and more expensive.
Places book up quickly for 2nd(?) Saturday in August due to Seenachtsfest, which features a fantastic fireworks display on the lake.

This is extremely helpful thank you. Apartment sounds perfect. Do you have any recommendations for websites for apartment hunting?

It's a long time ago now but we loved the Airship museum at friedrichshafen. I seem to remember we got a boat across from Konstanz

Another vote for the Thermalbad https://www.therme-konstanz.de/

and the steps down to the ‘crypt’ under the cathedral which only appear (rising up from the cobblestones). My uni town, I had such a great time here. Enjoy.

The German side is definitely better for the views. It’s also easy to get around on the train, boat or bikes. If you are planning a two week trip you could do a week at Lindau or Wasserburg and then a week at the Meersburg/Konstanz end.

Lindau would be a good base for a week. You can swim in the lake or go to the outdoor pool on the lake (there’s one in Lindau and another in Wasserburg where you can also hire SUPs or try other watersports) Lindau has good train connections for day trips to Austria or Liechtenstein. In Bregenz you can get the cable car up the Pfänder mountain for fantastic mountain and lake views.
At the other end of the lake, Meersburg is lovely.
As well as the tourist boats you can get the Katamaran from Friedrichshafen to Konstanz which takes an hour. Going to the island Mainau is also a great day trip. The Rhein falls are also worth a trip.

Flying into Zurich, Basel or Memmingen are alternative options with good train connections.

Here’s the local tourist guide in english. It also has an accommodation section but it might just be in German!
https://www.bodensee.eu/en

This site has accommodation but looks to just be in German.
https://www.bodensee.de

Perfect.
I'll get the old Google translate out

Sorry, no, as we have always used hotels. But, I think decide where you want to be first of all and that will help to narrow the search for accommodation.

Thanks for all your tips. Found a lovely looking little guesthouse in Wasserburg near the lido not far from Lindau. Lovely looking garden shared between about 5 holiday apartments in the chalet which each have their own private balcony so looks ideal.

I’m also planning on going to Lake Constance in Aug 2026. What is the name of the accommodation you’ve found?

https://www.gutensohn-wasserburg.de/

Hopefully the link works

Thank you

Another vote for Lindau - we spent a few days there in September. Lovely island town. Probably not a choice for families but the Hotel Villino was excellent with a wonderful tasting menu and the most fantastic breakfast that we’ve ever experienced. Walks through the local apple plantations (like vineyards but with apples) were also very pleasant.