Where to stay in Lindau
Lindau's most atmospheric lodging is on the island itself, in the old town near the harbour, where painted houses and lake views come at a premium and parking is tight. Mainland Lindau (Reutin and the lakeshore) offers more choice, easier parking, and better value within a short walk or bus of the island, and the shore villages stretch the budget further. The town is a rail and ferry hub, so a car-free stay is easy. Lake- and harbour-view rooms are the thing to chase.
Price level
$$$
Getting there
Train-friendly
Ideal stay
2 nights
Best months
May, June, July
Best areas to stay in Lindau
Where to base yourself, and who each area suits best.
The island old town
The medieval heart by the harbour, with characterful hotels, painted facades, and the lake on the doorstep, but tight parking.
Best for: Couples and first-timers who want charm, the harbour, and a no-car stay.
Mainland Lindau (Reutin & the lakeshore)
The larger mainland town with more hotels, the main station, easier parking, and the lakeside promenade, a short walk or bus to the island.
Best for: Drivers and value-seekers who want convenience close to the old town.
Lakeshore & Bad Schachen
Quieter lakefront spots west of the centre, with garden hotels, a grand spa hotel, and swimming.
Best for: Wellness travelers and couples after a calmer, leafy lakeside base.
Bodensee villages (toward Wasserburg, Nonnenhorn)
Pretty wine-and-orchard villages along the German shore, with smaller hotels and the same lake.
Best for: Drivers wanting a peaceful, well-priced shore base near Lindau.
What each price tier buys you
A quick sense of what to expect, and what to spend, across the range in Lindau.
Pensions and guesthouses on the mainland and in the shore villages keep costs down; the island and lakefront command more.
Comfortable three- and four-star hotels cluster on the island and along the mainland shore, the sweet spot for most.
The top end is the historic lakeside spa hotel at Bad Schachen and a few smart island and harbour-view houses.
Live prices and availability for your dates.
Booking tips for Lindau
- A harbour- or lake-view room on the island is the splurge that defines a Lindau stay, but book early and expect tight parking.
- Staying on the mainland (Reutin) is cheaper and easier for drivers, with the island a short walk over the bridge.
- Lindau is a ferry hub, so base near the harbour to make car-free day trips to Bregenz, Mainau, and the Swiss shore easy.
Where to stay in Lindau, your questions
The practical questions travelers ask most when choosing a base here.
- Where is the best area to stay in Lindau?
- The island old town is the classic choice, the medieval heart by the harbour, with characterful hotels, painted facades, and the lake on the doorstep, but tight parking. Lindau's most atmospheric lodging is on the island itself, in the old town near the harbour, where painted houses and lake views come at a premium and parking is tight. Mainland Lindau (Reutin and the lakeshore) offers more choice, easier parking, and better value within a short walk or bus of the island, and the shore villages stretch the budget further. The town is a rail and ferry hub, so a car-free stay is easy. Lake- and harbour-view rooms are the thing to chase.
- Is Lindau expensive to stay in?
- Lindau is mid-range compared with other Alpine bases. Comfortable three- and four-star hotels cluster on the island and along the mainland shore, the sweet spot for most.
- Do you need a car in Lindau?
- No, Lindau is train-friendly and walkable, so most visitors base themselves centrally and travel by rail and lift.
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Other Bavarian Alps bases
Weigh Lindau against the other handpicked towns in the region.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
$$$Bavaria's premier alpine resort, under Germany's highest peak.
Berchtesgaden
$$$Königssee, the Eagle's Nest, and Germany's most dramatic corner.
Füssen
$$$The gateway to Neuschwanstein and the storybook castles.
Oberammergau
$$$Painted houses, woodcarvers, and the famous Passion Play.
Mittenwald
$$$A violin-making town under the Karwendel's sheer walls.
Tegernsee
$$$$Munich's elegant lake, spas, breweries, and mountain backdrops.
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