The lakeside promenade runs from the harbour along the edge of Lake Constance, with the Festspielhaus at one end and the Mehrerau Abbey direction at the other. It is the social spine of Bregenz: in summer the lakeside fills with swimmers, cyclists, and people eating ice cream; in winter the empty promenade and the vast grey lake have their own austere appeal.
The harbour area has a small beach where swimming is possible (and popular) in summer, with the Alps visible across the water on a clear day. Ferries depart from the Bregenz harbour to Lindau, Konstanz, and other Lake Constance towns — a boat trip is an easy and pleasurable half-day excursion. Bicycles can be rented at the station, and the cycling path around part of the lake (the Bodensee Radweg, one of Europe's classic cycling routes) starts here.