The Zeppelin Museum is the undisputed highlight of Friedrichshafen. Housed in the landmarked Hafenbahnhof (harbour station) on the lakefront, it tells the full story of rigid airship development from Count von Zeppelin's first flight over the Bodensee in 1900 to the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. The centrepiece is a full-scale reconstruction of a 33-metre section of the LZ 129 Hindenburg, complete with original passenger cabins, the dining salon, and the smoking room — a remarkably intimate space for a vehicle the length of two jumbo jets. Scale models, original engine gondolas, and archival footage fill the surrounding halls. The museum also covers the broader art and culture of the Weimar era in a separate wing.
Allow at least two hours. The audio guide is excellent and adds context that the labels alone don't quite give.