Lake Constance — Bodensee in German — sits where Germany, Switzerland and Austria meet, and has one of the warmest summer microclimates in central Europe. The lake is large enough to feel almost like an inland sea, and the surrounding countryside is green, hilly and dotted with vineyards.
There are pretty resort towns all along the shore. Meersburg is one of the finest, surrounded by vineyards with half-timbered houses and a castle claimed to be the oldest inhabited in Germany. The island of Mainau, accessible by bridge from the northern shore, is famous for its lush subtropical gardens. Lindau, at the eastern end where the lake touches Bavaria, has a picturesque old town on an island in the harbour. On the Swiss side, the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen are the largest waterfall in Europe.
The lake offers sailing, swimming, cycling along the shore, and ferry services connecting the German and Swiss sides — the crossing from Friedrichshafen to Romanshorn takes about 40 minutes.