Lindau is a small Bavarian town on an island in Lake Constance (the Bodensee), connected to the mainland by a road causeway and a railway bridge. The setting is exceptional — the old town sits on the island while the Alpine peaks of Austria and Switzerland rise across the water.
The harbour entrance, guarded by a lighthouse and a stone lion, is one of the most recognisable views on the lake. The old town itself is compact, with late-medieval and Renaissance buildings, a pedestrianised main street, and views of the water from almost everywhere you walk. The town hall and the Church of St Peter, which contains a fresco cycle attributed to Hans Holbein the Elder, are the main architectural landmarks.
Lindau is also a natural base for exploring the Bodensee — ferries cross to Bregenz in Austria and Konstanz in Germany, and cycling around the lake shore is popular. The town gets crowded in summer; spring and early autumn are more comfortable.