The harbour entrance, guarded by a stone lion and a 19th-century lighthouse, is Lindau's defining image and one of the most photographed spots in Bavaria. From the harbour walls you look out across Lake Constance to the Austrian shore at Bregenz and, on clear days, to the Alps rising behind it. Ferries depart regularly for Bregenz, Konstanz, and other lake towns; even a short crossing gives a completely different perspective on Lindau and the lake.
The harbour front is lined with cafes and restaurants that are predictably tourist-oriented but hard to resist on a warm afternoon. The real pleasure is simply walking out to the lion and the lighthouse on the breakwater — the view back toward the old town, with the Mangturm and the rooflines rising above the harbour, is excellent.