The Best Hotels to Book in and Around Lindau, Germany

This bright, airy hotel is on a leafy street close to the lake. Its contemporary Scandinavian-style vibe will appeal to travellers who appreciate uncluttered, simple surroundings. Clean lines and a neutral colour palette are livened up by bold splashes of turquoise and warm wooden floors. Choose a room with a balcony or terrace looking out over Lake Constance to capitalise on the view. Breakfast is included.

The seventh generation of Schielins now run Hotel Bad Schachen. Hospitality is in their blood – the property has been in the family since 1752. With an outdoor pool and direct access onto the lake, this art nouveau hotel is a real treat. Dining options include the charming Fischerstube – try the fillet of beef cooked in a copper pot, a house speciality. Make the most of the spa with a sauna and indoor pool during the cooler months.

As the name suggests, YachtHotel Helvetia enjoys a harbour location, overlooking the lake. This sophisticated boutique features unique wellness suites, including a Japanese-themed room where you can indulge in a kobayashi bathing ceremony, and a Swiss mountain suite with wood cladding and a river stone shower. For the ultimate Lake Constance stay, sleep on board one of the hotel’s two luxury motorboats, which are moored opposite the hotel. Waterski and wakeboard boat hire is also available.

The Sonnenhof was built as a private villa in 1908 on a hill near Kressbronn, just outside Lindau. It overlooks Lake Constance and beyond it, the snow-capped peaks of the Alps. But this is no staid grand dame – instead, a recent redevelopment has given the place a contemporary makeover. Now, you’ll find an upscale hotel with a focus on wellness: expect an impressive indoor pool, sauna, spa and fitness centre. Yoga classes take place on the lawn. Even the hotel’s water supply has been self-purified, according to the principles set out by inventor Johann Grander.

Four medieval houses comprise this lovingly restored boutique hotel, right in the heart of Lindau’s old town. 13th-century architectural features – like stone walls and exposed original beams – sit alongside 21st-century touches such as Nespresso machines. Rooms are individually designed and have bags of personality. Ask for the Top Suite 12, which has a roll-top bath and its own private roof terrace. Make sure you book at table at on-site Restaurant Karrisma, which serves up artfully presented nouveau cuisine.

Claudia Herwig and her family run this delightful country inn. Beyond its historic listed facade lies an impeccably renovated hotel that skilfully marries rustic charm with modern amenities. Rooms are simply styled, combining wooden beds with fluffy duvets and crisp white linen. Meals are taken in a classically furnished, wood-panelled dining room – but in summer it’s hard to resist the temptation to eat outdoors in the hotel’s popular beer garden.

In 1991, Sonja and Reiner Fischer clapped eyes on a rundown carpenter’s workshop in the middle of an apple orchard. They saw what others could not: potential. The Fischers transformed the building into a successful, luxurious boutique hotel, which today is one of Lindau’s most sought-after properties. A few years later, the quality of its food was recognised as it received its first Michelin star. Soon after, Sonja’s brother came on board as chief sommelier bringing a passion for wine. As a consequence, this family-run hotel is a must for gastronomes and oenophiles.

Wellness takes centre stage at this Bodensee hotel, which offers yoga and spa treatments for guests. In addition, acclaimed golf course architect Robert Trent Jones designed the challenging 18-hole championship course affiliated to this resort. But even if you choose not to play, the restaurant sun terrace overlooking the first tee is a great place to unwind. Spacious, light-filled rooms overlook the course and adjacent gardens.

The Hotel Engel is one of the oldest inns in Lindau. It’s thought to have been built in 1390, with the first written records dating from 1589. The dining room retains much of its original character – grab a seat in the bay window if you can. In the Engel’s ale parlour, talk still turns to the bull that once ran amok inside before jumping through a window to escape. The hotel’s unfussy rooms provide a calm bolthole, so there’s no need for you to do the same.

Is there anything better than a hotel combined with a pastry shop? Indulge in deliciously flaky apfelstrudel or a chocolate-drizzled doughnut after checking into this cute property on the Lindau mainland, built over a century ago in art nouveau style. The good news is that you can indulge in those sweet treats guilt-free: the hotel rents out bicycles. Take a quick spin over to the old town or explore further afield on lakeside trails.