Have you ever been to Lake Constance? We have to admit that we haven’t been to Germany’s largest lake that often. So it’s all the better that we finally got around to it again this summer. We spent a few really lovely days in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen and got to know Lake Constance from a whole new perspective. We weren’t just out on the water, but also exploring the diverse surroundings. In the following article, we’ll take you on a virtual journey again and show you the most beautiful spots around Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. Are you ready? Well then, cast off and head to Lake Constance!
- Starting point Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
- Uhldingen Mühlhofen: Sights & Highlights
- Staying overnight in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
- Our best restaurant tips
- The Echt Bodensee Card
- Getting to Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
- Conclusion about Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
Starting point: Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
This time, we didn’t go to Lindau, Konstanz, or Friedrichshafen, but to the lakeside holiday community of Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, which is located directly on the shores of Lake Constance between Meersburg and Überlingen. The lakeside holiday community is a merger of the formerly independent communities of Oberuhldingen, Mühlhofen, and Unteruhldingen. Since our accommodation was in Unteruhldingen, we only stayed in this part of the community.
From there, we were able to explore the surrounding area and visit numerous highlights. Directly opposite is the popular island of Mainau, which can be reached by boat in less than 15 minutes. It’s just a 25-minute bike ride to Meersburg or Überlingen, and Konstanz, Lindau, Friedrichshafen, and Bregenz are also not too far away and can be reached by bike, bus, car, or boat.
Uhldingen Mühlhofen: Sights & Highlights
On the following map, we’ve marked our top highlights and sights in and around Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. There’s obviously much more to discover, but you should be well-equipped with our overview to get a good first impression.
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1. Relaxing in Unteruhldingen
Unteruhldingen is located directly on the shores of Lake Constance and awaited us with a summery atmosphere. Here, we strolled along the promenade, lay in hammocks by the marina, let our gaze wander over the lake, and indulged in culinary delights in the restaurants. For us personally, Unteruhldingen was the perfect starting point for exploring the area. Especially because it wasn’t as crowded as, for example, over in Meersburg. Plus, we could easily reach everything on foot.
2. Lake Constance Cruise
To get an initial overview of the surrounding area, we took part in the Guest Welcome Cruise on the first day. This takes place every Monday at 5 p.m. during the season and costs just €6 with a guest card (children up to 5 years old travel free). On the MS Uhldingen, we sailed past the Pile Dwellings Museum and the Birnau Basilica, among other places. The on-board crew provided us with many interesting facts and information about the region during the trip.
In addition to this guest welcome cruise, you can also take numerous other excursions locally, for example, sailing to Mainau Island, Überlingen, Constance, or Meersburg. On the last day of our trip, we took a longer cruise to Überlingen. You can decide whether you want to disembark along the way or simply stay on the ship. Click here for the Lake Constance shipping route network.
3. Visit Birnau Basilica
A highlight of the region is definitely the Birnau Basilica, which sits picturesquely on a hill above Lake Constance. During the welcoming cruise on the first day of our trip, we were able to catch a glimpse of it from the water. It is often referred to as the Baroque jewel of Lake Constance, and quite rightly so. Not only is the view from the basilica stunning, but so is the unique Baroque interior with its many statues and murals.
You shouldn’t miss the Birnau Basilica and should definitely plan a visit. From Unteruhldingen, you can leisurely walk to the church (approx. 45 minutes) or cycle there (approx. 10 minutes). A free guided tour takes place every Thursday (mid-May to mid-September) at 3 p.m. Admission is also free. Attention: Photography inside the church is not permitted without permission!
4. Hiking on the Prelate’s Trail
If you’ve been following us for a while, you certainly know that we love hiking. And here in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, we had the opportunity to do just that. From Unteruhldingen, we first hiked through the idyllic Seefelder Aachmündung nature reserve and then made a short detour to the beautifully landscaped Möking estate with its wine tavern and farm shop. From there, the trail continued for another 20 minutes to the Birnau Church. As already mentioned, you should definitely visit this church!
The so-called Prelate’s Path, which leads from the Birnau pilgrimage church to Salem Castle, is a total of 7 kilometers long and brought us to the next highlight. We first hiked through the lush forest and then continued along a wide field path to the Affenberg Salem. After our visit to the approximately 200 Barbary macaques, we took the bus back to Unteruhldingen (free with the guest card). We highly recommend the tour from Unteruhldingen to the basilica and then to the Affenberg! Click here for more hikes.
5. Wine Tasting at the Birnauer Oberhof
Directly behind the Birnau Basilica is the over 300-year-old Birnauer Oberhof, surrounded by proud vineyards and offering a fantastic view of the Birnau Basilica. First, we were able to take a look at the wine bar’s dining area in the main building and then sample a few wines on the terrace in glorious sunshine. The entire property is beautifully designed and invites you to linger. During the season, lively weddings are celebrated here, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Understandable…with that backdrop!
5. Excursion to the Monkey Mountain in Salem
The excursion to the Affenberg Salem is a real highlight, and not just for children; we also visited the Barbary macaques that live there. Around 200 Barbary macaques live there as if in the wild in a 20-hectare forest. Worldwide, the population is estimated at fewer than 8,000 individuals, which is why the protection of these monkeys has been made a priority. During our walk through the forest, we saw numerous monkeys, some lazing around, while others were playing exuberantly.
But there’s even more to discover on site. Around 50 stork pairs breed on the Affenberg Salem and can be seen in large numbers in their large nests on the roofs. At the end of the 1970s, there were only 15 breeding pairs left in Baden-Württemberg; today, thanks to active reintroduction and the stork station, the population has increased to more than 1,000 pairs. Amazing, right? The grounds also feature a beer garden, a playground, a fallow deer enclosure, a beautiful pond, and a souvenir shop. Admission is €12 for adults and €8 for children between 5 and 14 years.
7. Bike Tour to Meersburg
It’s a wonderful way to cycle along Lake Constance and see one or two highlights. We rented two e-bikes from “Bodensee Fahrradvermietung Bischof” in Unteruhldingen and cycled across to Meersburg in just 25 minutes. Meersburg is a beautiful medieval town on Lake Constance with great sights, such as Meersburg Castle, the New Palace, and the beautiful lake promenade.
It was incredibly enjoyable to stroll through the alleys and explore the small town. Numerous pretty half-timbered houses, magnificent views, cute cafés, and many small shops awaited us. The view over Lake Constance from the New Palace (free) or from the Gutsschänke (it’s best to reserve a seat in advance) is particularly recommended. You’ll find more about Meersburg soon on our blog.
8. SUP & Kayak on Lake Constance
We are absolute water lovers and love exploring regions from the water. Right next to the Mainausicht kiosk is the Klebchen Sailing School, where we rented a SUP and a kayak. We paddled leisurely past the harbor and on to the famous Pile Dwellings Museum. Alternatively, you can rent a license-free motorboat or a pedal boat at the marina.
9. A detour to the Auto and Tractor Museum
An absolute highlight for us in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen was the visit to the Auto-Traktor-Museum. It may sound a bit boring at first, but you should definitely take the time to visit this wonderful museum. It’s not just about tractors and cars, but much more about the last 100 years in the country and in the city. It all revolves around the question: How did people live and work in the past?
Across three floors, you can travel back in time and marvel at 200 tractors, numerous vintage cars, motorcycles, and caravans, in addition to a wide variety of workshops and shops. There are some cool Bobby Cars available for children to whizz through the exhibition. It’s best to allow two hours for the tour and then enjoy a delicious meal in the traditional Jägerhof Restaurant. Admission is €12 for adults and only €6 for children between 6 and 15 years old.
10. The Uhldingen Lake Concerts
During the summer months of June, July, and August, the Uhldingen Lake Concerts take place every Wednesday in Unteruhldingen on the shores of Lake Constance, featuring local music groups and regional singer-songwriters. Weather permitting, you can relax on the lawn, marvel at the sunset, and listen to the sounds and songs of the musicians. Admission is even free. Click here for an overview of the artists: Uhldingen Lake Concerts.
11. Admire the sunset
Speaking of sunsets – here on the shores of Lake Constance, you can experience beautiful sunsets and end the evening in a relaxed manner. Grab a blanket and a cool drink and make yourself comfortable on the lakeshore. Alternatively, you can also make yourself comfortable on one of the benches. On the first evening of our trip, we were lucky with the weather and were able to enjoy an almost cloudless sky.
Staying in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
There are a variety of accommodation options in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. We highly recommend the Pension Antje Ekert, which is in a prime location right in Unteruhldingen. This family-run guesthouse offers various double rooms and holiday apartments. We stayed in a cozy double room and even had a huge balcony with a lake view. The owners are super nice and always up for a chat in the morning. The breakfast buffet is served with great attention to detail and leaves nothing to be desired. Click here for the guesthouse*.
Our best restaurant tips
We highly recommend the Jägerhof restaurant, located directly on the grounds of the Auto-Traktor Museum. Here, we thoroughly enjoyed the hearty Swabian cuisine. We would also like to highlight the stylish ambiance and professional staff. The Mediterra Hotel and Restaurant, where you can order excellent pasta and pizza dishes, is located directly in Unteruhldingen. If you’re feeling a little peckish between meals, we highly recommend a visit to the Häfeli. The Dinnele (a mix of tarte flambée and pizza) are delicious.
Other places to stop for a bite to eat:
- Unteruhldingen Sailing Club e. V.
- Restaurant Terrasse Seehof
- Ulrike Knoblauch Fish Snack Bar
- The Reed Hut MINIBAR 22
The Echt Bodensee Card
Starting with your first night, you’ll receive the so-called “Echt Bodensee Card”. With this guest card, you receive discounts on more than 200 cultural and leisure activities, and can use buses and trains free of charge throughout the Lake Constance-Upper Swabia Transport Association (bodo) area, as well as on other routes. You cannot purchase the Echt Bodensee Card; you will receive it automatically upon arrival. You can read more about this guest card in the following brochure: Echt Bodensee Card.
Getting to Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
Since the lakeside holiday community has its own train station, we were able to travel by train in a relaxed manner. We used the Baden-Württemberg Ticket* to travel via Friedrichshafen to Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. There are hourly train and bus connections to Überlingen and Friedrichshafen. You can, of course, also arrive by car. From Stuttgart, it’s best to take the A81 and then the B31, which will take you to Uhldingen-Mühlhofen (journey time: 2 hours). From Munich, it’s just 2.5 hours to reach the lakeside resort via the A96 and B31.
Conclusion on Uhldingen-Mühlhofen
We had a really nice time in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen on Lake Constance. For us, it was the perfect base from which to explore some of the surrounding highlights. This charming lakeside resort is just the right size and not as crowded as Konstanz, Meersburg, Überlingen, or Friedrichshafen. While in Meersburg, for example, many tourists roam the city streets during the day, making it bustling with activity, in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen you can enjoy the peace and quiet and unwind even during the day.
This lakeside resort offers numerous opportunities to actively explore the beautiful surroundings. Whether it’s a bike tour, hike, SUP, kayak, or boat trip – everyone will find something to suit their needs. At the Uhldingen lido, you can also jump into the crystal-clear Lake Constance in summer and enjoy the summer. We found our days in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen really cool and highly recommend a vacation in this lakeside resort.