"Zeppelin to your heart's content!" Top 5 Page for this destination Friedrichshafen by CatherineReichardt

Friedrichshafen Travel Guide: 36 reviews and 95 photos

We travelled to Friedrichshafen on the sadly now defunct Ryanair route from Stansted. You've got to love Tony O'Leary - he's an objectionably arrogant piece of ectoplasm who would charge you for breathing on one of his planes if he thought that he could get away with it, but you have grudgingly acknowledge that he has brought a whole range of obscure and fascinating travel destinations within reach of us budget travellers! (For those interested in more on this fascinating theme, I would strongly suggest reading "How low can you go?" by Tom Chesshyre, a hilarious account of the author's travels on low cost airlines to destinations he has either never heard of and/or can't pronounce).

For us, the attraction of Friedrichshafen was that it was the 'home base' of the Zeppelin fleet, and obviously its location on the shore of gorgeous Bodensee (Lake Constance) was hardly a disadvantage! Yet another attraction was the network of ferries that shuttle up and down the lake, which provide a viable alternative to car rental.

Bodensee may not be a 'top ten' destination for English-speaking tourists, but it is immensely popular with Germans. Having said that, Friedrichshafen seems not to be quite as popular with tourists as more established Bodensee destinations such as Lindau, Konstanz and Meersburg. This is a pity, because Friedrichshafen is a congenial place to spend a few days, but also a boon, as it doesn't experience the same pressure of numbers in the high season (except for the terrific Zeppelin museum).

One of the joys of Friedrichshafen is that the transport hubs and the main attraction - the Zeppelin museum - are so closely spaced. The quay from which the ferry departs abuts the museum, and the railway station (which links to the airport) is the other side of the museum building. The lakeshore is a lovely place to promenade, and although Friedrichshafen isn't as scenic as Lindau or as historic at Konstanz, it still has an awful lot going for it, and makes an excellent base from which to explore the fascinating Bodensee region.

One day when I'm rich and grown up, I will return and treat myself to the Zeppelin flight!

Pros and Cons

Pros:The Zeppelin museum is a 'must see'
Cons:Not as many obvious tourist attractions as some other Bodensee towns
In a nutshell:An underrated town that makes a good base from which to explore Bodensee

Last visit to Friedrichshafen: Jul 2006
Intro Updated Sep 14, 2010
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (5)

Explore Bodensee by boat Transportation (1)

By far the nicest way to explore Bodensee (Lake Constance) is by ferry. There is an extensive network of ferry routes... more travel advice

Enjoy a classical concert at the Schlosskirche - Friedrichshafen

Enjoy a classical concert at the... Things to Do (3)

Although the Schlosskirche is located on the lake shore a couple of kilometres west of Friedrichshafen's town centre,... more travel advice

Stroll along Friedrichshafen's lovely lake shore - Friedrichshafen

Stroll along Friedrichshafen's lovely... Things to Do (3)

The problem with having a single major tourist attraction in a town is that people tend to simply 'tick it off' and move... more travel advice

Zeppelin museum and Friedrichshafen quay - Friedrichshafen

The extraordinary Zeppelin museum Things to Do (3)

Despite having one of the dullest website sites I've ever had the misfortune to peruse, the Zeppelin museum in... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (1)
Guidance on photography in churches:...

Been to Friedrichshafen?
Share your travels with the world!

Comments (4)

Reply
- Report abuse
Vienna0815 Sep 5, 2011 at 12:54 PM

If only we could board now the real thing, that is what I also mean !
Reply
- Report abuse
Appenzeller Aug 26, 2011 at 6:10 AM

Sometimes the Zeppelins are flying over my hometown, its always great to see them flying!
Reply
- Report abuse
rexvaughan Aug 24, 2011 at 9:54 AM

Thanks, Cathy, for your helpful and interesting tips and comments. We hope to get to Baden-Wurtemburg one day.
Reply
- Report abuse
fabrice Sep 26, 2010 at 2:21 AM

it is so beautiful, I could live there right now