Konstanz
Lakefront Life on the Swiss Border
Explore the Town ↓Life in Konstanz
Lake views, old streets and Switzerland next door: Konstanz has a wonderfully open setting. University life and access to Zurich add practical appeal to the lakeside location.
Konstanz is a medieval lake city where the Rhine leaves Lake Constance. Its old town was spared in the war, its streets run straight into Switzerland, and islands of flowers, monasteries and the Alps lie across the water.
Konstanz offers lake-and-Alps living, with Zurich airport and its many US routes roughly an hour away. It is a university town with year-round life and some of the loveliest surroundings in Europe.
- The whole city is in seismic zone 2, the list’s highest band.
- Swiss buyers push prices up.
- Expect a 5 percent purchase tax, then a yearly second-home tax of 35 percent of the rental value.
- The lakeshore can flood.
- Zurich airport is about an hour away by road, or 1 hr 5 min by the fastest train.
- Zurich city is 1 hr 17 min away.
- A round-the-clock car ferry crosses the lake to Meersburg.
- Region / State
- Landkreis Konstanz, Regierungsbezirk Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg · Große Kreisstadt and district seat
- Population
- 86,691 at 31 December 2025 (official register, Census 2022 basis)
- Setting
- On Lake Constance where the Rhine leaves the upper lake; old town on the south bank, contiguous with Kreuzlingen in Switzerland; the Bodanrück peninsula to the north
- Heritage
- The Council of Constance, 1414 to 1418 · the Konzilgebäude on the harbor · the minster · the Niederburg quarter · Reichenau Island, a UNESCO site, nearby
- What Makes It Distinct
- Lake, Alps and an open border with Switzerland, with Zurich's US flights about an hour away
- Inside the Full Atlas
- 27 pages on Konstanz, within the 235-page Germany Atlas.
Konstanz & Its Surroundings
Wander the streets, waterways and neighboring towns before you go.
The pin marks the town center. The live map needs an internet connection.
A Closer Look at Konstanz
Look Beyond the View
Fall for the view, then choose with clear eyes. The full Atlas explains the natural risks checked for this town and where a property deserves a closer look.
- See which natural hazards the research covers
- Tell town-wide conditions apart from one address
- Take the right questions to a local specialist
Picture the Journey
The town you love should be easy to reach, again and again. The full Atlas lays out how you get here, from the arrival point to the final stretch.
- Compare the main ways to get here
- Plan for repeat visits and everyday trips
- Weigh the trade-offs before you pick a base
Find Your Reasons to Stay
The places you remember mix scenery, streets and local life. The town chapter takes you past the first impression to the character underneath.
- Explore the setting, landmarks and local culture
- Discover what makes this town its own
- Picture the pleasures of a longer stay
Renting It While You’re Away
Thinking of renting your home out while you’re away? The Atlas sets the rental questions and local context right beside the place itself.
- Learn which rules and permits to check
- Gauge likely visitors and seasonal demand
- Weigh the practical limits on renting it out
Imagine an Ordinary Week
The view draws you in. Everyday life helps you decide. The full chapter covers the services and practical details of living here beyond a vacation.
- Check healthcare and everyday services
- Picture the shops, connections and daily routines
- See what life is like outside the busy season
Konstanz and Around, in 8 Pictures
Images from the Atlas, each with its own source and edit notes.
Summary of the Germany Atlas, edition of 26 September 2026. The town order is our editorial ranking. About the Dossier.