Mainau Island: The Flower Island on Lake Constance

late March – May Tulip spring

Over a million bulbs – tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in vast carpets along the "spring avenue" (Frühlingsallee). Magnolias and fruit trees bloom too. If you can't make it to the Netherlands, this is the nearest thing to a "little Keukenhof".

June – July Roses

The Italian rose garden below the palace, with ~450 rose varieties in full bloom. Add the flowering palm terraces and the Mediterranean section – thanks to the lake, the island enjoys an exceptionally mild microclimate.

August – October Dahlias

The dahlia garden holds ~12,000 plants of hundreds of varieties – one of the biggest dahlia displays in Europe. Every year visitors vote for the Dahlia Queen. Inspiration for your own bed: how to grow dahlias.

year-round Butterfly house and arboretum

Germany's second-largest butterfly house, with tropical butterflies fluttering freely around visitors, a palm house and an arboretum with 150-year-old sequoias and cedars.

🚗 How to get there

Fly to Zurich – Mainau is about an hour's drive away – or to Friedrichshafen just across the lake. There's no driving onto the island itself: you park at the entrance and walk across the bridge (~10 minutes from the car park). The romantic option: a boat from Konstanz or Meersburg, both of which call at the island.

⏱️ How much time to allow

At least 4–5 hours; with children easily a full day – the island has a large natural playground and a petting farm. Combine it with a visit to Konstanz, the flower town of Meersburg, or the Rhine Falls (30 minutes by car).

💡 When to arrive

On weekends in the main season, arrive for opening at 9:00 – the coach tours roll in after 11:00. Weekdays are noticeably quieter. Most of the island is step-free and easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.