Friedrichshafen sits at the southern edge of Germany on the northern shore of Lake Constance. Its place in aviation history was made by the works Ferdinand von Zeppelin founded here: the first airship flew over this lake in 1900, and the Zeppelin Museum now holds the most comprehensive collection on airship travel in the world. The lake is shared between Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the Alps are visible on the far shore in clear weather, and ferries cross between the three countries. The town is also where the Dornier aircraft works were established.
Looking for cheap flights or monthly payment flight packages to Friedrichshafen?
Suso is a travel-planning platform that turns your Friedrichshafen trip from Turkey into a buy now, pay later flight package: the ticket is issued by travel agencies, booking sites or airlines, and the payment plan runs on consumer credit from partner finance institutions. One click in the basket completes the purchase and the financing together; you pay over 3 to 24 months. No credit card limit needed.
See flights to Friedrichshafen →When to visit Friedrichshafen
May to September is the season around the lake, with daytime temperatures between 20C and 27C, ferries on their full timetable and the lakeside cycle path in use. July and August are the busiest months and rooms fill early. November to March is cold and foggy with reduced ferry services, and in December the lakeside towns hold Christmas markets.
Things to do in Friedrichshafen
Zeppelin Museum
Housed in the Bauhaus style harbour station of 1932, the museum holds the largest collection in the world devoted to the history of airships. At its centre is a 33 metre full scale reconstruction of the passenger section of LZ 129 Hindenburg, which can be entered to see the cabins and the dining room.
Dornier Museum
Opened in 2009 beside the airport, the museum covers more than a century of aircraft and space technology from the works founded by Claude Dornier. Aircraft and helicopter airframes and satellite models are displayed in the hangar shaped building, and some of the aircraft can be entered.
Moleturm and the Lake Constance shore
The 22 metre Moleturm lookout at the end of the harbour mole gives a view of the lake, the pier and, in clear weather, the Alps on the far shore. The waterfront below it runs unbroken through the parks, and the Lake Constance cycle path starting here circles the whole lake through three countries over about 260 kilometres.
Schlosskirche Friedrichshafen
Built between 1695 and 1701, the baroque castle church shapes the town's skyline with its two onion domed towers on the lakefront. It was founded as a monastery church, later became part of the summer palace of the kings of Wurttemberg, and is still in use for worship.
Meersburg
The town about 18 kilometres west of Friedrichshafen is known for its half timbered houses stacked up the slope above the water. Meersburg Castle on the hill counts as the oldest inhabited castle in Germany, and the town is reached by road or by lake ferry.
Mainau Island
The island of about 45 hectares in the northwest of the lake is laid out entirely as a botanical garden and is known as the Flower Island. Its baroque palace and butterfly house are visited along with the grounds, with tulips and orchids in spring and the rose collection in summer.
Flights from Turkey to Friedrichshafen
Direct flights to Friedrichshafen from Turkey depart from Antalya, take about 2 hours 55 minutes, and are operated by Corendon Airlines. The route is seasonal and runs mainly in summer. From Istanbul the trip requires a connection through Frankfurt, Munich or Zurich, and Friedrichshafen is about two hours from Zurich and three from Munich by train.
Friedrichshafen FAQ
How many days do you need in Friedrichshafen?
The town itself and its two museums fill about a day and a half. Adding Meersburg, Lindau, Mainau Island and Konstanz on the Swiss side calls for four or five days, since the lake is a region toured by ferry and bicycle.
How far is the airport from the town centre?
Bodensee Airport is about 3 kilometres from the centre, an 8 minute drive, and its own railway station connects to the centre in a few minutes. The Dornier Museum is right next to the airport.
Do you need a visa for Germany?
Germany is in the Schengen area and a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Crossing to Switzerland or Austria around the lake is easy, and since Switzerland is also in the Schengen area the same visa applies.
Buy now, pay later flights to Friedrichshafen
Fly now, pay later. Plan your trip, pay over up to 24 months. One click at checkout sets up the plan, no credit card limit needed.
Search flights to Friedrichshafen →