Camping with dogs at Lake Constance

There are three countries to choose from when camping with your dog on Lake Constance. There are dog-friendly campsites on Lake Constance near Bregenz in Austria, near Egnach in Switzerland and in several towns on the German shore of the lake. Dogs are allowed in some interesting museums and can join you on the boat and other activities. Dog beaches and comfortable pitches with dog showers and other amenities for four-legged friends await pet-loving guests.

Destinations

Camping with your dog on Lake Constance in Germany, Austria or Switzerland? Each of the three countries has its own advantages and highlights: In the north of Lake Constance lies the resort town of Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, where those interested in culture can visit the Lake Dwelling Museum and the Birnau pilgrimage church. Adventure-seekers can discover the island of Mainau by boat and active holidaymakers can cycle along the Lake Constance cycle path or hike along the 2 km long historical time trail with 20 stations. Camping Birnau-Maurach is located near Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. The location is ideal for dog owners: between the campsite and the lake lies the Lake Constance cycle path, which is perfect for walks and bike rides. Not only bicycles, but also e-bikes can be hired on site.

The 4-star Camping Seehorn is another dog-friendly campsite on Lake Constance and is located near Egnach in Switzerland. Dogs are welcome here and can enjoy their own dog shower on site. The idyllic municipality of Egnach boasts picturesque fields and forests as well as plenty of peace and quiet. For camping with dogs on Lake Constance in Austria, take a closer look at Seecamping Bregenz. This site has a bathing beach with sunbathing lawn and the centre of Bregenz is just 2 km away. In this region, you can hike with your dog to the Pfänder, which is part of the Allgäu Alps. It is also known as Bregenz's local mountain and offers visitors a fascinating view over Lake Constance.

Top tips

• Dogs are not welcome on all beaches on Lake Constance, so it's important to know the best dog beaches when camping with your four-legged friend. In the German town of Lindau, the best place to go is Eichwaldstraße, a great natural beach.
• When camping in Austria, visit the beach in Lochau. This is the only dog beach on the shores of Lake Constance in this country.
• And which dog beach should you choose in Switzerland? The eastern part of the beach near Altnau is reserved for your beloved four-legged friends. Here, dogs can romp around not only on the shore, but also in the refreshing water, and there is a kiosk in the nearby harbour building for refreshments.

Activities and excursions

Excursions are not always the easiest thing to do with a dog, but there are plenty of activities on Lake Constance that you can do with your furry companion.

Exploring Lake Constance on the water

Wonderful regions can be discovered not only by hiking and cycling around Lake Constance, but also by taking a boat trip. You can also take your dog along on one or other of the watercraft, for example by hiring a pedal boat: it is best if it is equipped with a sun canopy so that there is plenty of shade on the lake. More leisurely holidaymakers can forgo paddling and hire a small motorboat - with the less powerful models, you don't need a Lake Constance skipper's licence and can therefore glide relaxed on the water even without a boating licence. You can stop in the middle of the water and swim a lap in the pleasant lake. You can also visit various shore locations or sail around the island of Lindau. There are also plenty of hire stations on the shores of this town with a wide selection of boats and ships. If you want to change the shore of Lake Constance to the Swiss border, you can take a catamaran from Friedrichshafen to Constance - dogs are also allowed on board here.

A community that has a lot to offer

The Lake Dwelling Museum in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen is particularly interesting. It is located directly on Lake Constance and you can marvel at reconstructions of pile dwellings from the past. Dogs are welcome in this archaeological museum. Nearby is the Unteruhldingen-Stollenwiesen pile-dwelling site, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also worth a visit. Dogs are also allowed on a lead at the Car and Tractor Museum in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. Here you can stroll through a historic farming village with typical equipment and tools and marvel at an old tractor from 1906, followed by over 100 cars, including chic limousines from the 1920s and small cars from the post-war period.

Events

The one or other event at Lake Constance enriches your camping holiday: sporting activities and great outdoor festivals can also be visited with your dog.

March

• Narrensprung: A particularly large number of carnival groups parade from Lindau town centre to Lindau Island with music and colourful masks.

May

• Pfahlbau Marathon: At this event in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, you can compete in various disciplines - such as half marathons or Nordic walking - or simply watch.

July

• Harbour festival: This festival in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen offers a market, a boat race and many other programme items.

November - December

• Bregenz Christmas market: Nativity scenes with live animals, stalls selling arts and crafts as well as culinary specialities and much more await visitors to Bregenz city centre in winter.