Essentials
- City
- Lindau (Bodensee), Bavaria, Germany
- Population
- 25,500
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-250 Mbps via Telekom Fiber or Vodafone Cable
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Sparkasse Schwaben-Bodensee, Volksbank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality from Lake Constance
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telekom (best coverage), Vodafone, O2. Prepaid ~€15/10GB
- Banking for Expats
- N26, Revolut, or Deutsche Bank for local IBAN
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local Ferienwohnungen (FeWo)
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate. Cards accepted in hotels/shops, cash often required at small kiosks/biergartens
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Lindau-Ferienwohnungen.de, Mieterbund Lindau
- Budget Accommodation
- Jugendherberge Lindau (Youth Hostel) at Herbergsweg 11, approx. €45/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lindau Island (Insel) for historic charm and lake views
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Aeschach or Reutin for better long-term rental rates and supermarkets
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Coworking Lindau (Kemptener Str. 99) - Day pass approx. €25
- Best Cafe for Work
- Café Collos (Insel) - Good Wi-Fi and quiet mornings; Coffee €4.20
- Networking Events
- Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (Academic focus), local Startup Bodensee meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Lindau Facebook Group, weekly Stammtisch at Wissingers im Schlechterbräu
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Taxi Lindau (+49 8382 6006). Uber/Bolt are not active here.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Fahrradvermietung Unger (Bregenzer Str. 103) - €15/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lindenhofbad (Schachener Str. 212) - Beautiful park and lake access
- Top Regional Airline
- Lufthansa (via Friedrichshafen Airport - FDH, 25km away)
- Top International Airline
- Swiss / Austrian Airlines (via Zurich ZRH or Munich MUC)
- Highway Access
- A96 (Lindau - Munich) and B31 (Lake Constance belt)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Lindau-Reutin (Mainline) and Lindau-Insel (Historic station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Stadtbus Lindau (Month pass ~€55), Deutschland-Ticket (€49/month)
- Regional Travel
- ÖBB (Trains to Austria/Switzerland), BSB (Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe ferry)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Asklepios Klinik Lindau (Friedrichshafen Str. 15)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Lindau (Bregenzer Str. 49); Therme Lindau (Spa & Sauna)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Clever Fit Lindau (Kemptener Str. 1); Month pass ~€35
- Laundry Services
- SB-Waschsalon Lindau (Reutin area) ~€5 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Lieferando is the primary provider
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bodensee-Felchen (Lake Constance whitefish) with potatoes
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Karitma (Insel) - Indian/Vegetarian fusion
- Best Dessert Spots
- Eisdiele am Hafen (Harbor ice cream) - €1.80 per scoop
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lindaupark Mall (Reutin) for Aldi, Rewe, and dm
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.de, Zalando.de, eBay.de
- Grocery Delivery
- Rewe Lieferservice
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Maximilianstrasse (Island) and the Harbor front bars
- Local Brewery
- Lindauer Hell (from Aktienbrauerei Kaufbeuren / local distributors)
- Wine Bars
- Vinothek am Hafen - Great local Müller-Thurgau wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Wochenmarkt Lindau (Wednesday/Saturday on the Island)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ristorante Pizzeria Il Gambero (Italian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Mangturm, Bavarian Lion Sculpture, and the New Lighthouse
- Museums & Art Venues
- Stadtmuseum Lindau (Cavazzen) - Famous for modern art exhibitions
- Historical Sites
- Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) with colorful 15th-century frescoes
- Religious Sites
- Munster Unserer Lieben Frau (St. Mary’s Cathedral)
- Annual Events
- Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (June), Lindauer Jahrmarkt (November)
- Cultural Districts
- The Island (Insel) Old Town
- Theater Venues
- Stadttheater Lindau (An der Stadtmauer 2)
- Local Markets
- Lindau Island Market (Saturdays/Wednesdays at Marktplatz)
- Music Scene
- Club Vaudeville - Independent live music and concerts
- Street Art
- Hidden murals in the 'Hintere Insel' (Back Island) area
- Cooking Classes
- Vhs Lindau (Adult Education Center) offers seasonal classes
- Art Galleries
- Galerie Gunzobad (Insel)
- Historic Buildings
- Die Diebsturm (Thieves' Tower)
- Local Heritage
- Bavarian identity mixed with Lake Constance maritime tradition
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lindenhofpark (Bad Schachen) - Heritage botanical gardens
- National Parks Nearby
- Voralpenland (Pre-Alps) and Pfänder Mountain (reachable by ferry to Bregenz)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Bodensee-Radweg (Lake Constance Cycle Path - 260km loop)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the New Lighthouse (€2.50 entry) for Alps view
- Birdwatching Locations
- Reutiner Bucht (Nature reserve on lake shore)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated BBQ pits at the beach areas near Aeschach (seasonal)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Deutsche Post/DHL (Main office at Zeppelinstr. 1)
- Tech Repair Services
- Electronic Partner (EP:) Lindau
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Toskana Park
- Language Classes
- Dialoge - Bodensee Sprachschule (Insel)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ehemals Reichsstädtische Bibliothek (Historical library)
- Community Centers
- Club Vaudeville (Social/Cultural hub)
- Gaming Lounges
- None; best to find gaming groups via Bodensee Gaming Discord
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Spielbank Lindau (Chelles-Allee 1) - State casino
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €300,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €220,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €432,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €312,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €544,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €400,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30% (Combined 15% Federal + Trade Tax + Surcharge)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 25% (plus 5.5% Solidarity Surcharge)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (above €277,826)
- VAT
- 19% standard, 7% reduced (food, books)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, AStG rules apply strictly
- Property Tax
- Grundsteuer (based on assessed value/Hebesatz)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3.5% in Bavaria (lowest in Germany)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad tax breaks; high compliance required