Lindau Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 💵 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 |
| 🏢 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) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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) |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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 |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING LINDAU