Meersburg, Germany is a very charming little town in Baden-Württemberg, located on Lake Constance. Lake Constance is located on the Rhine, at the northern foothills of the Alps. It borders Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Meersburg is where you can take a ferry into Switzerland. The name of the town actually means “castle on the sea.” Parts of the town are for pedestrians only. It gives off the feeling of being laid back, as I have come to find many towns by the water typically are.

Meersburg is home to Germany’s oldest castle, which is just called “The Old Castle.” It was built in the seventh century, by Dagobert I and it accepts self-guided tours. There is also the “New Castle” in Meersburg which was built in the eighteenth century. As I have said before, I love castles. The older, the better for me. I did not have enough time to tour the Old Castle but I really wish I had.

The town is very clean feeling and there is a lot of history just walking around. It does seem to get busy as it is a hub for people crossing borders on the ferries. There are lots of shops along the walks and restaurants with delicious smelling food. There are many places not closed down to the public to take beautiful pictures of the lake, and you can actually see the border of Switzerland across the way from some of the vantage points that I came across. Parking is a little limited since it is primarily a pedestrian town. There are some lots further away from the lake, where you do have to pay to park.

Overall, Meersburg is a great town to just spend an afternoon. Do a little shopping, grab some lunch, take some pictures. I did not stay a night in Meersburg, as we passed through on our way to where we needed to go to pick up our luggage. It was on my list of must-see places but it was also conveniently on a route to where we needed to be. Originally our plan was to visit the Black Forest after stopping in Meersburg but we found ourselves out of time. I am still very happy I visited this town though. I love towns like this one, and I will be going back to tour the Old Castle.

Packing List: check the weather but a jacket is advised most of the year, comfortable shoes for walking, comfortable clothes, types C and F power adapters, camera and accessories, room in your suitcase for souvenirs

DO: Tour the Old Castle, walk around the city, spend at least an afternoon here, take a ferry, peruse shops, be mindful of other people’s pictures

DON’T: Litter, yell or speak loudly, trespass