Altstadt
Altstadt is the German language word for "old town", and generally refers to the historical town or city centre within the old town or city wall, in contrast to younger suburbs outside.
Neustadt, the logical opposite of Altstadt, mostly stands for a part of the "Altstadt" in modern sense, sometimes only a few years younger than the oldest part, e. g. a late medieval enlargement.
Worth seeing
Old towns can have architecture not found anywhere else in the world. Institutional buildings tend to be in well-known architectural styles, such as Gothic, Renaissance or styles of particular empires. Other buildings might have a distinctive vernacular style, such as Nordic folk architecture.
Things to do
Guided tours are offered in many old towns, usually on foot. These give a chance to get a sense of orientation, and a presentation of the town's history and architecture. Several old towns are served by horse-carriage rides, in old-style carriages. These are often costly, far from genuine, and should primarily be considered if a guided tour is included. Animal ethics can be a concern.
Where to eat
As old towns are frequented by travellers, meals can be overpriced and only so-so quality wise; in particular near the most frequented venues. Due to lack of modern utilities, hygiene might be deficient. However, good restaurants can also be found. The best places to eat are places popular with locals.
Getting around Altstadt the local way
- Get inBy car 1 hour to Konstanz (take the car ferry between Meersburg and Konstanz).
- Get inThe fastest connections are : Car ferry from Meersburg, runs several times an hour from 06:00 until 24:00, and once an hour from 00:00 until 06:00.
- Get inApart from Meersburg and Friedrichshafen, the ferries to and from Konstanz call in.
From Wikivoyage: Konstanz, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.