Mainau Island, Lake Constance

The 'flower island' on Lake Constance (Bodensee), a garden island with a baroque palace, an arboretum, a butterfly house, an Italian rose garden and swathes of tulips, dahlias and other flowers that change with the seasons. The mild climate lets palms and citrus trees grow.

It's joined to the shore by a footbridge, and boats run from Konstanz and other lake towns. Lake Constance borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland, so you can visit Lindau's island old town, the stilt houses of Unteruhldingen, and the Rhine Falls nearby.