We kindly ask you to observe the following instructions and rules to ensure that everyone has a pleasant stay on our island of Mainau:
1. Access, admission, opening hours
1.1. The opening hours and ticket conditions as posted at the island entrance and on the Internet (https://www.mainau.de) apply.
1.2. During these opening hours, you can visit the park with a valid ticket via the official entrance on the mainland or by boat from Lake Constance. Entering Mainau Island is strictly at your own risk and must be done via the designated access routes. You are not entitled to use all of the facilities and amenities in the garden at all times.
1.3. Please carry your admission ticket with you during your visit to Mainau Island and show it to Mainau staff on request. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded, except in the cases specified in the General Terms and Conditions and the price list. We cannot provide replacements for lost admission tickets.
1.4. Landing by water using any kind of flotation device or by swimming is prohibited along the entire shoreline of Mainau Island. If you arrive by boat, you may moor at the landing stages. Please observe the signs on site. The harbor regulations apply.
2. Driving on Mainau Island
2.1. You may only drive motor vehicles across the bridge to Mainau Island and use the road to the parking lots on the island and the paths in the park with the permission of Mainau GmbH. Please avoid unnecessary driving and noise.
2.2. A maximum speed of 30 km/h applies on all roads on the premises. On parking paths with pedestrian traffic, walking speed is generally required. Otherwise, the Road Traffic Regulations and the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations apply on Mainau Island. Please observe the respective signs.
2.3. The paths and areas designated for this purpose are intended for guests visiting the park. Please observe barriers and do not cross them. These are only partially cleared and gritted in the event of ice and snow (limited winter service).
2.4. There is only a limited number of parking spaces available on the island. If these are all occupied, especially during events, please use the parking spaces on the mainland. Parking vehicles on lawns and vegetation areas is not permitted. In addition, the current version of the parking regulations applies to the use of the parking spaces.
3. Guest conduct
3.1. Please behave in such a way throughout the entire premises that no other person is harmed, endangered, or inconvenienced or harassed more than is unavoidable under the circumstances.
3.2. Mainau GmbH reserves the right to carry out bag and body checks. They, their representatives, assistants, and security personnel may search individuals, including through the use of technical aids, to determine whether any items they are carrying pose a safety risk. The risk assessment is the sole responsibility of the aforementioned persons. If you do not allow an appropriate check, you may be denied entry/access to the premises.
3.3. We ask you to dress appropriately during your visit to Mainau Island, in particular to wear at least short clothing (no swimwear) on your upper body and legs in all buildings.
3.4. Dogs are allowed free of charge if kept on a short leash. They must be kept away from lawns, planting areas, playgrounds, the butterfly house, the castle, and exhibitions. As the owner, please dispose of your dog's waste properly using dog waste bags.
3.5. Please dispose of waste separately in the designated waste collection stations. It is not permitted to remove deposit bottles from waste containers or to dispose of waste in the planting areas.
3.6. You are not permitted to use inline skates, skateboards, Segways, or similar means of transportation on Mainau Island without express permission. However, necessary mobility aids for you as a visitor are permitted without exception, such as wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters. These can also be rented at the island entrance for a fee. Your children may bring scooters, tricycles, or balance bikes. Service bicycles belonging to Mainau GmbH employees are also exempt from this rule. Bicycles can be parked at the bicycle racks installed at the entrance on the mainland.
3.7 We ask you to hand in lost property at the ticket offices, in the Service Center in the archway building or to Mainau staff.
3.8 Musical performances, the individual playing of music, political activities, events, demonstrations, the distribution of printed matter, the display of posters or notices, collections and the gathering of signatures are not permitted without the prior written consent of Mainau GmbH.
3.9 Please refrain from smoking in all buildings, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, the playgrounds and the farm grounds.
3.10. Camping and picnicking on lawns is generally not permitted. However, you are welcome to picnic in the designated picnic areas in the immediate vicinity of the fountain arena and by the pond on the south bank. Barbecues are not permitted in the Mainau Island park and are only permitted in the Mainau gastronomy area during events. We ask you not to pick flowers, harvest fruit or remove (parts of) plants.
3.11. Bathing and swimming in Lake Constance from the shores of Mainau Island is not permitted.
3.12. Please do not attach any so-called love locks or similar objects to bridge railings, stair railings and similar facilities anywhere on Mainau Island. Mainau GmbH reserves the right to remove and dispose of any unauthorized objects.
3.13. Entering and climbing on walls, art objects and monuments as well as fountains, watercourses, ponds and pools, in particular the Italian flower water staircase, is not permitted. The same applies to damaging, removing or moving signage, seating elements and other park equipment.
4. Commercial activities on the island
4.1. Any trade in goods or services of any kind, as well as their promotion, requires the prior written consent of Mainau GmbH.
4.2. For commercial visitors (such as suppliers, business partners, tradespeople, etc.), the so-called external company guidelines are binding in addition to these park regulations.
4.3. In order to provide you with high-quality guided tours, these are conducted exclusively by Mainau GmbH employees. Guided tours by other persons are therefore not permitted.
5. Protection of animals, plants, and the environment, butterfly house
5.1. As a general rule, visitors are not permitted to walk on any vegetation areas. This applies in particular to flower beds, flowering meadows, and wooded areas and shrubbery. Climbing on shrubs and trees and attaching hammocks or slacklines to trees is not permitted. Events organized by Mainau GmbH are exempt from the prohibition on entering.
5.2. On both sides of the bridge connecting Mainau to the mainland are the Unter and Obere Güll nature reserves, which are of international importance, particularly as a wintering area for water birds. For this reason, please do not enter Lake Constance at this point. This applies in particular to dogs.
5.3. Feeding wild animals and animals kept in enclosures on Mainau Island is not permitted. You are welcome to feed the goats in the petting zoo at the farm, but please only use feed from the animal feed dispenser.
5.4. The opening hours announced on site apply to the butterfly house. You can enter through the entrance door up to 15 minutes before closing time.
5.5. Feeding the animals in the butterfly house is not permitted. It is also not permitted to chase, catch, or touch the butterflies. This could harm the animals. The hanging fruit and fruit in bowls are used to feed and attract the butterflies. Please leave the fruit where it is.
6. Supervision of children, playgrounds
6.1. Legal guardians are obliged to supervise children in their care throughout their stay on the island. This applies in particular near water. Parents are liable for any damage caused by their children.
6.2. Playing on the lawns and meadows as well as on the park paths with any kind of play equipment (e.g., soccer balls) is not permitted.
6.3. The playgrounds in Mainau Island Park may only be used by children up to and including the age of 12.
6.4. The water area in the “Blumi's Water World” area is not a bathing area.
6.5. For safety reasons, the “Blumi's Water World” area is monitored by video surveillance.
7. Filming, photography, drones, and image rights
7.1. The use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles on Mainau Island is not permitted. The same applies to flying over Mainau Island with aircraft of any kind.
7.2. You are welcome to photograph plants, shrubs, and flowers on the island for private use from the paths in areas accessible to visitors. Photography is also permitted if photos are published in connection with an editorial article about Mainau Island. Special regulations apply to wedding photography and similar activities. These are available from the Mainau GmbH service center in the archway building.
7.3. Photography, filming, recording on audio media, etc. for commercial or other non-private purposes is only permitted with the written permission of Mainau GmbH.
7.4. In all cases, the photographer is responsible for safeguarding all rights, including those of third parties (e.g., copyrights and personal rights).
7.5. When taking pictures or making audio recordings, please be considerate of other visitors.
8. Conduct during storms, severe weather, etc.
8.1. In the event of exceptional weather conditions (e.g., rain, freezing rain, snowfall, storms, severe weather, etc.), Mainau GmbH reserves the right to close the island, either partially or completely, to visitors.
8.2. In particular, in the event of an approaching storm or expected severe weather, visitors are obliged to seek shelter in solid buildings immediately and on their own responsibility. Seeking shelter under trees, bushes, playground equipment, etc. is not permitted due to the imminent danger to life.
9 Final provisions
9.1 Mainau GmbH and its representatives have sole domiciliary rights on the entire premises of Mainau GmbH. If there is an important reason, in particular if a visitor commits a criminal offense on the Mainau GmbH premises or grossly violates the park regulations, Mainau GmbH is entitled to expel the visitor from its premises. The admission ticket will be confiscated in such cases. A claim for reimbursement of the ticket price is excluded.
9.2 Mainau GmbH reserves the right to assert claims for damages and to issue a ban from the premises.
9.3 The relevant local police regulations apply on the grounds of Mainau Island in order to ensure public order and safety. Statutory regulations apply, in particular with regard to the behavior of persons on the island. We ask you to observe these.
9.4 The local police authority is responsible for the prosecution and punishment of administrative offenses under the Federal Nature Conservation Act and the locally applicable Nature and Landscape Conservation Act.
The management of Mainau GmbH