Neighboring districts are (from west clockwise) Schwarzwald-Baar, Tuttlingen, Sigmaringen and Bodenseekreis.

The district dates back to the Bezirksamt Konstanz, which was created in 1806 when the area became part of Württemberg (since 1810 Baden).

The district is located at the north-western shore of Lake Constance, in a landscape called Hegau.

Also located in the district is the Aachtopf near the city Aach, the biggest spring in Germany by water volume.

The spring actually contains water from the Danube which moves through karst caves underneath the European watershed.