A university town, naval base, important harbour and Germany's largest passenger port, Kiel offers the perfect blend of maritime lifestyle, urban charm, culture and history.
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One of the most popular places to shop in the Baltic region. At the heart of the town,
Kiel Firth and its beaches provide the venue for the spectacular
Kiel Week Regatta, the famous annual sailing event and public festival.
From the 67-metre-high tower of the town hall in the centre of
Kiel, you can enjoy views of the firth and the town, including the
Hindenburgufer Promenade, ministerial buildings, Kiel Institute for World Economics and the marina, as well as the Hoern Bridge, a miracle of technology right in the town centre. Or simply stand by the harbour side and soak up the nautical atmosphere.
Attractions in the old quarter include the Church of St. Nicholas on the Old Market Square with
Ernst Barlach's Geistkaempfer (The Ghost Fighter) sculpture. To the west of the market is the
Kleiner Kiel Lake, an offshoot of the firth that forms a semi-circle around the old town.
The Maritime Museum, located in a former fish auction hall, and the historic vessels in the museum harbour are also well worth seeing.
Kiel Canal is the world's busiest man-made waterway with a number of locks that you can visit.
The Maritime Museum documents Kiel's maritime history, while the Warleberger Hof municipal museum focuses on themes relating to the town and its cultural history. During
Kiel's Museum Night the museums and galleries in the town centre stay open until late into the evening, offering a programme of cultural events.
The municipal museum is housed in one of the oldest preserved stately homes dating from the early 17th century in the heart of
Kiel's old town. Main attractions include its impressive stonework with the original sandstone portal as well as the historical rooms and vaulted cellars.
