Kiel, the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, is located about 80 kilometers north of Hamburg. As a gateway to the Baltic and Scandinavia, Kiel is one of Germany’s most important cruise ports, home to the country’s Baltic Navy fleet and its center for shipbuilding and shipbuilding tradition.
This is what you can do and see in Kiel, from an original war submarine to the busiest man-made ship channel in the world.
The port of Kiel
The heart of Kiel beats on the coast, so start your visit in the port.
Watch gigantic ocean liners and container ships glide by, as big as buildings. Take a stroll along one of the longest promenades in Germany, known as the Kiellinie, which stretches from the castle gardens to the Hindenburgufer . Places to eat, drink and shop along the way. Or get the best view of the city by seeing it from the water on one of the many boat tours.
Navy Memorial and Submarine en Laboe
During the war, Kiel was the base of operations for the German submarine fleet. The nearby Laboe is located about 10 km north-east of Kiel and is a treat for history buffs or fans of the movie » Das Boot «. Here visitors can see and even walk through the only surviving U-995 submarine from WWII. There is also a Marine-Ehrenmal (Navy Memorial) from 1936 with a 280-foot-tall tower and observation deck that offers wonderful views of the region.
A commemorative underground room, dedicated to sailors of all nationalities who died in the World Wars, and a museum detailing the history of the German Navy.
Channel of Kiel
Kiel is home to the world’s busiest man-made canal. The nearly 100-kilometer-long (62-mile) Nord-Ostsee Kanal (Kiel Canal) connects the Baltic with the North Sea and saves 30,000 ships a year an average of 250 nautical miles (460 km) instead of going around to the Jutland peninsula.
There is an observation deck at Holtenau to watch ships pass through the locks, as well as a small museum to learn more about the history and operations of the location.
You can also tour the canal in its entirety or take a day trip; the bike path runs right along the water so you can ride side by side with gigantic container ships. There are many restaurants, lookout points, and hotels along the bike path, which is very bike-friendly – it’s flat and for the most part car-free!
City and Maritime Museum
Located on Kiel’s waterfront, the Stadt und Schifffahrtsmuseum (Maritime Museum) documents the city’s rich maritime history. Housed in the historic fish auction room, the museum displays everything from ship models, nautical instruments, naval paintings, and figureheads. Don’t miss the Kaiser Panorama, which displays stereoscopic 3D images and the panoramic image of the harbor. It measures 27 m² and is the largest painting in the city. You can also visit the three historical museum ships that are moored next to the museum, the lifeboat “Hindenburg”, the fire ship “Kiel” and the “Bussard” from 1905.
Kiel art gallery
The Kunsthalle Zu Kiel is the largest museum in the city and houses one of the best collections of modern art in northern Germany. Between the two bison to see the Russian art of the 19th and 20th century, German expressionism and contemporary international art after 1945. It also has the Antikensammlung Kiel collection, founded in 1895 and composed of ancient sculptures.
Along with the impressive art collection, there is a conference room, a café, and a sculpture garden.
Kiel Week
Held every year for a week at the end of June, Kiel Week or Kiel Regatta (or Kieler Woche ) is said to be the largest sailing event in the world. It attracts 5,000 sailors, 2,000 ships and more than three million visitors each year.
The event dates back to 1882 and features regattas, historic boat parades and a cultural program that transforms the city center of Kiel into the largest summer festival scene in Northern Europe. Kiel Week is also one of the largest sailing conventions in Germany.
If you prefer to stay on land, the festival is one of the largest Volksfeste in Germany with many stages and live music and a large fireworks display to end the festivities on Sunday.
