Warnemünde - a day trip

“Will you come with me to Warnemünde? There in the morning – back in the evening?” So I got on the bus with a group of good-humoured amateur photographers and set off for the Baltic Sea.

Let me say in advance – I had a great day, despite the initial rain and despite the cold, the visit to the beach was just great. I enjoyed the short trip to the full.

Warnemünde is a seaside resort on the Baltic Sea and a district of Rostock. The Warnow flows into the Baltic Sea here and the first mentions of the place can be found in Danish documents as early as 1195. Initially, it was a small harbour and fishing village. It was not until 1821 that the tourist bathing business began and the wide sandy beach attracted visitors to the place.

Arrival by bus in Warnemünde

The bus stopped not far from our first destination and after a few minutes’ walk we reached the Alter Strom. After a hearty breakfast in a café, we went on a discovery tour.

There is so much to see – I was particularly impressed by the beautiful architecture of some of the houses.

Alter und Neuer Strom

The fishing port is located in the former estuary of the Warnow, the Alter Strom. Today you can sit here in cosy restaurants and cafés or browse in the small shops. In the past, the Alter Strom was a shipping link between the Baltic Sea and Rostock’s city harbour.

In 1903, a new connection was opened with the Neuer Strom. This can be used by larger ships.

I like strolling along the Old River, watching the seagulls and looking for a fish sandwich for lunch at the stalls.

Tea Pot and Lighthouse

Our next destination a walk to the 37-metre high lighthouse, which has been in operation in Warnemünde since 1897. Unfortunately, it was not possible to visit the lighthouse during my visit. It is always open to visitors from April to October and the view is said to be excellent.

Right next to the lighthouse is the lovingly named Teepott, a shell-shaped building from 1968 that reminds me strongly of the Schwangere Auster (Congress Hall) in Berlin. The construction was something very special in GDR times and was an export hit in its day. I have since read that the construction of the Teepot was based on the Congress Hall.

The tea pot and lighthouse have become a landmark in the town.

Hotel Neptun

One of our next destinations was the Hotel Neptun. Not to spend the night or to eat there – our destination was the 19th floor of the building. Not only is there the sky bar, but with a bit of luck you can enjoy the wonderful view of Warnemünde from a room directly opposite the lift. We were lucky and the room was open and empty – an ideal place to take some photos.

Beach walk

If you are in Warnemünde, you simply have to visit the beach. Despite the wind and the light drizzle, we spent some time on the beach. It is simply wonderful to let the wind blow around your nose and breathe the Baltic Sea air. A wonderful time-out for the soul.