Holiday in Kiel
The state capital of Schleswig-Holstein is called Kiel and lies on the right and left of the Kiel Fjord on the Baltic Sea. A holiday in Kiel is not only recommended for exploring the city, but also for wonderful excursions into the surrounding countryside.
Kiel is known worldwide for Kiel Week. Every year in June, ships from all over the world are drawn to the Kiel Fjord for the windjammer parade. Visitors from all over the world come to the city and numerous events take place around Kiel Week.
The city is also famous for the Kiel Canal, which flows into the Kiel Fjord here. Ship lovers can see interesting ships at several observation points here. And for those who enjoy sailing themselves, the Kiel Fjord is a sailing paradise. This is where the sailing competitions took place at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
For travelers interested in museums and cultural sights, the Maritime Museum, which brings the city’s maritime history to life, is just the place. Or how about modern art? Then the Kunsthalle zu Kiel is a must. It houses an impressive collection of contemporary art and North German painting. Another highlight is the naval memorial in Laboe, which is not far from the city. It not only offers insights into the history of the German navy, but also a breathtaking view over the Baltic Sea.
The Kiel region offers hiking enthusiasts a wide range of opportunities to enjoy nature. The Baltic Sea Cycle Path is perfect for exploring the coast, while the West Sea Nature Park delights hiking fans with idyllic lakes and forests. The fresh sea air and proximity to nature make every activity a pleasure. The city is also a paradise for sailors.
Gourmets will love the culinary highlights in Kiel. North German cuisine offers fresh fish, hearty specialties such as Labskaus and sweet treats such as Rote Grütze. Local restaurants such as the Kieler Brauereihaus serve regional beers and homemade specialties.
Holiday in Kiel
A weekend in Kiel is too short to see everything. We made a list of places that we really wanted to see on our first visit to Kiel. But we also reserved some time to just be and enjoy the view of the Firth of Kiel.
Laboe with the Naval Memorial and the U-boat U-995 is located at the Firth of Kiel. I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to see the insides of a submarine, so we drove over.
The last time I sailed was when I was around 12 years old. It was during a summer break with the grandparents on a sailing course on the Lake Constance. When Kiel marketing approached me with the idea to test a sailing boat city tour I was enthused and confirmed immediately.
The lockage Kiel-Holtenau in the Kiel Canal is a very interesting stop on a tour to Kiel. There is a viewing platform that lets visitors oversee the lockage and it never takes long before the next ship comes into a lock.
Hotels in Kiel
The GHOTEL in Kiel, Kiel-Kronshagen more precisely, is about 6 kilometres away from the city centre. We got to spend two relaxing nights in the hotel and two days exploring in Kiel.
IntercityHotel Kiel
Steigenberger Conti Hansa Kiel
GHOTEL hotel & living Kiel
Hotel Gode Wind
Travel information for Kiel
Arrival
By plane
Kiel has its own airport (Kiel-Holtenau). Due to the short runway, this is only used by smaller aircraft in charter service.
The nearest international airport is in Hamburg. From there, the Kielius, an airport bus, runs to Kiel’s main railway station. The departure times of the bus are coordinated with the timetables of the ferries, among others.
By rail
Kiel is well connected to the German railway network. There are half-hourly trains to Hamburg’s main station and several times a day ICE trains from the south of Germany reach the city. In addition, there are regular and sometimes quite frequent connections to Flensburg, Neumünster, Lüneburg and Lübeck.
By bus
The central bus station is located in Auguste-Viktoria-Straße. Here you will also find a multi-storey car park with 541 parking spaces, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The airport bus from Hamburg stops at the station forecourt.
By car
On the way in Kiel
By public transport
There are numerous trains, buses and ferries in and around Kiel. All means of transport can be used with a standard fare.
The ferries offer the possibility of excursions and round trips on the fjord.
A small passenger ferry connects Kiel-Wik with Kiel-Holtenau. It runs every 15 minutes during the day. The journey with this ferry is free of charge.
On foot
Kiel’s city centre can be explored very well on foot.
Parking
There are about 9500 parking spaces available in the extended city centre of Kiel. Directly in the city centre you will find pay and display car parks, multi-storey car parks and underground car parks.
For short-term parkers, there is a yellow button at the parking machines. Here you get a free parking ticket for 30 minutes.