Aerial view of the Town Hall Tower of Kiel on a sunny summer day.

Things to do in  Kiel

For maritime’s sake

Located along Germany’s scenic Baltic Coast, Kiel is a laid-back university city known for its maritime culture. Not only will visitors find the historic Howaldt shipyard, Skandinavienkai quay, and picturesque Kiel Canal leading out to the North Sea, but Kiel is also known for its cultural offerings. Things to do in Kiel include the opera house and museums, such as the Kiel Maritime Museum (housed in an old fish auction hall) and the Kunsthalle zu Kiel, a sprawling art museum located right on the city’s scenic fjord.

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Top 4 attractions in Kiel

#1

SEA LIFE® Timmendorfer Strand

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Located on the shore of the Baltic Sea, the SEA LIFE®Timmendorfer Strand is home to over 2,500 creatures of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Although small in size, the aquarium houses more than 100 different fish and marine species including octopus, otters, and sharks.More
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#2
German submarine U-995 on the beach in Laboe

German Submarine U-995

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A submarine from the Nazi era, this piece of history has been given a permanent resting place on the Baltic Sea Coast in the resort town of Laboe. It’s part of the Laboe Naval Memorial complex, a coastal landmark paying tribute to all lives lost at sea. Visitors can board the structure, which now sits aboveground on the sandy beach.More
#3

Laboe Naval Memorial

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Located outside of Kiel on Germany’s Baltic Sea Coast, this minimalist memorial complex pays tribute to all lives lost at sea in World War I and World War II—German seafarers but their opponents. The complex contains a tower, naval museum, and WWII-era U-boat submarine. On clear days, views from the flame-shaped vertical tower span to Denmark.More
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#4

Holsten Gate (Holstentor)

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The Holsten Gate (Holstentor), a medieval city gate that marks the border of Old Town in Lübeck, Germany is known for its two imposing iron-clad turrets. Dating back to 1464, the landmark—which is also known as the Crooked Gate due to the seemingly sunken south tower—is now home to a museum about Lübeck’s medieval past.More
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Explore Kiel by interest

Top activities in Kiel

Lubeck Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide

Lubeck Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide

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8
From
$235.98
per group
SEA LIFE Timmendorfer Strand Admission Ticket

SEA LIFE Timmendorfer Strand Admission Ticket

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129
From
$15.62
Kiel - Private Historic Walking Tour

Kiel - Private Historic Walking Tour

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1
From
$373.86
per group
Lübeck walking tour with licensed guide

Lübeck walking tour with licensed guide

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1
From
$343.66
per group
Fascinating Pearls of Lubeck - Guided Walking Tour

Fascinating Pearls of Lubeck - Guided Walking Tour

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1
From
$182.24
Discovering Lubeck – Private Walking Tour for Couples

Discovering Lubeck – Private Walking Tour for Couples

From
$192.66
Christmas Stories of Lubeck – Private Walking Tour

Christmas Stories of Lubeck – Private Walking Tour

From
$244.73
Private Shore Excursion of Hanseatic Lubeck and Wismar

Private Shore Excursion of Hanseatic Lubeck and Wismar

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1
From
$588.00
From Kiel: All-in-One Hamburg Shore Excursion

From Kiel: All-in-One Hamburg Shore Excursion

From
$155.17
Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg Airport (HAM) - Departure Private Transfer

Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg Airport (HAM) - Departure Private Transfer

From
$364.49
Lübeck Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour

Lübeck Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour

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24
From
$9.36
All-in-One Hamburg Shore Excursion from the port of Kiel

All-in-One Hamburg Shore Excursion from the port of Kiel

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12
From
$92.68
Private All-in-One Hamburg Shore Trip from Kiel Port for Cruise Ship Passengers

Private All-in-One Hamburg Shore Trip from Kiel Port for Cruise Ship Passengers

From
$827.90
Private Sightseeing Flight around Lübeck

Private Sightseeing Flight around Lübeck

From
$207.24
Kiel Self-Guided Audio Tour: Explore this Historic Port

Kiel Self-Guided Audio Tour: Explore this Historic Port

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15
From
$11.99
e-Scavenger hunt Lubeck: Explore the city at your own pace

e-Scavenger hunt Lubeck: Explore the city at your own pace

From
$32.28
per group
Private Transfer from Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg city

Private Transfer from Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg city

From
$346.78
Private Transfer from Ostseekai Kiel Port to Hamburg Airport(HAM)

Private Transfer from Ostseekai Kiel Port to Hamburg Airport(HAM)

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1
From
$346.78
Private Transfer: Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg or Airport HAM

Private Transfer: Kiel Cruise Port to Hamburg or Airport HAM

From
$349.91
Self-Guided GPS Ghost Hunting Nosferatu Walking Tour in Lubeck

Self-Guided GPS Ghost Hunting Nosferatu Walking Tour in Lubeck

From
$22.38
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All about Kiel

When to visit

Kiel is best in summer and early fall when the days are bright and temperate. If you’re a sailing aficionado, you’ve likely come to Kiel for one thing: Kieler Woche, otherwise known as Kiel Week. Held in early fall, this is the world’s largest sailing regatta and the biggest event in Germany after Oktoberfest. Kiel hosts the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival each summer, a great way to catch live classical music performances.

Getting around

Little wonder for such a major maritime hub, but Kiel is reachable by ferry from many destinations both inside and outside Germany, such as neighboring Scandinavia—for example, there’s a direct boat from Copenhagen in Denmark or a longer ride from Gothenburg in Sweden—and even as far as Russia. Once in Kiel, you’ll find a good network of bus lines (full-day or week-long unlimited passes are available). Bicycle rentals are also popular, owing to the city’s flat terrain.

Traveler tips

Don’t miss a trip to Laboe to see the German submarine U-995—a surviving war vessel from Nazi Germany that is part of the Laboe Naval Memorial complex. Not only can anyone gaze at the structure from where it now sits parked on the sand overlooking the sea for free, but paying visitors can also climb aboard. Get a look at the claustrophobic living conditions that sailors once contended with, and pay your respects to seafarers of all nationalities.

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Tours
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People Also Ask

How much time should I spend in Kiel?

That depends. If you’re coming in summer and plan on squeezing in a beach day along the Baltic Sea, then count on at least three days. There’s plenty here to see and do (from museums to nightlife), so you are unlikely to find yourselves with nothing to do.

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Is Kiel good for kids?

Yes—especially for kids interested in maritime culture and history. Ship-watching from the harbor is a great family-friendly activity, while Kiel Maritime Museum is free to enter and contains a selection of seafaring-related artifacts. Don’t miss the sea lion feedings at GEOMAR, a small aquarium located at the harbor.

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Is visiting Kiel worth it?

Yes, definitely. It’s a great city for anyone interested in the Baltic Sea’s unique coastline. Kiel strikes a delicate balance between urban offerings (restaurants, bars, museums, shops) and natural attractions, from its famous fjord to its picturesque beaches. Other popular destinations include Hamburg and Lübeck—each about 1-1.5 hours away.

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Is Kiel accessible?

Yes, many of its attractions are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs or with limited mobility. For example, the ferry terminals and cruise ports are wheelchair-friendly and include accessible toilets. The aquarium’s seal basin and the Kiel Maritime Museum’s exhibits can also be accessed by people using wheelchairs.

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What language is spoken in Kiel?

Although visitors might be able to spot the Danish coastline across the sea in clear weather, Kiel is located in Germany. German is the most common language you’ll hear here—specifically, Standard German. That said, many people in the hospitality industry speak English or other European languages.

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Is Kiel expensive?

Kiel is typically considered moderately priced, but that depends on your frame of reference. Prices spike in high season (roughly May through September), especially for Kiel Week. If you want to keep costs down, consider coming during off-peak times of the year when hotel rooms are discounted.

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Frequently Asked Questions
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