Seagulls fly above - a brisk breeze blows fresh sea air into the town. This north German city has a very unique atmosphere. If you like spending time in the great outdoors, Kiel is the place for you. But Kiel has more to offer you than just the sea.
WELCOME TO KIEL
Kiel is Germany’s northernmost town. Situated right on the Baltic Sea, it is the last stop on one of the busiest artificial waterways in the world, the Kiel Canal. Kiel is an important base for the German Navy and famous for its international sailing event, the “Kieler Woche“.
The Kieler Woche takes place once a year and includes an extensive supporting programme packed full with concerts and other artistic performances and presentations. During the festival, you can also try out a regional delicacy, a fish speciality known as “Kieler Sprotten“.
The capital of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein is close to the Danish border. Kiel is a Hanseatic town. You can tell from the typical Brick Gothic architecture. Just outside Kiel, you can visit the Laboe Navy Memorial and see one of the five remaining World War Two submarines, the U 995.
A maritime town, of course, also needs a harbour. And this is located just behind the train station so that you are welcomed by the Baltic Sea as soon as you arrive in town. The road along the Kieler Förde, the Kiellinie, takes you to the seal pool and aquarium which belongs to the Geomar institute. The town’s location on the Baltic Sea also offers you the advantage that after lectures, you can hop on your bike and cycle to one of the many beaches just outside town.
Kiel’s attractions include the Old Botanic Garden, the 106-metre high Rathausturm, Germany’s oldest student theatre, the Sechseckbau, and Schrevenpark, which attracts crowds of people in the summer months.
LIVING IN KIEL
It’s easy to relax and unwind in Kiel. The sea is noticeable everywhere in town and automatically gives you a feeling of freedom. Through the higher education institutions, you can take part in inexpensive sailing or surf courses. If you like to spend time in the fresh air, Kiel is the place for you. There are various ferry services that will take you from the town centre to landing stages at Laboe, Falckenstein and Friedrichsort.
Kiel also has lots to offer in the way of culture. Near the landing stage Reventlou is the Old Botanical Garden with the Literaturhaus, where lectures and readings regularly take place. Next to the hexagonal Sechseckbau, there is also a professional theatre where you can enjoy opera, ballet and theatrical performances. Both the theatre and offer student discounts.
If you enjoy strolling through a park, the grounds of the “Forstbaumschule“ are very popular among locals. The park between the fjord and Feldstrasse has an excellent restaurant and it’s also worth coming here for the concerts.
Mention should also be made of Schrevenpark, which turns into an enormous barbecue field in the summer. There are kiosks and restaurants close by where you can buy French fries and burgers. There are also lots of new individual shops and boutiques springing up all over Kiel.
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