During our two-month tour of Germany (2017), we also made a detour to Kiel. Here on the fjord, we enjoyed relaxing days by the water, with plenty of seagulls, cozy parks, cool shops, and cafés. At first glance, Kiel may not seem like the most exciting city in Germany, or even the most diverse.

But if you just go with the flow and take a closer look every now and then, you’ll discover some truly cool corners in this student city. We’ve now been back to Kiel and have revised our post. We’ll show you our favorite sights and highlights and give you lots of Kiel tips.

• Arrival
• Accommodation in the city
• Kiel tips – mobility
• Sights in Kiel
  • 1. Kiel Fjord
  • 2. Hörnbrücke
  • 3. Am Schwedenkai
  • 4. Kleiner Kiel & Ratsdienergarten
  • 5. Kiel Old Town
  • 6. Town Hall & Opera House
  • 7. Shopping on Holtenauer Straße
  • 8. On the Kiellinie
  • 9. Botanical Garden
  • 10. Excursion to Laboe
• Kiel Tips – Our Conclusion on the City

Getting There

By Car: Kiel is only around 70 minutes from Lübeck and Hamburg, just 4 hours from Berlin, and around 2 hours from Bremen. You can quickly reach the state capital, Kiel, via the A7, A210, and A215 motorways. If you don’t have a car, you can also rent a car. We recommend the billigermietwagen.de* platform.

By Train: We are big fans of train travel. Getting to Kiel is quick and easy by train. Kiel Central Station is located right in the city center with daily connections by ICE, IC, and regional trains. The journey from Hamburg to Kiel takes only around 70 minutes and costs approximately €12 per trip.

By Bus: You can also reach Kiel by long-distance bus. The central bus station is located near the main train station, on Auguste-Viktoria-Straße. From there, Flixbus* buses primarily depart in all directions. The trip from Hamburg costs just €5.99 and takes around 90 minutes. From Bremen, it takes around 3.5 hours to get to Kiel, and tickets start at €9.99.

Staying overnight in the city

The stylish me and all Hotel* opened in Kiel just a few weeks ago. This is just a stone’s throw from the main train station and is located directly on the water at Kieler Hörn. It is the fourth hotel of the still young brand (from Lindner Hotels), and we were already able to enjoy its amenities in Hanover. We were invited to the opening in Kiel and were very impressed as soon as we entered the lobby. The style can be described as urban, hip, cool, modern, and incredibly cozy.

A billiards table is prominently featured in the lobby, and there’s plenty of space to work, but also just as much space to relax and unwind. At the unusual reception, you’ll find a small shop with regional products, a popcorn machine, a giant chalkboard with the title “Before I Die” where you can scribble your thoughts, a retro photo booth, cozy sofa corners and armchairs, the breakfast room, and a super stylish bar.

The rooms are charmingly furnished in a typical shipyard design with great details and very modern amenities. We particularly liked the view of the water, the free minibar, the comfortable bed, the bench by the window, and the many little touches to discover in the room. The me and all Hotel in Kiel also offers a sauna, a fitness area, two meeting rooms, free rental bicycles, and a restaurant with delicious burgers. Book your room here*.

Kiel Tips – Mobility

Most of Kiel’s sights can be explored leisurely on foot. The distances are usually not particularly long, so you can simply go with the flow. For longer distances, you can rent a bicycle, take the ferries, or rent an e-scooter (TIER app). If you book your room at the me and all Hotel, you can use the bikes there free of charge (subject to availability). We tried the e-scooters and were satisfied. They charge €0.20 per minute plus a one-time fee of €1. Alternatively, the city buses also travel in all directions.

Sights in Kiel

There are several sights in Kiel that you can see during your trip. Whether it’s a day trip or a multi-day trip, there’s always something to discover in Kiel. In the following section, we’ll reveal our top 10 highlights in Kiel. Enjoy browsing!

1. Kiel Fjord

The Kiel Fjord is around 17 kilometers long and was once formed by glacial movements during the last Ice Age. Everything here in Kiel revolves around the fjord, which extends to the Baltic Sea. You’ll discover many ships, ferries, sailing yachts, lighthouses, and beaches. It’s especially busy during the Kiel Week, a huge sailing event. Sailors from all over the world gather there, combined with delicious food, live music, and sporting events.

2. Hörn Bridge

The Hörn Bridge is only a few meters from the main train station. From this bridge, you have a beautiful view of the ships, the Schwedenkai, and the Kieler Hörn. The bridge itself isn’t particularly exciting; it’s just a crossing point. However, the trips to Laboe beach also depart from there (highly recommended).

3. At the Schwedenkai

We continued towards the wall to the waterfront at the Schwedenkai. You can often see a few larger ferries docked in the harbor, either just arriving or about to depart. At the Schwedenkai, you can also purchase tickets for Stena Line ferries (to Gothenburg). You can get one-way tickets without a car for around €39 per person if you book in advance. Definitely worth it for a short trip to Gothenburg (3 days).

4. Kleiner Kiel & Ratsdienergarten

During our exploration tour, we discovered the Ratsdienergarten and the Kleiner Kiel. This small lake is located right in the city center and is divided into two parts by a bridge (Ratsdienergarten and Kleiner Kiel). This beautiful green space invites you to linger and relax. At the western end is Hiroshima Park and the Opera House. From there, you can continue on to the old town.

5. Kiel Old Town

The once very historic Kiel Old Town was reduced to rubble and ruins during the war years. The “American population growth” in the 1950s also contributed to the construction boom (modernization) destroying numerous old houses from the 16th and 18th centuries. Today, you will find only a few historical buildings in Kiel, including St. Nicholas Church, remnants of the monastery, and the old town hall. Around the Old Market Square, you’ll find countless shops, restaurants, and cafés, especially along the lively Holstenstrasse.

6. Town Hall & Opera House

The Opera House was built between 1905 and 1907 and is located right next to the Town Hall. The program includes musical theater, musicals, operettas, baroque operas, and ballet performances. The Opera House seats more than 800 spectators. The Kiel Town Hall next door has shaped the cityscape for more than 100 years. You will see the tower from a distance, and it offers a fantastic view of the city.

Meeting point: Town Hall main entrance
Cost: €5.50 for adults, €3 for children
Times: Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11:00 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: limited, so it is best to book in advance (book here)

7. Shopping on Holtenauer Straße

One of the coolest streets in Kiel is definitely Holtenauer Straße, with its many charming little shops, bars, and cafés. Here you’ll find things for living, working, and in between, as well as snacks. The street stretches from the city center to Wik, near the Kiel Canal. Holtenauer is one of the liveliest streets in the city, but also dangerous if you don’t want to spend any money.

8. On the Kiellinie

After our tour of Holtenauer Straße, we continued towards the Kiellinie. It begins at the Ostseekai and ends at the Blücherbrücke. It’s one of the state capital’s most popular promenades, with plenty of great spots. Locals jog, skate, or cycle, while vacationers stroll along the promenade. The view of the eastern shore of the fjord, the passing ferries, and sailing ships exude a super-relaxed atmosphere.

On the Kiellinie, we discovered the really cool Seebar (Kiellinie 130) by chance. The restaurant and bar are located on a wooden jetty with plenty of deck chairs, palm trees, and beach chairs. Here, you can really enjoy the evening among all the other sun worshippers. But we found the Bar Sandhafen (Blücherbrücke) even cooler, with sand, deck chairs, super cool music, and a truly relaxed vibe.

9. Botanical Garden

From the Kiellinie, head back toward the old town. You’ll pass the small but beautiful Botanical Garden of Kiel University. It looks back on a 350-year history and has been open to the public since 1985. Here you’ll find around 14,000 plant species, which are used for research and teaching. Stroll along the paths through the grounds and enjoy the peace and quiet. The display greenhouses are open again on weekends, but guided tours and similar activities are not currently taking place.

10. Excursion to Laboe

We heard about a relaxing boat tour to the Baltic Sea resort of Laboe. You can get ferry tickets directly from the harbor in Kiel for around €3.60 each way. The journey to Laboe harbor takes only about 90 minutes. If you don’t feel like driving back the same way, you can also take the bus from Laboe and zip back to Kiel in 25 minutes (that’s what we did).

Laboe is primarily known for its historic naval memorial and submarine. But it’s also home to one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. The beautiful beach, the modern yet historic harbor, the colorful beach chairs, and the many restaurants somehow exude a Baltic Sea vacation feeling. After all, Laboe is one of the most beautiful harbors in the Kiel Fjord and a popular meeting place for sailors and seafarers.

Right at the foot of the submarine is one of the best spots on the Kiel Fjord for kitesurfing, sailing, and surfing. Next to the U-995 is a water sports school that offers windsurfing, kitesurfing, and SUP, as well as dinghy and catamaran sailing. That’s no surprise, since Kiel is called the “sailing capital” anyway and is known for the largest sailing event in the world – the Kiel Week.

Kiel Tips – Our Conclusion on the City

We like Kiel because the city is unfussy, relaxed, and still pretty cool. While you won’t find any “outrageous” sights here, it’s the inconspicuous things that we particularly like. You can stroll through the city, relax in cool cafés, wind down the evening in even cooler bars, and enjoy your time by the water. We will definitely come back a third time and explore more of the city. We hope our article and our Kiel tips have been helpful to you.