Today we’d like to introduce you to our favorite Warnemünde attractions by the sea, so you’re well prepared for your next vacation by the sea. Warnemünde is one of the most beautiful Baltic Sea resorts along the Baltic Sea coast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and has a number of beautiful highlights to offer. We’ve been living in Rostock for almost 6 years now and, of course, we often visit the Warnemünde district. We love the maritime flair up there, the chatter of the seagulls, the smell of fresh fish sandwiches, and the clear, salty Baltic Sea air. Whether summer, spring, autumn, or winter – in the Baltic Sea resort of Warnemünde, you’ll get your money’s worth in every season. Have fun with our detailed Warnemünde travel guide.
- Sights in Warnemünde
- 1. Alter Strom promenade
- 2. The beautiful captain’s houses
- 3. Local history museum
- 4. The Gängeviertel fountain
- 5. East pier and West pier
- 6. Church and church square
- 7. Warnemünde lighthouse
- 9. The Teepott in Warnemünde
- 10. Warnemünde beach promenade
- 11. Warnemünde beach and highlights
- 12. Weekly market and fish market
- 13. Harbor tour on a pleasure boat
- 14. Cruise ships & Overseas ferries
- Excursions and activities in the area
- Our best café and ice cream tips
- Hotels in Warnemünde
- Special events and festivals in Warnemünde
- Arrival and onward travel
- Warnemünde sights – our conclusion
Sights in Warnemünde
Let’s start right away with the most beautiful sights in Warnemünde that this small Baltic Sea resort has to offer. On the map below, we have marked the most beautiful highlights, restaurants, cafés, and accommodations for you. We live in Rostock and are therefore often in Warnemünde. We will be publishing more insider tips and useful information in this post in the future.
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1. Alter Strom Promenade
Until 1903, the Alter Strom was the only shipping access from the Baltic Sea to the port of Rostock (the Neuer Strom has existed since 1903). It is also interesting to note that until the 19th century, there were only two streets, “Vörreeg” (today Am Alten Strom) and “Achterreegg” (today Alexandrinenstraße), which were built parallel to the Alter Strom. Today, the Alter Strom is Warnemünde’s promenade and awaits you with lovingly renovated captain’s houses, various shops, and restaurants.
In addition, several excursion boats, yachts, and fishing boats depart from there, heading towards the Baltic Sea or Rostock harbor. We recently took a boat trip, but more on that later. Highly recommended is “Die Eisediele” on the Alter Strom. Here you can get delicious homemade ice cream since 1946. But be careful: you’ll be spoiled for choice with almost 50 different ice cream flavors.
2. The beautiful captain’s houses
We love strolling along the Alter Strom and observing the hustle and bustle to the left and right. The real eye-catchers, however, are, of course, the little fishermen’s cottages from times long past. Fishermen, sailors, and pilots used to live here in their small gabled houses, which were mostly made of simple half-timbering.
Back then, the distance between the houses was only 1.5 meters, just enough space for a pregnant cow to pass through. You can admire the most beautiful examples of captain’s houses on Alexandrinenstrasse, the street parallel to the lively Alter Strom. Today, most of the houses are rented out to vacationers.
3. Local History Museum
Should you happen upon a rainy day, visit the small but fine local history museum on Alexandrinenstraße. This museum focuses primarily on the old Warnemünde residents who once lived here, as well as on the town’s history. Look forward to an original fisherman’s and boatman’s house with select historical objects. You’ll also learn all about the beach chair, Warnemünde’s most important invention, by the way. Adults with a tourist card only pay €3 admission (€4 without a tourist card).
4. The Processional Fountain
Also located on Alexandrinenstraße is the so-called “Procedural Fountain” (Low German: Warnminner Ümgang). This fountain was lovingly designed by the sculptor Wolfgang Friedrich and is considered a unique work of art, reflecting a significant local tradition. The fountain is adorned with 19 bronze figures in festive attire, which accompany the movement of the graceful water feature.
You should know that in earlier centuries, a festive procession always took place when the fishing village of Warnemünde successfully elected a new representative from the city of Rostock. Although it’s no longer about a new local representative, the parade still takes place.
Every year on the first weekend in July, the popular “Warnemünde Week” takes place and awaits you with all sorts of sporting activities, concerts, stage shows, and much more. This year, by the way, it’s from July 2nd to 10th, 2025.
5. East Mole and West Mole
Back to the Alter Strom. If you follow the path towards the sea, you will reach the East Mole and the West Mole. The West Mole extends 500 meters out onto the Baltic Sea and not only offers protection for the harbor entrance, but is also a popular spot for anglers and walkers. From here, you have the best view of all the ships sailing into Warnemünde and Rostock (especially during the Hanse Sail).
At the end of the two piers are the pier lights, one in red and one in green. With a light height of around 14 meters, they are impossible to miss, but their appearance is more reminiscent of two lighthouses. In Rostock, we affectionately call these two “twins.” If it’s really stormy, you shouldn’t go all the way to the tip of the pier, but rather stay near the pier wall. Otherwise, the waves will give you a powerful full-body shower.
6. Church and Church Square
The Church Square is located in the heart of Warnemünde’s city center, between the spa gardens and the Alter Strom (Old Strom). Surrounding the square are numerous shops, restaurants, cafés, and bakeries. You’ll also find a supermarket, a bank, a pharmacy, and a post office here. Guido’s Coffee Bar and the ice cream at Aloha Warnemünde are highly recommended. The church is open Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (admission is free).
7. Warnemünde Lighthouse
One of our absolute highlights in Warnemünde is definitely the view from the 30.60-meter-high lighthouse. It is the landmark of the small Baltic Sea resort and always our favorite photo subject. From the visitor platform, you have a magnificent view of Warnemünde, the sea, the beach, and the harbor entrance. The lighthouse is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. between Easter and the beginning of October (admission: €2).
9. The Teapot in Warnemünde
Another Warnemünde sight is our so-called “Teapot”. This is the striking building right next to the lighthouse and the beach promenade. The distinctive roof was designed by civil engineer Ulrich Müther, and the restaurant by architect Erich Kaufmann. This three-story building now houses a restaurant, a bakery, souvenir shops, and an ice cream parlor. In addition, the Teepott is a listed building due to its curved, hypar-shell roof construction.
10. Warnemünde Beach Promenade
A special highlight in Warnemünde is certainly the approximately 2-kilometer-long beach promenade, which begins directly behind the Alter Strom (Old River). The promenade takes you past restaurants and hotels, chic beach villas, and wide sand dunes. Only pedestrians are allowed here, as cars and cyclists are not allowed on the promenade. This is a good thing, as it allows you to stroll up and down the promenade in complete relaxation. Again and again, you’ll pass benches where you can take a break and breathe in the fresh sea air.
11. Warnemünde Beach and Highlights
The beach in Warnemünde is considered the widest beach on the Baltic Sea coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and awaits you with a width of up to 200 meters. The soft sand and shallow shore are perfect for a long day at the beach. Numerous sports opportunities are offered here, whether it’s beach volleyball, SUP, surfing, kite flying, or even beach soccer.
We love to hang out at beach entrance 11 at the Supremesurf Beachhouse. Here you’ll find cool drinks, deck chairs, relaxing sounds from the speakers, and plenty of action. The bar is open every weekend and on public holidays in May, June, and September. During the high season (July and August), the Beachhouse is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Various water sports activities are offered (SUP, windsurfing, surfing & wingsurfing).
12. Weekly Market and Fish Market
If you’re ever in Warnemünde on a weekend, be sure to visit the weekly market on the church square. It takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, baked goods, meat and sausage products, there are also olives, delicatessen, eggs, and much more. Fish lovers will get their money’s worth at the Warnemünde fish market on the middle pier. Here, you’ll find various fishermen and fishmongers with their stalls offering a wide selection of fish (Winter: November 1st – March 31st from 8am to 5pm | Summer: April 1st – October 31st from 8am to 6pm).
13. Harbor Tour on a Pleasure Boat
Across the Alter Strom, several ships and boats are available for excursions. We recently took a short harbor tour (1 hour) and learned more about Rostock’s overseas port and its terminals. That was really very interesting! On board, we were able to enjoy a coffee and a snack. We paid €15 per person for the one-hour tour (provider: Käpp’n Brass). However, various tours are offered along the Alter Strom, so it’s best to check things out in person. The MS Baltica even offers tours to Kühlungsborn or Graal Müritz.
14. Cruise Ships & Overseas Ferries
From Rostock, the large ferries sail over to Denmark and Sweden. You can start your short trip with TT-Line and Stenaline. Up to 17 crossings take place daily, bringing passengers and many vehicles to Sweden and Denmark. Not only ferries depart from the overseas port, but also huge cruise ships. This year, more than 160 cruise ship calls are scheduled for Rostock-Warnemünde. On the following page, you can see which ships are arriving and departing: Warnemünde Cruise Ships.
Excursions and Activities in the Surrounding Area
We’d like to share some great excursion tips with you that are truly worthwhile. Grab a bike and cycle the approximately 10 kilometers along the sea to Nienhagen. Here you’ll find the mystical Ghost Forest, which you shouldn’t miss. Here you’ll witness a wonderful natural spectacle with a truly enchanting forest, a rugged cliff, and stunning views. It takes about 20 minutes by car.
If you enjoy hiking, we recommend a trip to the Rostock Heath, which lies between Graal-Müritz and Markgrafenheide. The forest area, covering approximately 6,000 hectares, awaits you with unique landscapes, hiking trails, and the coast. The Stoltera Nature Reserve is located not far from Diedrichshagen on the coast, west of Warnemünde. The area includes a coastal forest, cliffs, and beach, stretching approximately 3 km along the Baltic Sea coast. Tip: Visit the Wilhelmshöhe viewing point.
Our best café and ice cream tips
Warnemünde is home to numerous restaurants, cafés, and bakeries. We recommend a stop at the Warnemünde LadenCafé, where you can enjoy delicious locally produced ice cream as well as lovingly prepared bagels, soups, and drinks. There are also many lovely little things (cups, hats, pictures, jewelry, etc.) in the back of the café. You can also get a good coffee at the HW-Shapes Surfshop.
We can also recommend the Mahlwerk Coffee, which is located just behind the pedestrian bridge by the train station. Guido’s Coffee Bar on the church square is also a popular meeting place for a delicious coffee and a large slice of cake. The Eiscafé Aloha Warnemünde awaits you with a large selection of ice cream and great drinks. Don’t miss an ice cream at the Danish Ice Cream Paradise!
Hotels in Warnemünde
Warnemünde has numerous hotels, a cool hostel, and plenty of vacation apartments. We’ve listed some of our favorites for you in the following overview. There are, of course, many more hotels; just take a look at the results list on Booking.com*. You can also find vacation apartments there, or alternatively, here: Vacation Apartments Warnemünde.
Special Events & Festivals in Warnemünde
In the following overview, you’ll find the biggest events that take place in Warnemünde every year. If you plan to come to Warnemünde at this time, we recommend booking suitable accommodation in advance. You can find even more events in Warnemünde and Rostock here: Event Calendar.
Arrival & Onward Travel
By car: If you are coming from Berlin, follow the A19 to the Hochseehafen (high-sea port) and then drive through the toll-free Warnow Tunnel. Alternatively, take the B103 (urban motorway) and follow the signs to Warnemünde. From Berlin to Warnemünde, it takes about 2.5 hours. From Hamburg, follow the A20 to the Rostock exit and then follow the B103 to Warnemünde. From Hamburg, it takes about 2 hours to get to Warnemünde.
By train: Deutsche Bahn* trains also take you to the Baltic Sea resort of Warnemünde. Take the train to Rostock Hauptbahnhof and then take the S-Bahn to Warnemünde. Tickets start at €17.90. From Berlin, you can even take the IC train directly to Warnemünde (from €19.90). We used to travel from Berlin to Warnemünde all the time in the summer and then enjoy a wonderful day at the beach.
By bus: Flixbus* buses also go to Warnemünde. You can start from Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Weimar, or Erfurt, among others. Many other connections are also possible with a change of trains. Tickets start at €9.99.
Warnemünde Sights – Our Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our article about Warnemünde’s sights and travel tips. Warnemünde is definitely a great travel destination at any time of year and has a lot to offer. We love our walks by the sea, the dunes, the chatter of the seagulls, the soft sand, and the clear water. In summer, it’s naturally quite busy up here, yet the beach is never completely crowded. Warnemünde is perfect for a winter wellness holiday or a summer family holiday. Of course, we can also recommend a trip in autumn or spring.
