Kiel

Kiel is the capital city of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein and has a population of roughly 240,000. It is located at the Baltic Sea at the end of the "Kieler Förde".

Understand

During the second World War Kiel was severely bombed, because of the submarine-producing shipyard. Both civil and military ships are being built in Kiel nowadays and the high cranes dominate the eastern shore of the Förde.

The bombing destroyed almost all historic buildings in Kiel and even the older looking buildings, like the town hall, were build after WW2.

Get in

Kiel is well connected to the railway-system (though most trains travel via Hamburg). There are daily ferrys to Oslo and Gothenburg as well as connections to the Baltic states.

By boat

As many vessels pass through Kiel-Holtenau on their journey through the locks of the Kieler Canal, you could try your luck there for freighter travel.

By Plane

Kiel has its own airport in "Holtenau" (north-west). Planes of the size of a BAe 146 can start and land. The nearest major airport is Hamburg.

Get around

Public transport in Kiel relies on buses and ferrys cross the Förde.

See

The main tourist attraction is the "Kieler Woche" (=Kiel Week) at the end of June, the largest sailing event of the world and one of Germany's largest festivals.
Also famous is in Laboe (part of Kiel on the east-side) a submarine from the 2. World War at the shore and the "Marine-Ehrenmal" (Navy Memorial) with a high tower.

Buy

A lot of shops are located at the pedestrian zone "Holstenstraße" and in the mall "Sophienhof".