City guide · State capital · Sailing City on the Baltic
Kiel
Sailing City.
The Kiellinie promenade, the Laboe Naval Memorial, the Kiel Fjord, St. Nikolai church and the Kiel Canal. The city guide for Kiel - attractions, hotels, districts and news.
24
Attractions
18
Hotels
30
Restaurants
12
Districts
Highlights
Attractions in Kiel
Düsternbrook
Kiellinie Promenade
A roughly 3.5-kilometer waterfront promenade right on the Kiel Fjord - Kiel's favorite place to stroll, with views of ships, sailboats and the opposite shore.
Free entry
City Center
Kiel Town Hall Tower
The 67-meter tower of Kiel's town hall from 1911, whose shape recalls the campanile in Venice. A viewing platform offers panoramic views over the city and fjord.
from 3 EUR
City Center
St Nikolai Church
Kiel's oldest church, dating from the 13th century, on the Alter Markt, fronted by Ernst Barlach's sculpture "The Spirit Fighter".
Free entry
City Center
Holstenstraße
One of Germany's oldest pedestrian zones and Kiel's central shopping street, with shops, department stores and the Asmus-Bremer-Platz.
Free entry
City Center
Kiel Castle
The former residence of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf on the fjord shore, today a culture and events venue.
Free entry
City Center
Alter Markt
The historic market square at the heart of Kiel's old town, with St Nikolai Church, lined with cafés and restaurants.
Free entry
Tours & Tickets · GetYourGuide
Tours and Experiences in Kiel
Kiel sits at the head of a long Baltic Sea inlet in Germany's far north. Book a harbor cruise on the Förde, ride up the tower at the Marine-Ehrenmal Laboe (the Laboe Naval Memorial), or join a guided walk through the city center.
* Affiliate - booking runs through GetYourGuide. If you book through these links we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Along the Kiellinie
Kiel districts
City Center
Old Town, the Holstenstraße shopping street, the town hall and the Old Market - Kiel's historic heart on the Hörn.
Düsternbrook
The Kiellinie promenade, the castle, the state parliament and grand fjord-side villas along the west bank.
Gaarden
A colorful, lively east-bank quarter with shipyard heritage, diversity and a weekly market.
Wik
Naval harbor, the Tirpitz harbor and the canal-side path - maritime Kiel between fjord and Kiel Canal.
Holtenau
The locks, lighthouse and Tiessenkai quay on the Kiel Canal - front-row ship spotting.
Schreventeich
A period quarter around the idyllic Schreven park - green, quiet and popular.
Where to stay
Top hotels in Kiel
City Center
ATLANTIC Hotel Kiel
Modern 4-star hotel right by the harbor with fjord views, spa and restaurant.
from
139 EUR / night
City Center
Steigenberger Conti Hansa Kiel
Elegant 4-star hotel on the fjord with wellness area, restaurant and boat jetty.
from
145 EUR / night
City Center
GHOTEL hotel & living Kiel
Modern design hotel with serviced apartments, central near the station and harbor.
from
99 EUR / night
City Center
IntercityHotel Kiel
Dependable business hotel right at the main station with a free local transport ticket.
from
95 EUR / night
City · Business · Culture
Kiel news
Kieler Woche 2026: program confirmed - nine days of sailing, music and the fjord
The north's biggest summer festival returns: from 20 to 28 June, the fjord and the city center turn into a vast festival mile centered on sailing.
Windjammer Parade: tall ships crown the Kieler Woche
To close the Kieler Woche, the Windjammer Parade once again leads dozens of traditional sailing ships and historic vessels across the fjord.
GEOMAR: new long-term study on the state of the Baltic Sea launched
Kiel's Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research is investigating in a new project how warming and oxygen depletion are affecting the Baltic Sea.