Kiel, located on the shores of the bay of the same name, is the capital of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein. Kiel was badly damaged during the bombings in the Second World War, when almost all the historical monuments of the city were destroyed. Most of the buildings, including the Kiel Castle, were rebuilt after the war.

The city is also the birthplace of the famous Kiel Week, one of the most important events in the world of sailing.

How to get to Kiel

According to liuxers.com, Kiel has its own airport, which only accepts charter flights from Scandinavian countries. The nearest major airports are in Hamburg (approximately 100 km from Kiel, approximately 1 hour drive) and Lübeck (80 km from Kiel, approximately 20 minutes drive). You can also get from Berlin by bus (fare from 15 EUR one way, travel time 6 hours).

By ferry from Oslo, Norway (travel time 20 hours, service organized by Color Lines), Swedish Gothenburg (travel time 15.5 hours, service organized by Stena Lines and Lithuanian Klaipeda (travel time 25 hours, DFDS Lisco). Freight ferries twice a week they come from St. Petersburg and once a week from Kaliningrad (the schedule changes from season to season, you need to check in advance).

Shopping

Most of the shops are concentrated on Holstenstraße, which is on the list of the longest shopping miles in Germany. The city has large shopping centers Sophienhof and Citti-Park. Many cafes can be found in the Old Town, as well as on Holstenstraße near St. Nicholas Church. A shopping tour can be arranged by walking along Holtenauer Straße.

Kitchen

Pears (Birnen), beans (Bohnen), bacon (Speck) and collards (Kale) are considered the main ingredients of the cuisine of the Schleswig-Holstein region, and traditional dishes are Mehlbüdel – large dumplings served with bacon and sweet sauce; Schnüsch – stew of ham, potatoes and vegetables; black pudding with Schwarzsauer vinegar; soup Buttermilk with dumplings and Kieler Sprotten – smoked Baltic sprat.

Entertainment and attractions in Kiel

The oldest building in the city is the Church of St. Nicholas (Nikolaikirche) of the 13th century. In the commune of Laboe you can see the submarine U-995 type VII-C, which was used by the German Navy during the Second World War, and the memorial.

The Kiel Canal is considered the busiest in the world, and its length is 99 km. It is nice to walk along the embankment or ride a bike to Brunsbüttel, located at the mouth of the Elbe on the North Sea coast, and stay overnight in Rendsburg. Kiel is also considered to be the birthplace of the German Baltic Fleet, and therefore all kinds of German warships and submarines can often be seen here.

In spring and summer, you can have a great time in the city on one of the many beaches – Kiel Strand, Laboe and others. For lovers of art and history, there is also entertainment to taste – these are the numerous museums of Kiel: zoological, geological, historical, industrial, military, as well as a museum of applied arts. The City Museum (Stadtmuseum) is also a must-see.

Weather in Kiel

The climate is moderate. The warmest months are July and August with a temperature of 16-18 degrees, the coldest months are December and January, when the thermometer drops to zero degrees and below.