The splendid waterfront promenade known as the Kiellinie begins northeast of the Schlossgarten. Sailing clubs, a tiny aquarium, cafes and restaurants line the way, and there is an ever-changing series of vistas of the harbour and huge ships. Eventually the 3.5km-promenade becomes the Hindenburgufer. About 2km from the start, at Reventloubrücke, you can get hourly ferries back to near the train station or on to Laboe.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.44 MILES
With its steeple towering above the Altstadt (old town), the Dom St Petri provides an excellent point of orientation. It’s also home to the intricate…
26.15 MILES
Vikings ruled from their base here at Haithabu, across the Schlei from Schleswig, some 1000 to 1200 years ago. Located just outside the historic…
Schleswig-Holstein Landesmuseum
27.61 MILES
The Schleswig-Holstein Landesmuseum, in Schloss Gottorf, is filled with art treasures. A roomful of paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder and a wood…
Naturpark Holsteinische Schweiz
17.23 MILES
Sprawling over 753 sq km between Lübeck to the south and Kiel to the north, the Naturpark Holsteinische Schweiz is the region's largest outdoor playground…
27.84 MILES
View a reconstruction of the famous Gottorfer Globus, which has been placed in its own house, a five-minute walk through the castle's lovely formal…
10.76 MILES
The 99km-long Nord-Ostsee-Kanal reaches the Baltic Sea from the North Sea at Kiel, with some 60,000 ships passing through every year. It's easy to view…
Schleswig-Holsteinisches Freilichtmuseum
5.06 MILES
Beekeepers, bakers, potters and many more traditional craftspeople ply their trade in Molfsee, 6km south of Kiel. This excellent museum features some 70…
24.37 MILES
This tiny fishing village is near the mouth of the Schlei. It makes for a good stroll, with some historic buildings and old boats. You can cycle here …
Nearby Kiel attractions
0.29 MILES
This small aquarium has a good collection of marine life from the Baltic and North Seas.
0.84 MILES
Atmospherically located in an imposing former fish market, Kiel's maritime museum tells the story of the city's maritime heritage. Newly redone, it's a…
3. Schleswig-Holsteinisches Freilichtmuseum
5.06 MILES
Beekeepers, bakers, potters and many more traditional craftspeople ply their trade in Molfsee, 6km south of Kiel. This excellent museum features some 70…
6.24 MILES
Hundreds of subs like this one once called Kiel home; Wolfgang Petersen’s seminal film Das Boot (1981) was set on a similar U-boat. You can climb through…
6.28 MILES
Nearly 100m tall, this memorial was opened in 1936 to commemorate German seamen killed in WWI. After WWII it became a memorial for sailors killed in both…
10.76 MILES
The 99km-long Nord-Ostsee-Kanal reaches the Baltic Sea from the North Sea at Kiel, with some 60,000 ships passing through every year. It's easy to view…
16.08 MILES
This small interpretation centre gives a good overview of the park and its natural history.
8. Naturpark Holsteinische Schweiz
17.23 MILES
Sprawling over 753 sq km between Lübeck to the south and Kiel to the north, the Naturpark Holsteinische Schweiz is the region's largest outdoor playground…