Whether you are looking for a beach holiday or want to explore the history, architecture and culture of various places, especially the Hanseatic cities, or simply enjoy nature and breathtaking scenery, the cities by the Baltic Sea offers you all these alternatives, with new attractions to discover every day.
One of these cities is Rostock – a port city in Northern Germany and home to one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1419. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century and boasts with many historical sights such as the Marienkirche or the walls and gates of the old town.
We spent a wonderful day in Rostock, we were lucky with good weather and made a list of the city’s major attractions.
Alter Werftkran Stadthafen is the city’s old seaport which operated at this location until 1960. In the past, it was a strategic defense point, with three old towers standing as a testament to the days gone by.
The Neuer Markt and the Kröpeliner street are the heart of Rostock. There are lots of shops, restaurants and cafes here, and if there’s a festival or concert going on, it’s very likely to be held in the middle of the square. The pastel-colored Renaissance houses, the magnificent town hall and the Marienkirche are the main attractions to be found in the Neuer Markt.
Kröpeliner Straße, Rostock’s main shopping street, stretches between Tor Kröpeliner – one of the gates of the old town – and Neuer Markt. In the pedestrian area there are gorgeous medieval buildings, the University of Rostock and a small park on the University Square.
The town hall is represented by a group of buildings consisting of three bodies, whose origin dates back to the 13th century. It is the city’s oldest “surviving” building and one of the most important buildings in the Baltic Sea region, along with the town halls of Stralsund and Lübeck.
Alter Strom is a kilometer long canal that runs between Warnemünde beach and the ferry terminal. On sunny days you can walk along the canal, past old houses, souvenir shops or restaurants where you must try fish dishes.
Leuchtturm Warnemünde is a lighthouse located near Warnemünde beach . It is 36.9 meters tall and was commissioned in 1898. Built of bricks and with wrought iron railings on its platforms, the lighthouse is the main landmark of the resort.
At the base of the tower is the Teepott, a structure dating back to the GDR, which now houses cafes, restaurants and bars. The original building was built in 1920, but in 1945 it was the “victim” of a fire. Two decades later, the new building was erected, a construction that lasted only seven months.
Warnemünde Beach is only a 15-minute drive from Rostock and is known for its 15 km long water sports. Let’s not forget that it opens onto the Baltic Sea , so the water is quite cold, but you can enjoy a walk on the fine white sand. Along the beach there are also areas for sports such as football and volleyball or places where you can have barbecues and bonfires.
Of course, there are many other interesting things to do and see in Rostock, such as: the former prison run by the state security service, STASI, from the time of the GDR (1950); The Zoo – the largest in Northern Germany, spread over an area of 56 hectares; a few minutes’ drive from Rostock , in the town of Bad Doberan, you can take a 40-minute ride on a train pulled by a steam locomotive, plus dozens of museums and parks await you to explore.
If you are planning to come to Rostock, here is the city’s official website, where you will find details, brochures, maps and many other materials to help you plan your holiday.
After a sunny day in Rostock, we headed to Lübeck, where the weather didn’t really cooperate, but we managed to enjoy a little bit of the superb architecture of a few sights.
(Rostock – May 2020)
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