Between greenhouses, art collections, places of remembrance and the fjord promenade, Kiel reveals itself in many different ways: from plants from diverse climate zones to the city’s maritime history. Plan your discoveries around what matters most to you: nature, art, historical remembrance or experiences by the water.
A garden spanning different climate zones
Kiel Botanical Garden has a history stretching back 350 years. Its display greenhouses recreate habitats from around the world, each featuring typical plant species. So you will encounter not only a wide variety of plants: the distinctive features of each climate zone are brought to life for visitors.
Practical details about visiting are also good to know: the Botanical Garden is open 365 days a year; admission is free, except for some special events. Opening arrangements may change, so check the university’s latest information before your visit.
Art and city history at different locations
At the Warleberger Hof City Museum, history is tangible in the building itself. The museum is housed in one of Kiel’s oldest buildings: a former aristocratic residence dating from 1616. This historic building provides a concrete setting for exploring the city.
A different focus awaits you at the Flandernbunker. It hosts exhibitions, guided tours and events that explore Kiel’s role as a military base, past and present. The site commemorates the Allied air raids on Kiel and the forced labour used to build the bunker. Alongside the military role, the experiences and consequences of war are also at the centre of attention.
Kunsthalle zu Kiel is situated on elevated ground above Kiel Fjord, by the Schlossgarten. Its collection focuses on 19th-century art, Expressionism and international contemporary art. Outdoor sculptures, including works by Per Kirkeby, extend the exhibition space into the Schlosspark. In this way, the Kunsthalle reaches beyond its collection and into the outdoors.
Maritime history takes centre stage in the historic Fischhalle (Fish Hall). It has been a listed building since 1972 and is included in the city’s register of cultural monuments. The Shipping Museum Fischhalle, founded in 1978, underwent extensive renovation in 2014. It offers a comprehensive insight into Kiel’s maritime history, with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. Unlike the art themes explored at the Kunsthalle, the focus here is explicitly on the city’s development as a maritime place.
Experience the water: Kiellinie and Falckensteiner Strand
The Kiellinie runs right along the water, from Ostseekai to the naval base in Wik. The promenade is a popular place for walking, cycling and relaxing. Its route gives the water a clear role in orientation: it accompanies you from one named end point to the other.
At Falckensteiner Strand, the view shifts from the waterside path to the coast. It is Kiel’s longest beach, with fine sand and views of cruise ships and ferries passing so close they seem almost within reach. While the Kiellinie is associated with walking, cycling and relaxing, the beach is defined by its sand and the ships passing by. These two places thus offer different perspectives on exploring Kiel’s waterside landscape.
The cultural discoveries also differ considerably: Warleberger Hof and Fischhalle give historic buildings and the city’s history a place, the Flandernbunker is devoted to remembrance and military history, and the Kunsthalle to different periods of art. Together with the garden, promenade and beach, they offer a range of options in which you can give nature, culture and water the emphasis that suits your interests.
Discover more destinations: Kiel, Pries, Schilksee, Stormarn, Amrum, Steinburg, Duchy of Lauenburg, Lübeck.
For the main travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.
