The most beautiful cities of Schleswig-Holstein - Discover Germany (2024)

Noble princely castles, monumental brick buildings and tranquil half-timbered towns with sea or lake views - a city break in Germany's northernmost state is a charming alternative to the usual North Sea island vacation. We present 10 cities in Schleswig-Holstein that are particularly worth a visit.

Absolute highlight of the northernmost city Germany is the Renaissance moated castle of Glücksburg. The former seat of government of Danish kings is one of the most important castles in Northern Europe and is also an impressive sight thanks to the well-designed castle pond. Otherwise Glücksburg a quiet and stress-free town with beautiful beaches, the Fördeland-Therme adventure pool and an excellent surfing and sailing area right on the doorstep. In addition, one of the largest forest areas in Schleswig-Holstein extends around Glücksburg. Numerous hiking trails, a forest museum in the Glücksburg forest and the coastal hiking trail Fördesteig allow for varied active vacations. Tip: the 50-minute trip with the excursion boat "MS Viking" across the fjord to Flensburg.

Canals, bridges and gleaming white stepped gable houses - At first glance, the small town at the confluence of the Eider and Treene rivers looks like a Schleswig-Holstein "Little Amsterdam. Founded in 1621 as a trading center and place of refuge for Dutch emigrants persecuted for religious reasons, the "Dutchman's Town" has developed into an extremely worthwhile climatic health resort. As you stroll through the checkered streets of the planned town, you will pass numerous magnificent Dutch brick Renaissance buildings and churches of five different denominations. Among the many loving details in Friedrichstadt The house marks - mostly colorful reliefs of animals, coats of arms or professions above the entrance doors, which reveal something about the builder or former inhabitants of the respective house - are also part of the landscape. Well-developed bicycle paths lead into the charming surrounding countryside. A trip on a stand-up paddle board through the canals of Friedrichstadt will give you some thrills and wobbly legs, but is guaranteed to provide unique perspectives.

Almost a little warped appears the landmark of the Hanseatic city from a distance. Once the mighty Holsten Gate adorned the 50-Mark bill, today it is a beautiful museum at the entrance to the old town. In the historic old town you can stroll through narrow corridors and magnificent courtyards. There you have the opportunity to admire historic buildings such as the old town hall with its opulent facade or St. Marien, the third largest church in the republic. Trendy clothing stores, pretty goldsmith displays and cozy cafes invite you to store and linger. In addition Lübeck world famous for its marzipan. The most important producer is Niederegger, with a large store and small marzipan museum right next to the town hall. Lübeck's old town with its characteristic seven church towers was the first old town to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as a whole.

Historic half-timbered houses, old cobblestones and great views over the Elbe await you in the southernmost city of Schleswig-Holstein. Numerous houses renovated with great attention to detail make the old town of Lauenburg is the largest ensemble of monuments in the state. Above the city, the remains of the old castle and the princely garden recall the work of the Ascanian dukes in the Middle Ages. Also worth seeing is the Maria Magdalenen Church from the 13th century. The Elbe Navigation Museum is dedicated to all the people who spent their lives on and with the Elbe. Tours on modern passenger ships or historic steamboats on the surrounding waterways such as the Elbe, the Elbe-Lübeck Canal or the Elbe-Seiten Canal provide charming insights and views of the surrounding riverside landscape.

Surrounded by four lakes lies the old cathedral city on an island in the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park, which can only be reached via dams. The town's most important sight is the cathedral, the oldest of its kind in northern Germany. Built in the first quarter of the 13th century, the church is still one of Ratzeburg's defining buildings. Its art treasures include the oldest choir stalls in northern Germany, a magnificent Renaissance pulpit and Ernst Barlach's bronze figure of the beggar on crutches in the courtyard of the adjacent monastery. By the way, you have a particularly beautiful view of the cathedral from the water. You can easily circumnavigate the island city by excursion boat, pedal boat, electric boat or rowing boat. You should not miss a visit to a restaurant in the island town - numerous restaurants serve fine fish dishes with a view of the lake.

Jester, buffoon and critical zeitgeist - Throughout his life, the legendary figure Till Eulenspiegel held up a mirror to society. He is said to have died in 1350 in the Heilig-Geist-Hospital in Mölln. And the town keeps his memory alive. Ideal starting point for a walk through Mölln is the market square. Situated in the middle of the historic old town, you'll find the most important sights here in close proximity to each other: the Gothic town hall, St. Nicolai's Church, the Eulenspiegel fountain and memorial stone, and the museum. But also otherwise a walk through the alleys of the city in the southeast of Schleswig-Holstein is worthwhile. Well-preserved half-timbered houses, lovingly designed museums and a 40,000 m² spa park in the center await you. And then, of course, there's Till Eulenspiegel - the jester's face is emblazoned on storefronts, and he's available in baked goods and marzipan versions. He can be seen on puzzles and key chains, decorates picture books and smiles at you from the gables of some houses.

Imposing sailing ships, noble yachts and the historic saloon steamer Alexandra - the maritime atmosphere in the old harbor Flensburg's is unparalleled. In the local museum shipyard, you can see freight sailers and working boats from the 18th and 19th centuries. Picturesque merchants' courtyards and facades worth seeing from the Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist periods line the longest and most beautiful shopping mile in Schleswig-Holstein. Sugar and rum were once among the most important trade goods of the Flensburg merchants. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Flensburg's rum tradition, you can do so, for example, on a 90-minute guided tour of the Rum house Johannsen including a tasting and a look at production. During the summer months, Flensburg also hosts numerous maritime event highlights.

Theodor Storm city, attractive shopping destination, numerous leisure activities and a rich cultural and event program - HusumHusum, also called the "gray town by the sea" after a poem by Theodor Storm, is one of the most popular destinations on the North Sea coast. It is particularly attractive to get to know the beautiful town on the waterfront along the Husum Culture Trail. Starting at the Old Town Hall on the market square, you can visit the most important highlights of Husum, from St. Mary's Church, one of the most important works of classicism in the state, to Theodor Storm's birthplace and the "Tine", the bronze statue of a young Hallig Frisian woman. Alternatively, you can also go swimming, mudflat hiking, cycling or take boat trips - the central location in Husum Bay, including the direct vicinity of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, makes it possible.

Already at the entrance to the town you have the opportunity to visit Gottorf Castle, the first cultural jewel of the former Viking town. Schleswig to visit. It houses two of Schleswig-Holstein's state museums. The extensive grounds of the surrounding baroque garden are also home to the reconstructed Gottorf Globe, considered the first planetarium in history and one of the great wonders of the 17th century. The immediate location on the Schlei invites you to stroll directly on the water - be it in the Königswiesen city park or along the Schleipromenade, where you can often see sailing ships or excursion steamers during the summer months. Cultural history at your fingertips at the Viking Museum Haithabu. In the meantime, seven faithfully reconstructed Viking houses have been erected on the old settlement site opposite the present-day city of Schleswig, providing exciting insights into the living conditions of their inhabitants around 1000 years ago. A real highlight is the longship "Haithabu 1", one of the longest Viking ships in the world.

In Neumünster there is a lot going on. Great shopping opportunities and cultural monuments worth seeing make the city, located between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea in the center of Schleswig-Holstein, an ideal destination. Numerous owner-operated stores and small boutiques in the city center, the Holsten-Galerie and the large Designer Outlet are just as much a part of the cityscape as an adventure pool, the zoo and a sculpture park. International horse events take place in the Holstenhallen. Among the most beautiful buildings are the neo-Gothic town hall from 1900, the classicist Vicelin Church and the Caspar von Saldern House, the oldest architectural monument in Neumünster. Neumünster's importance as a former industrial city is reflected in the new exhibition opened in 2007. Cloth and Technology Textile Museum Invoice.

Cover photo: Husum harbor on a wintry evening © snapshotfreddy - stock.adobe.com