Kiel: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 69 - 169 Lüneburg Haus
 Offering self-catering apartments, free Wi-Fi internet, and seasonal cuisine, this historic hotel is just a 2-minute walk from Kiel Castle.
All of th… MoreEUR 85 - 250 Maritim Hotel Bellevue Kiel
 Boasting wonderful views of the Firth of Kiel, this 4-star hotel near the city centre offers direct access to spa facilities and the ferry line servin… MoreEUR 35 - 191 InterCityHotel Kiel
 This modern hotel offers well-equipped rooms, harbour views and free use of the in-house fitness centre. The InterCityHotel is located next to Kiel Ma… MoreEUR 63 - 120 Hotel Wiking
 The Hotel Wiking offers rooms with balcony, free Wi-Fi and free private parking. It is located in the centre of Kiel and enjoys easy motorway access.
… MoreEUR 55 - 86 Hotel Kieler Förde
 This 3-star hotel is located next to the Kiel Fjord, just 10 km from Kiel city centre. It offers bright rooms, free Wi-Fi and a restaurant serving reg… MoreEUR 64 - 120 Hotel Waffenschmiede
 Located directly on Kiel Canal, this non-smoking hotel in the Holtenau district of Kiel offer rooms with cable TV, a restaurant specialising in meat a… MoreEUR 49 - 170 Nordic Hotel am Kieler Schloss
 The Nordic Hotel am Kieler Schloss offers quiet rooms, free Wi-Fi and a daily breakfast buffet. It is located in central Kiel, close to Kiel Castle an… MoreEUR 64 - 215 Nordic Hotel Astor
 Spacious rooms with free Wi-Fi await you here on Kiel´s main shopping street. The ship terminals and the main bus and railway stations are a 5-m… MoreEUR 37 - 282 Steigenberger Conti Hansa
 This modern, 4-star hotel offers elegant accommodation and free, on-site parking, right in the heart of Kiel. It lies directly opposite Kiel Fjord and… MoreEUR 55 - 140 VCH-Hotel Am Segelhafen
 This hotel is located on Kiel’s east shore, close to the sailing marina Schwentine, along which there are a walking paths, and only 10 minutes away … MoreEUR 105 - 201 Romantik Hotel Kieler Kaufmann
 This 4-star Superior hotel is set in a large, park-like garden which extends to the Kiel Fjord. It offers regional dishes, a spacious spa area and ind… More
 This family-run, 4-star hotel in Kiel offers elegant rooms and free use of the spa with indoor swimming pool. It lies in Hasseldieksdamm, 5 km from th… MoreEUR 60 - 140 Rabes mD Hotel Kiel
 This hotel in Kiel city centre offers modern rooms and a convenient location, just a short walk from the main railway station, the Kiel Fjord and the … MoreEUR 55 - 150 Hotel Flämischer Hof
 Located beside Kiel´s historic quarter, this hotel offers bright rooms and a complimentary breakfast buffet. Enjoy this peaceful setting close t… MoreEUR 57 - 310 Hotel Dietrichsdorfer Hof
 This privately-run hotel is located just to the north-east of the Baltic Sea port of Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, at the Ostuferhafen freight harbour.… MoreEUR 39 - 140 Basic Hotel Ostseehalle
 Free Wi-Fi and a complimentary breakfast await you at this budget hotel in the heart of Kiel. The city hall and the Sparkassen-Arena (formerly the Ost… MoreEUR 65 - 245 Best Western Hotel Kiel
 This modern, 4-star hotel in the Südfriedhof district of Kiel offers tastefully furnished rooms and free Wi-Fi internet access, just 500 metres away … MoreEUR 52 - 180 Basic Hotel City
 Peacefully located in the centre of Kiel, this 3-star hotel offers non-smoking rooms and a rich, complimentary breakfast buffet. The city hall and the… MoreEUR 64 - 190 Avantage Sporthotel
 This sports hotel offers comfortable rooms and indoor sports facilities on the southern outskirts of Kiel, a 5-minute drive from the city centre and 1… MoreEUR 119 - 369 ATLANTIC Hotel Kiel
 This 4-star hotel is located in the centre of Kiel, directly opposite Kiel Main Station and 100 metres from Kiel Fjord. It offers modern rooms with fr… MoreEUR 74 - 249 Comfort Hotel tom Kyle
 This 3-star hotel offers rooms and apartments with free Wi-Fi and free breakfast buffet. It is a 5-minute walk from Kiel Fjord and the old town.
All … MoreEUR 37 - 185 GHOTEL hotel & living Kiel
 This 3-star hotel lies in the green Kronshagen district of Kiel, a 5-minute drive from the historic city centre. On-site parking is free and Wi-Fi is … MoreEUR 80 - 666 Hotel Berliner Hof
 This family-run, 3-star Superior hotel offers free internet, free use of local buses and free entry to the nextdoor spa. It is located 100 metres from… MoreEUR 65 - 109 Hotel Consul
 This 3-star hotel is a 5-minute walk from Kiel Train Station and the Böllhornkai Quay. It offers rooms with free wired internet, daily breakfast buff… MoreEUR 69 - 120 Hotel an der Hörn
 Set in the immediate vicinity of the Kieler Förde bay, this modern, 3-star hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Kiel´s railway station, main pede… More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kiel: Guide
Kiel is the capital city of the Germany|German state of Schleswig-Holstein and has a population of roughly 240,000. It is located at the Baltic Sea at the end of the "Kieler Förde".
Understand
During the second World War, Kiel was severely bombed, because of its submarine-producing shipyard. Both civil and military ships are being built in Kiel nowadays and the high cranes dominate the eastern shore of the Förde.
The bombing destroyed almost all historic buildings in Kiel and even the older looking buildings, like the town hall, were build after WW2. So, if you come to the "Kieler Schloss" (Kieler castle) dont't be disappointed. There isn't much left of the oringinal building.
During the rebuilding after WW2 , mostly modern architecture was used.
Get in
By boat
Kiel serves as the German ferry terminaus for the ferries to Oslo, Finland and Gothenburg, Sweden, with a summer service to the Danish Island of Langeland.
As many vessels pass through Kiel-Holtenau on their journey through the locks of the Kieler Canal, you could try your luck there for freighter travel.
By train
Kiel Hauptbahnhof is located directly adjacent to the main bus terminal and across the road from the central shopping district. Kiel is connect to the DB rail system with regular RE and IC services to Hamburg and beyond. Transfers can be made in Flensburg or Lubeck to Danish Rail.
By bus
A number of bus lines run services to - or through - Kiel. A weekly bus leaves Kiel and travels via Poland and the Baltic states to Tallinn, Estonia.
By plane
Kiel has its own airport in "Holtenau" (north-west). Planes of the size of a BAe 146 can start and land. Charter flights leave for other Scandanavian destinations. At the moment, there are no regular services.
The nearest major airport is Hamburg, about 100km/one hour by car away. Another possibility is the airport Lübeck, about 80 km/1h 20 min away, where Ryanair operates some low cost flights each day.
Get around
Kiel has a relatively good public transport system based on buses and ferries, both operated by VRK . The taxi service is good, but expensive.
Kiel is very flat, and bicycles can be hired at various places. It is quite an easy day to ride from Kiel to Laboe, catch a ferry to Strande, and cycle back to Kiel.
See
The main tourist attraction is the Kieler Woche ("Kiel Week") at the end of June, the largest sailing event of the world and one of Germany's largest festivals. Apart from the sailing, the entire centre of the town is transformed into an international food and craft fair, with regular big name performers appearing nightly. Due to Kiels proximity to the North Pole, it stays light until well into the evening making for a spectacular event.
Also famous is in Laboe (part of Kiel on the east-side) a submarine from the 2. World War at the shore and the (Navy Memorial) with a high tower.
Kiel is famous for the Nord-Ostsee Kanal, the worlds busiest canal. It is possible to walk or cycle for almost the entire length (99km) directly along the canal from Kiel to Brunsbüttel (estuary of the Elbe, on the North Sea Coast), overnighting in the town of Rendsburg.
Kiel is the home of the German Baltic fleet, and it is common to see all types of german warships and submarines in the "Förde", including the sail training vessel Gorch Fock .
Do
There are two free city-magazine where you can check for things to do. Get a paper copy in a cafe or shop in the begining of the month or check online Ultimo and Station .
Online this one has some more information too: Kiel Magazin .
Buy
A lot of shops are located at the pedestrian zone "Holstenstraße" and in the mall "Sophienhof". There is also a number of good ships and cafes in the old town centre near the "Nikolaikirche" (Nikolai church), and on "Holtenaustraße" near "Dreicksplatz".
Eat
The best ever German/Turkish Doner kebabs can be gotten from the Kieler Hauptbahnhof. For something different, try the "Kartoffel Keller" (Potato cellar), where everything has potato as the theme - the potato pizza is very good. Other good cafes and pubs can be found in the old city centre.
Nice breakfast buffet in the weekend in Cafe Loft next to the water near the "Reventloubrücke".
Drink
Bars
Clubs
Kiel's clubs are spread out all across the city. Although some locals prefer doing the one-hour drive to Hamburg to go out, Kiel has some clubs that are worth being checked out. Make sure you have had a look at the Kiel4Kiel site before going out to get the most accurate information on all nightlive events. Most clubs have a 5 € cover fee.
Emergency A house lounge club close to Kiel's only street considered to be red light district.
Not exactly in the category of clubs are the various parties that take places in different parts of the city. Traditionally on Thursdays between October and April all the big university departments organize Studentenparties on and off campus. Expect somewhat cheap drinks and hundreds of university students dancing to a mix of pop, rock and r'n'b. Sometimes there are even live bands or second dance floors. On the weekends several fancier parties are hosted in unusual locations throughout Kiel. You'll be dancing to house music in a show room of a car dealer or in the terminal of the ferry to Scandinavia. Tickets for these parties can bought in advance which will save you money and time. Check the Kiel4Kiel site to find out where tickets are sold or ask a local student.
When it comes down to live music, Kiel is not the city where you'll be able to see big headliners. If you into that you have to go to Hamburg. Still, you might be able to listen to some decent live music while staying in Kiel. The Halle400, the MAX and the community-operated Pumpe host local and international acts. Surprisingly good German or Scandinavian acts can sometimes be spotted in the Schaubude or the Nachtcafé for very little money. On occasion, some clubs like the Luna host national-recognized DJs. The best place to find out who's playing and to get a ticket is Konzertkasse Streiber close to the Ostseehalle.
The Youth Hostel is close to the Hauptbahnhof. There are a number of moderatly priced hotels in the city centre. For some Olympic history, stay at Olympiazentrum in Schilksee, the sailing athletes village for the 1976 Munich Games. Top end is the Strande Hotel in Strande, or the Kieler-Kauffman just north of the city centre.
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikitravel article "Kiel". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license.
Pumpe A community-run cultural center showing independant movies, providing room for community projects, concerts, bars and parties. On Thursday night students dance soul, reggae and funk at the FunkPump party.
Luna Located in the Bergstraße this club hostst parties ranging from electronic tunes to Soul/Funk and Ragga. Cover charge might be higher if nationally-recognized DJs operate the turnables.
Max Standard R'n'B, techno club.
Schaubude
Traumgmbh Incorporating a restaurant, an independent movie theater, and a club, the Traumgmbh is likely to offer something that is just right for you. If you're over the age of 30, the Ü30 party is THE party to go to. Watch out! They'll check your ID!
TucholskyBeing by far the most famous club in Kiel, this somewhat battered and shady place is located in a former parking garage. A formerly very popular club among students now hosts a fairly young crowd that dances to pop, rock, r'n'b, techno, punk, and indie on four dance-floors (on the weekends). You can still get a feeling for the old days on Tuesdays at the Tequilla-Party. The Tucholksy has the most diverse crowd, the cheapest drinks and the poorest airconditioning - especially in the summer. Not a clean and neat place but the only option if you feel like partying on Sundays through Wednesdays. No cover on weeknights.
Vinyl The Vinyl is well-known for its Indie and Alternative music parties "Hörsturz" and "KingKongKlub" every first or third Saturday respectively.
Weltruf The interior of the Weltruf is dominated by a ship which has been built inside and cannot be removed.Parties
Live Music
Sleep
Get out