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Things to do in Kiel, Germany

Our most recommended things to do in Kiel, Germany

Kiel: 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

1. Kiel: 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

Experience the maritime atmosphere of Kiel from a different perspective with a 24-hour ticket for the hop-on and hop-off sightseeing bus. Marvel at the boats in the port from the open-top bus, and travel to the extreme end of the North Sea-Baltic Canal to visit the former fishing village of Kiel-Holtenau. Look at the many sailboats, ferries and freighters in the Kiel Fjord. Due to the natural seawater harbor, the imposing offshore ferries and cruise ships can be seen directly in the city. An informative and live audio commentary will provide you with information about Kiel's history and monuments, as well as interesting facts about the vibrant city along the way. See the distinctive towers of the shipyards and submarine memorial at Laboe from the eastern shore. Journey through the locks of the Kiel Canal, before driving through the former fishing village of Holtenau. Admire the Holtenauer Lighthouse, and get panoramic views of City Hall Tower in the distance. See the tower of the Kiel Opera House and the ruins of Kiel Castle. Return to the city center to walk among the fountains of Hiroshima Park, and discover a former estuary at the Kleinen Kiel. Route: Stop 1 - Hauptbahnhof Stop 2 - Schwedenkai Stop 3 - Ostseekai  Stop 4 - Reventloubrucke Stop 5 - HerthastraBe Stop 6 - NOK Schleuse Stop 7 - NOK Kanalfahre Stop 8 - RankestraBe  Stop 9 - Holtenauer StraBe

Kiel: Private Tour of City Highlights from Cruise Terminal

2. Kiel: Private Tour of City Highlights from Cruise Terminal

Look back on almost 800 years of history on a private tour of Kiel with a local guide. Although most buildings from the old days fell victim to the bombings and the fires of the Second World War, there is a lot to see such as the City Hall, the St. Nikolai Church, the Franciscan monastery, and more. Start your tour at the Ostseekai, where your ship is docked, and follow your guide through the huge ferries docked in the city’s Main Harbor before heading toward Kiel’s Old Town, the beating heart of the city. On the main square, find the Rathaus, or City Hall, which has shaped Kiel's image for more than 100 years. Admire this historic building that was built before the first world war. Then, spot the Kieler Hauptkirche, the town's oldest building, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Find out how the structure was damaged during a World War II bombing, and later rebuilt using modern forms and construction, such as concrete columns and ceiling.  Continue to the historic Kiel Franciscan Monastery, where fragments of the former monastery graveyard, parts from the cloister and refectory, and the church tower can still be viewed. Learn about the Franciscan monks who settled in northern Germany in the 1200s. See what once used to be the Kiel Castle, the origins of which go back to the city's foundation at the beginning of the 13th century, when a castle was built on the banks of the fjord. Over the centuries, the building suffered an eventful history before falling into disrepair.  Finally, make your way to Kiel’s old market square, whose reconstruction was realized with glass pavilions and shallow copper roofs to resemble the historic buildings. End the tour here and explore more of the city on your own, or ask your guide to escort you back to your ship. 

Kiel: Self-guided Old Town and Harbor Walking Tour

3. Kiel: Self-guided Old Town and Harbor Walking Tour

Acquire a nice overview of Kiel's culture and sights with an insightful city guide you can download on your Smartphone. Admire the famous views of the harbor and explore the main old town buildings. Learn about the city's history and the major events that have taken place here. Start the activity at any time by opening the link on your smartphone. Gaze at the huge ships and Baltic ferries that have shaped Kiel's image. Pass by the old town's main landmarks, including the venues of political and scientific events of international relevance. Get to know the city in an interactive way and bring along your friends or family. Take part in entertaining tasks at each tour stop and answer interesting questions to learn more about the area. *** Good to know *** You will receive the link to start the tour in an email directly after booking.

Kiel: Harbor Scavenger Hunt with GPS and Radio

4. Kiel: Harbor Scavenger Hunt with GPS and Radio

Discover the Port of Kiel with a modern scavenger hunt and enjoy the maritime flair of the city. You will start your tour at the Bahnhof Kiel, from where you will enjoy an exciting tour by foot and ferry in small teams of at least 2 people. With your GPS device you'll come across many local sights, such as the cruise terminal, the freight terminals, and the beautiful Kieler Förde. With luck you'll even find geocaches. You'll always have contact to the organizer and the other teams (in the event of multiple groups), with certain tasks only possible to be completed with the help of the organizer or other teams. As you will be using public radio frequencies don't be surprised when harbor workers or crews use the same frequency. You can choose from 2 different routes. The routes travel through the most beautiful parts of the harbor, which guarantee beautiful photographs and some peace away from the crowds.

All-in-One Hamburg Shore Excursion from Kiel Port

5. All-in-One Hamburg Shore Excursion from Kiel Port

Make the most of your time onshore and explore Hamburg on a guided tour from Kiel. Learn about Hamburg's essential role in the historic Hanseatic League, visit the ruins of St. Nicholas Church, and stroll down Hamburg's oldest street, Deischstrasse. Meet your driver in front of your cruise ship just after docking and climb aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. After a relaxing journey, arrive in Hamburg and meet your local tour guide. Enjoy a stroll through the historic heart of Hamburg and see the stunning Town Hall. As you walk, learn about Hamburg's role in the Hanseatic League from your guide. Continue to cross the ancient Trost bridge and visit the St Nikolas Church. As you stand next to this burnt-out shell of a church, learn how it acts as a way to remember the near-total destruction of the city during World War II. Leave the church and head down Deichstrasse, the oldest street in Hamburg. As you walk down this historic street, enjoy the view of the nearby Elbe River. Before returning to the bus, continue wandering down the river and through the scenic Landungsbrucke river walk. Drive over to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Speicherstadt, and see where historically traders stored their goods. Explore the Hafencity, the newest area of Hamburg which includes the iconic Elbphilharmonie. After your guided tour ends, enjoy 1 hour to explore Hamburg on your own. Grab lunch, buy some souvenirs, or explore one of Hamburg's museums. After returning to Kiel, you will have about 1.5 hours before your cruise departs, giving you time to explore Kiel or relax with a coffee.

Kiel: Exciting Self-Guided Outdoor-Escape-Game and adventure

6. Kiel: Exciting Self-Guided Outdoor-Escape-Game and adventure

Become a detective with an outdoor mystery game and discover the beauty of the city of Kiel. Visit places like the town hall, the city center, and many more. Download the app and follow the instructions to set up your Kiel murder mystery game. Learn about a fictional case and solve riddles and black stories to find the culprit. You will start the game at a popular sight in the city. The address you will find on your booking reservation. As you walk, hear a fictional story about a missing person. The victim is a former police officer and bestseller author who has disappeared along with his script. Follow the app to various locations to solve this mysterious case. At different locations, you will get access to some audio files or reports related to the criminal case and the missing author. You will meet his friends, listen to witnesses and read or listen to police reports. Maybe you will find out what happened and also get ahold of his script. Uncover hidden gems of Kiel during the game. Play with your friends and solve riddles anytime with your team.

Hamburg: Private One-Way Transfer to or from Kiel Port

7. Hamburg: Private One-Way Transfer to or from Kiel Port

Take advantage of an easy and direct transfer to or from your cruise ship docked in Kiel Port. Meet your driver and hop into your pristine and private vehicle. Your driver will safely load in your luggage and and begin the journey to or from your destination in Hamburg. Whether it's the airport, a hotel, or the train station, kick back and enjoy the views as you ride through the scenic north of Germany. Rely on your driver to get you there in good time on the best route. Upgrade your trip to Hamburg by adding a private walking tour of the city on the same or following day. Discover its history, local gems, and the best spots for taking photos.

Kiel's Historical Port: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

8. Kiel's Historical Port: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Explore the historical port of Kiel on a self-guided audio tour. You will receive the instructions on your voucher after booking. Visit the St. Nikolai Church, old market square, and more at your own pace with the help of an audio guide. Download the app and start near the main cruise ship terminal. You will see the Sailors’ Mutiny Memorial and the statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I in Kiel Castle. Hear about the compass Einstein invented, the last German Kaiser’s impact on the city, and many other stories. While walking alongside the harbor, sample the finest northern sausage by the sea. Listen to the audio guide and learn about Kiel's most loved citizens, the seals at the aquarium, and more. Try a world-famous German beer from the city’s old monastic brewery and soak in the views of the main river. During the tour, choose to pause the app at any time to take a break or spend more time seeing the sights. Delve deeper into the fascinating history of the city on this informative tour.

Kiel: Private Shore Excursion with Food & Beer Tasting

9. Kiel: Private Shore Excursion with Food & Beer Tasting

Enjoy a laidback stroll through the picturesque town of Kiel and come up close with some major landmarks in the company of your private guide. Explore the highlights of the Old Town, sample beers from a local brewery, and try the traditional smoked fish. Meet your guide at the location of your choice and sample the morning's catch with a freshly prepared fish roll. Walk past the huge ferries docked in the city's main harbor, then begin to make your way toward Kiel's Old Town, where you'll see the iconic Town Hall, central church, and monastery. Try artisanal beers brewed locally and, appropriate for a maritime city, taste Kiel's traditional delicacy of smoked fish. Enjoy the soft fish cooked in a wood-burning oven and presented in wooden boxes. Savor the unique textures and flavors that come out during the smoking process. Afterward, sample some typical sweets at the local bon-bon factory, and finish off your tour at the Old Market, where you can stay to explore more of the city on your own. Alternatively, your guide can also walk you back to the Ostseekai terminal of the Kiel port.

Kiel: City Highlights Express Walking Tour with a Local

10. Kiel: City Highlights Express Walking Tour with a Local

Are you ready to join me for a surprise walk around Kiel? Follow a local around to see sights like the Kiel Town Hall which towers over the main square or city's oldest building, the protestant St. Nikolai church. Soak up the atmosphere in Kiel's Old Market and see highlights like the Opera House.  From my many experiences and personal interactions in Kiel, I have gathered a personal checklist of must-sees with my most memorable places. Don’t miss out on the chance to see Kiel from a unique perspective and understand why I call this place my home!  Create a deeper connection with the city, just like I have, and enjoy exclusive anecdotes, tips and tricks, and secret revelations of Kiel. Discover local landmarks like the Bismarck-Denkmal memorial.  We will meet next to Kiel Opera House and from there, your authentic discovery of Kiel will start.

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What people are saying about Kiel, Germany

Overall rating

4.1 / 5

based on 95 reviews

Eine gute Alternative für alle die keine Lust auf eine traditionelle Stadtführung haben. Wir durften größtenteils selbst entscheiden in welche Richtung es als nächstes hingeht und so blieb es immer interessant. Die Blackstorys haben uns super gefallen. Manche waren echt tricky, auf einige Auflösungen sind wir nach ein paar Tipps auch selbst gekommen.

I ride the red bus in every city I visit, because you can learn a lot about the city. Although I have lived in Kiel for many years, the trip was very informative for me and my group. The driver was very nice! We were also lucky with the weather and were able to drive topless. The 90 minutes went by very quickly. Highly recommended.

Great tour, special mention for the accompaniment by the driver who did a great job complementing the audio. Our tip is to take the Adler 1 ferry across the NOK to Holtenau and stop off in one of the rustic pubs there.

The bus ride was very nice and for me, since I had never been to Kiel, it was historically very interesting and also, the city was very lively and very beautiful

An excursion that is good to do if you are traveling with a child.