The North Sea coast

The western part of Schleswig-Holstein is surrounded by the North Sea coast and stretches from the mouth of the Elbe to the Danish border.  Dykes, sheep and the unique Wadden Sea World Heritage Site characterise this region - a true natural paradise for holidaymakers and families. When the North Sea recedes every twelve hours at low tide, holidaymakers can walk across the seabed with trained mudflat guides and explore the unique world of the mudflats. Walking from one island to another on the seabed. - What an experience. By the way: at 4,410 square kilometres, the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is the largest between Sicily and the North Cape. Numerous bird species and sea eagles can be observed here, as well as harbour seals, grey seals and harbour porpoises. Another highlight is the huge North Sea beach in St. Peter - Ording. With twelve kilometres of sandy beach, extensive dunes and salt marshes, this North Sea resort is perfect for a full day at the beach. From Niebüll, you can take the ferry to all the North Sea islands. Day trips to Sylt, Föhr and Amrum start from here. There are great beaches here too. Plenty of space to be alone, go hiking and clear your head. A strong wind almost always blows on the North Sea. If you want to challenge it, go beach sailing - free face peeling included. The high seas island of Heligoland is also worth a visit.

The Baltic Sea coast

The Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea coast is characterised by a very specific landscape: Beach, beach and more beach. This part of Schleswig-Holstein is all about swimming and long walks along the extensive promenades and small old towns of the various holiday resorts. For your holiday, this means: pure bathing fun. There are numerous seaside resorts and seaside resorts on the Baltic Sea along the famous Bay of Lübeck. Thousands of tourists flock to this region in the summer months. Timmendorfer Strand and Travemünde are particularly well known beyond the region and popular with families with children. If you prefer a quieter holiday, head to the green and sunny island of Fehmarn or the long beaches between Hohenwachter Bucht and Laboe. Lean back in a beach chair, feel how the sun mixes with the water and sand on your skin and enjoy the moment of your Baltic Sea holiday. If you bring your own bike or hire one locally, you will be delighted by the fantastic cycle paths in the region. The Baltic Sea coastal cycle path runs for almost 1,100 kilometres through the north.

A real highlight. Inland, the Baltic Sea region with its lakes, forests and hilly landscapes invites you to explore and picnic. In the villages of Holstein Switzerland, with their farms, thatched-roof houses, old churches and farm gardens, the charm of northern German country life unfolds.

The inland

In the green inland region, you can spend your holiday away from the crowds and still enjoy the beautiful countryside. In this region of Schleswig-Holstein, you can immerse yourself in a landscape of unspoilt villages, sparse beech forests, lush meadows and hidden moors. The inland region of Schleswig-Holstein has many faces and, with its rich natural and cultural heritage, is worth a visit at any time of year. The rivers Eider, Treene and Sorge invite you to swim and a canoe trip on the Treene is an experience for everyone. The region can be discovered by bike away from the hustle and bustle and traffic. The well-signposted cycle path network leads along and across the romantic river bends. And for anglers, the rivers and numerous fishing lakes offer ideal fishing grounds. The city of Neumünster and the district of Segeberg welcome you with urban diversity and a wide range of art, culture and events, while in Holstein the magic of the Elbmarschen and the fascinating Auenland as well as the unique Pinneberger Baumschulland await you.

We have selected what we think are the three most beautiful towns in Schleswig-Holstein that you should definitely visit on your next holiday in Schleswig-Holstein. All of these towns are characterised by their special architecture, extraordinary activities or simply their unique charm. Of course, there are many other beautiful cities in Schleswig-Holstein that you can visit during your holiday. These include the state capital of Kiel, which is known for its long shipbuilding tradition. However, below you will find the cities that are very special to us.

We would like to start with the beautiful Hanseatic city of Lübeck - in our opinion the must-see in Schleswig-Holstein. What makes Lübeck so special? In particular, its proximity to the Baltic Sea resorts of Niendorf and Travemünde and the city of Hamburg offers variety if you're planning to stay longer.

The city centre of Lübeck is the medieval old town centre, which lies on an island surrounded by the River Trave and the Elbe-Lübeck Canal. Lübeck's old town centre consists mainly of brick houses that stand close together. What not everyone realises is that often hidden behind the merchants' houses are small stalls with green oases. Our insider tip: dare to peek through the often narrow corridors into Lübeck's green hinterland. The corridors between the houses are mostly open to the public. So: just go inside! You can't miss out on Lübeck marzipan either. If you don't like marzipan, you can still watch the marzipan modellers at work. You will find the free museum at Breite Straße 89 opposite the town hall. For connoisseurs, we can recommend the marzipan from Mest and the marzipan with Mallorcan almonds. Another insider tip is the school garden, a flower oasis over 100 years old, where you can take a quiet stroll between the hustle and bustle of the city. And if it gets too hot for you, it's time for a dip in the water. The Krähenteich pond or the Falkenwiese natural swimming pool, a favourite among locals, offer space for a dip. Of course, as well as all the insider tips, you shouldn't miss the sightseeing classics: The Holsten Gate, St Peter's Church and St Mary's Church.

Our tip: As the great cafés in the old town are often completely overcrowded in the afternoon, it's worth having your own cake fork with you. That way you can take your piece of cake with you and enjoy it in a nice place by the water.

The second top city in Schleswig-Holstein is Kappeln - the little pearl on the Schlei. Kappeln is known as a fishing town and above all for its herring - the animals even feature in Kappeln's coat of arms. If you stroll along the banks of the Schlei, you can also watch the fishermen at work. Right in the Schlei, close to the shore, there is a unique feature that many tourists are already familiar with - the herring fence. This dates back to the 15th century and is one of the few witnesses (the last in Europe) to the fishing methods of earlier times. How about a stroll through the picturesque old town with its pastel-coloured house facades decorated with flower tendrils and ornate shutters and numerous restaurants and cafés that invite you to linger. A walk to the museum harbour with a delicious fish sandwich, a cosy restaurant visit or a trip on a paddle steamer, a visit to the Amanda mill or a bike tour through the pretty Schlei villages are also highly recommended.

Our final tip is the beautiful town of Schleswig. Once settled by Vikings with one of the most important trading centres "Haithabu", Schleswig is now a cute little town with a unique landscape panorama. There are numerous picturesque lakes within a radius of ten kilometres. The town is home to various museums, including some that focus on the original Viking Age. The Museum Island Gottorf, which houses the Museum of Art and Cultural History and the Museum of Archaeology, is particularly photogenic. Surrounded by beautiful trees, meadows and water, nature meets culture here. The baroque garden is located nearby and will appeal to nature lovers. If you need to cool off between strolling through the old town, the city harbour and the museums, you can take a detour to the Luisenbad, a bathing area directly in the city on the Schlei. The Auf der Freiheit and Marienbad baths are also highly recommended. The Netzetrockenplatz natural bathing area is less crowded. We recommend bathing shoes here, as there is a small stone section leading into the water. There are also only 4 car parks, so we recommend travelling here by bike.

With no fewer than 40 lakes in the area around Lauenburg, where you can admire rare birds and unusual animal species, there is plenty to discover.

Kiel is best explored from the water: How about a varied sailing trip, for example? Followed by the Kieler Woche, the annual sailing event in the capital of Schleswig-Holstein and the most successful handball club in Germany, THW Kiel - that sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?

It's best to bring your own bikes for your family holiday in Schleswig-Holstein. Alternatively, you can hire bikes in every town and set off on the wonderful cycle paths throughout the state. The extensive natural landscape is ideal for hikes or cycle tours along historic trade and pilgrimage routes. Past vast meadow landscapes, charming villages, refreshing rivers and small, unknown beaches away from the main tourist routes. The windy north also offers many water sports opportunities such as kitesurfing, windsurfing or kite flying with the children. On rainy days, it is worth visiting the many museums in the north or taking a stroll through the towns. The bird sanctuaries around Lauenburg invite young and old to go birdwatching with or without a guide.

The cultural offerings in Schleswig-Holstein should not be neglected either. Whether museums, castles and manor houses, parks and gardens, festivals or historic old towns: Schleswig-Holstein's culture is diverse. Discover the heritage of the Vikings in Haithabu or the Slavs in Ostholstein. Follow in the footsteps of famous artists and writers such as Emil Nolde and Thomas Mann. Enjoy the maritime flair of historic old towns such as the UNESCO World Heritage city of Lübeck or immerse yourself in the history of sights such as Gottorf Castle.