Wismar

Pack your car and go on a driving holiday to the cosy port city of Wismar.

Go on a self-drive holiday to Wismar. The old Hanseatic town has a lovely location on the Baltic Sea and offers an interesting history, fine buildings and a charming harbour area. There's something for all the family in Wismar, with a wide range of things to do and see both in the town itself and in the surrounding area.

Both the historic town centre and the old medieval harbour are largely intact and you should discover Wismar at your own pace, strolling around the historic alleys. As far as the eye can see, Wismar's streets are lined with impressive merchants' houses, many of which have distinctive gabled ends facing the street. In 2002, the historic parts of Wismar were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List and to experience the old town you can start right in the centre, where you'll find the large market square, which at 10,000 m2 is one of the largest in northern Germany. Adjacent to the square are a number of fine old buildings, including the town hall. In the large and beautifully restored town hall cellar you can see the exhibition "Bilder einer Stadt", which describes the development of the town over time. You can take a break at the market square and enjoy refreshments in one of the cafés.

In the beautiful old town you will also find great shopping opportunities, so the shopaholic will have plenty to fill the trunk. The city has major shopping centres, but the best shopping experience is to be found in the small streets such as Krämerstraße, where you can stroll around looking at the fine buildings and exploring the small specialist shops.

The stroll through the many historic alleys and among the countless historic buildings, you can combine with the unique charm of the Old Port. The Old Port is a great experience where you can soak up the atmosphere and perhaps buy lunch directly from one of the cutters. You can also take a harbour cruise. It's great to enjoy the view of Wismar from the water.

From Wismar harbour you can also sail to the small island of Poel, a small pearl in the Baltic Sea. One of Germany's ten largest islands, Poel offers almost 15 km of sandy beaches, lovely green experiences and small idyllic towns. The island is also home to several small attractions, the main landmark being the Timmendorfer Strand lighthouse on the west coast. Read more about ferry times on the Adler-Schiffe website.

A short drive from Wismar you'll find Wonnemar Water Park, whose more than 15,000 m2 are packed with fun games for both adults and children. The water park has a giant slide, water cannons and a pirate ship for kids to frolic in the water. Adults can take some time off and enjoy a range of spa and wellness treatments and several thermal pools with both saunas and water massage options. Pure pleasure for the body for all ages and sizes.

Of course, a good self-drive holiday also offers beautiful nature experiences and you can find countless of them on the Baltic Sea coast. When you have your own car, you have every opportunity to experience more than just Wismar. The town's location on the Baltic Sea invites you to take a drive along the coast. Here you will find other cosy Hanseatic towns such as Lübeck, Kiel and Rostock with plenty of cultural experiences, as well as small traditional seaside resorts inviting you to pure relaxation.

Let Risskov take you on the perfect self-drive holiday to Wismar and let Mecklenburg-Vorpommern enchant you with a wealth of experiences.