Kiel

The charming port city of Kiel enjoys a wonderful location on the Kiel Canal.

On a self-drive holiday to Kiel you can combine a scenic holiday by the sea with a holiday in a modern city centre full of cultural experiences. Kiel offers something for everyone and with a location just an hour's drive south of the Danish-German border, it's the perfect city for a great self-drive holiday.

Kiel is a port city before anything else and the maritime atmosphere is felt throughout the city. Whether you're along the Kiel Canal, at the city's bustling harbour or at the huge shipyards, you'll feel the influence of the water. Take a stroll past the large cruise port, where the whole family can enjoy the impressive dream ships, and don't cheat yourself with a walk or bike ride along the Kiel Canal, where you can enjoy the view of the many ships on the water.

Much of Kiel was destroyed during World War II, but the reconstruction of the city's old centre has given the city a boost and today the centre is a lively student city filled with fine buildings, good shopping and interesting stories. Enjoy a walk at your own pace, passing the Alter Markt, shopping on the cosy Dänische Straße or perhaps enjoying a beer at one of the many cosy eateries on one of Germany's oldest pedestrian streets, Holstenstraße. Also follow the "Blue Line" around the city, which takes you past all the sights, so the kids can also lead the way and have fun while you explore the best of the city. Kiel generally offers a unique atmosphere, making it the perfect destination for your driving holiday.

Kiel also offers a wide range of cultural experiences, including a number of interesting museums. Schifffahrtsmuseum, Computermuseum and Maschinenmuseum are 3 technical museums that are extremely interesting and if you are interested in art, don't miss a visit to the Kunsthalle, which has 1,000 paintings from six different centuries. Don't miss a visit to the Stadtmuseum, located in the city's oldest preserved noble house.

A holiday can also include a quiet moment in one of Kiel's many wonderful parks. Take a walk in the botanical gardens, for example, where you'll find beautiful plants from all over the world as far as the eye can see. Here you can take a break and just soak up the beautiful surroundings. Also visit Hiroshima Park, Schrevenpark or if the sun is shining, enjoy some time on the beautiful Falckensteiner Strand. If you're visiting at Christmas time, you'll find a wide range of cosy Christmas markets within walking distance of each other, so you can just concentrate on soaking up the atmosphere, drinking mulled wine and enjoying the beautiful decorations.

When you go on holiday in your own car, a wide range of experiences await you also outside Kiel and only a few kilometres from Kiel you can visit the Ostsee-Infocentret. Here you can learn about life on and in the Baltic Sea and in the feeding pool and sea water aquarium fun games await. Or let the drive take you to Hansa-Park if you're craving stomach-churning rides, or perhaps take a trip to one of the many animal parks in the Kiel area. Find out more about excursions on the city's official website.

The perfect self-drive holiday awaits you among northern Germany's many idyllic towns. So pack your car and go on a wonderful holiday to Kiel with Risskov.