ConventGarten Hotel & Restaurant

Rendsburg

Right in the middle of Schleswig-Holstein on the Kiel Canal lies Rendsburg. This exciting town has a lot to offer and is ideal for a family visit. The blue line, which is part of the cityscape, leads its guests on an approximately 3.2 km tour around the inner city past the most interesting places and buildings in Rendsburg. These include the Jewish Museum in the Dr. Bamberghus in Prinsessegade, which tells about the history and cultural history of the Jews in the German duchies, a very interesting exhibition that takes its visitors on a social and art historical journey through the life of the German Jews. Another stop on the Blue Line is Sankt Marienkirche, a medieval church built around 1330. The church is characterised by the Baroque baptismal font from the 18th century, the high altar and the royal box, dedicated to Frederik IV with very beautiful carved chairs and of course the high altar, created in 1647 by Henning Clausen. Another stop on the route is the Old Town Hall from 1566, which can be visited, but only with a guide. Also take a closer look at the old railway bridge.

Sailing on the Kiel Canal

Take a cruise on the Kiel Canal from Rendsborg to Kiel and discover Northern Germany from the sea. The Kiel Canal runs through northern Germany from Kiel on the Baltic Sea to Brunsbüttel on the North Sea and is therefore also called the Kiel Canal. Experience the beautiful scenery and the large container ships and cruise liners passing by on the busy canal. Between Rendsborg and Kiel you can sail with the M/S Princess or the over one hundred year old wheel steamer Freya. It is possible to buy refreshments on board.

Seawater wave pool Eckernförde

If you like spa, wellness and pampering, a wellness holiday to Eckernförde in Northern Germany might be for you. Eckernförde is today mostly based on spa and wellness tourism and here you will find Meerwasser-Wellenbad Eckernförde which definitely deserves a visit - whether with or without the family. Meerwasser-Wellenbad offers a veritable hodgepodge of wellness experiences with Turkish and Finnish saunas, a snow room as well as a salt cave and various kinds of massages and of course plenty of water, both chlorine and salt water pools, as well as activities for the kids. A visit to the on-site bistro is also not to be denied, should hunger get the better of you. It serves both snacks and hot dishes, as well as drinks. Meerwasser-Wellenbad Eckernförde is therefore an ideal destination for a cheap car holiday in Germany.

Eckernförde

Book a cheap self-drive holiday to Eckernförde and take the whole family on holiday. The town has quite a history to offer; The plague ravaged in the 1600s, killing almost all the inhabitants, and the town was sacked during the Thirty Years' War and again during the Napoleonic Wars and has since been a battleground between Denmark and Prussia in the late Three Years' War, also known as the Schleswig War from 1848 to 1850, when Denmark lost its liner Christian VIII as well as the frigate Gefion when they strayed into Eckernförde Bay and were almost decimated by the Prussian coastal battery. The frigate Gefion was later restored and joined the German Federal Fleet under the name Eckernförde.

Go on a cheap mini break or weekend break in Eckernförde and discover the old town hall from the 16th century, which was in use until 1984 and today serves as a town museum. It tells the fascinating story of the town's development from 1200 to the present day in the form of alternating and informative exhibitions. Continue your walk through the town and head north over the wooden bridge towards Borby Church, a beautiful Romanesque church built of ashlar stone in the 1110s and therefore one of the oldest in Southern Schleswig. Not far from the church, down towards the water, is the Ostsee Info-Center, which has various exhibitions about the Baltic Sea and the components of this beautiful sea. Learn more about the animal and plant life and get up close to the Baltic Sea's wondrous geological history, certainly an experience the whole family will appreciate.

Dannevirke

Dannevirke is the largest defensive structure and ancient monument in the Nordic countries. It consists of ramparts and walls and was created and expanded between the years 600 and 1200. The fortress was intended to secure the southern border of the kingdom and stretched across Jutland between the Slien fjord and the River Trenen. The Dannevirke served as a defensive fortification at the latest during the 1864 war (the Second Schleswig War), and the fortifications have an almost mythical role in Danish history.

Gottorp Slot

Visit Gottorp Castle with its beautiful baroque gardens and three art museums; the National Museum of Art, Cultural History and Archaeology.

The castle is located at the bottom of the river Slien and has played an important role in the many wars between the Danish kings and the Gottorp dukes.

Frederik I also ruled Denmark from Gottorp Castle.

Schleswig

Schleswig is just 40 km south of the Danish border and offers exciting history and culture. The city is over 1200 years old and calls itself the first city of Northern Europe. A stroll around the centre is recommended, where the city's cathedral is enthroned and hints at little Schleswig's more colourful past. Vikings settled along the Slien fjord, making the area an economic hub for 200 years. Later, the Dukes of Gottorp made Schleswig their power base from the 16th to 18th centuries. You can learn more about this historical heritage in the town's many museums.

Kiel

Kiel has plenty to offer all year round. In summer, the city and harbour are really lively and there are great opportunities for swimming. In winter, the city hosts one of northern Germany's most popular Christmas markets, transforming the town square into a fairytale Christmas village. And at other times of the year, it's a great place for sightseeing, with everything from the 2. World War II history to the beautiful botanical gardens. Located on the Kielerfjord, Germany's largest ferry port is in Kiel, where maritime atmosphere and city life combine beautifully. Kiel is also one of the most popular shopping cities on the Baltic Sea with plenty of exciting boutiques. Take a stroll through the Old Town, where you can see St Nicholas' Church on Alter Markt with Ernst Barlach's figure of the Geistkämpfer. It's also worth visiting the Maritime Museum, housed in an old fish hall, and seeing the historic ships in the Museum Harbour.

Christmas market in Kiel

20th November to 22nd December 2025

Thu - Sat: 11:00 – 21:00 

Sun - Wed: 11:00 – 20:00 - Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

Kiel's annual Christmas markets are inspired by the city's surroundings and history as a maritime coastal town, and are extremely popular with Danish Christmas tourists. The short distance and the city's immense charm and beauty make Kiel an obvious choice for a convenient self-drive holiday with a mini break or a weekend break during Christmas. The city hosts four different Christmas markets, which light up the squares and streets with lots of stalls, music, fun and delicious Christmas treats.

A Christmas tree forest of 3,000m² with some 500 trees is erected on the large town hall square, which, together with the many colourful huts, creates a fairytale Christmas village. Here you will find crafts, delicacies, mulled wine and food huts and much more. Taste this year's exclusive mulled wine, created by the Anselmann winery from the Palatinate wine region in collaboration with the organisers. This mulled wine is based on one exquisite grape variety and can't be found anywhere else - not even at the other markets in town!

At Holstensplatz, the many stalls create an intimate atmosphere where you can buy woollen clothes, amber jewellery and local culinary delights. This Christmas market has existed since 1973 and in 2018 presented a completely new design with new stalls and a new and creative lighting concept.

You can also visit the Altenmarkt Christmas Market in the Old Town around St. Nikolai Church, which has its own Alpine-inspired Christmas atmosphere and traditional punch and food stalls.

Between the markets on the Town Hall Square and Holstenplatz, you'll find the beautiful market on Asmus-Bremer-Platz. Here, the 12.5-metre high, 4-storey Christmas pyramid adorns the square. The inspiration comes from the Erzgebirge and together with the sweet angels, the baby Jesus and the holy three kings, it helps to set the atmosphere of the cosy square.

From mid-November, the annual Kiel Ice Festival is also held, where ice skating and fun can be had in style.

Risskov has a large selection of hotels and accommodation in Kiel and the surrounding area, so you can find just what suits you. Go on a cheap car holiday in Northern Germany this Christmas and experience Kiel's many magical Christmas markets.

Kiel Zoological Museum

Find a cheap family holiday to Schleswig-Holstein, and be sure to visit Kiel. Find child-friendly hotels at Risskov and decide how far south you want to go. One of the 'little' gems the city hides is the Kiel Zoological Museum. It is one of Germany's oldest natural history museums and houses unique collections of high scientific and cultural value. In fact, it dates back to the 1600s, but it was during the 1800s that it really developed into one of the most important zoological research institutes in Germany. Go on a car holiday in Germany and start with Schleswig-Holstein, which lends itself glitteringly to an adventure-filled self-drive holiday and set course for Kiel.

Christmas market in Neumünster

Only 100 km from the Danish-German border, you can experience Neumünster's Christmas market. Here you can fill up on Christmas cheer, buy Christmas gifts and eat your fill of Christmas treats. In the streets and alleys of the city, under the dark December sky, you will find wonderful experiences for both big and small Christmas hearts.

In Neumünster you will find from the end of November until Christmas Eve one of the cosiest Christmas markets in Schleswig-Holstein. With brilliant Christmas lights, an ice skating lake and delicious stalls selling Christmas treats, Neumünster is a wonderful December destination. You'll also find traditional crafts such as ceramics and woodcarving, as well as various Christmas events on the weekends for both young and old Christmas lovers.

At just over 100 km from the Kruså border, Neumünster's Christmas spirit is within reasonable driving distance. The town also offers lovely restaurants, good shopping and many old buildings that look extra nice in the decorated Christmas lights.

Christmas market in Heide

18th November to 23rd December 2025

The Christmas Market in Heide is held at the Südermarkt Square in Heide, and is filled with cosy stalls and entertainment. For example, Santa Claus comes by every Sunday to greet the children. From Germany's largest Christmas market square, Heide's Christmas market spreads out into the town. The many stalls offer a wide range of Christmas specialities, such as mulled wine and pretzels, as well as a large selection of Christmas gift ideas.

In the stalls you can also find traditional handmade products side by side with beautiful, modern Christmas gifts.

At Heide's Christmas market, the Christmas spirit is guaranteed and the many German Christmas traditions are in the spotlight. At Risskov, we have a wide range of hotel deals that are the perfect starting point to visit not only the Christmas market in Heide, but also some of Northern Germany's many other Christmas markets in places like Lübeck, Flensburg or Hamburg.

Breitenburg Castle

One of the most famous and important sights in the Itzehoe region is Breitenburg Castle. The building is almost 500 years old and was one of the country's important cultural and political centres in the 16th and 17th centuries. The castle has stood unchanged since 1898.

The Hall of Mirrors, the Knights' Hall, the Thorwaldsen Gallery and the Library are a must-see visiting the area. For those who like outdoor activities, the castle offers a 27-hole golf club, a stable and several cycling and walking trails to try out.

The castle is owned by the noble family Rantzau, which is why it is open to the public in limited extent. Appointments to view the castle can be made at reception.