Hotel Gammelby

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.

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.

Sønder Brarup

The small village Sønder Brarup is surrounded by beautiful nature with the Schleswig-Holstein hilly landscape in the background. The nearest beach is just 10 km away and the beautiful area around the Schlei (Slien) fjord, formed during the last ice age, can be enjoyed. There are also excellent fishing opportunities here.

There are Danish influences in the city, for example there is both a German and a Danish community school. Sønder Brarup's Danish school is one of the largest Danish schools in South Schleswig. The town also has a Danish congregation, which consecrated its new wooden church in December 2002.

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.

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.

Kappeln

Find a cheap self-drive holiday at Risskov and take the trip to Kappeln, located in Schleswig-Holstein. Visit the small idyllic harbour town, which takes its name from the St Nicholas Chapel. This is where the last herring fence in Europe is found, and what is a herring fence? The fences, which consist of poles with a network of wood between them, were set out into the water in such a way that they formed a funnel and thus guided all the herring that came in with the tide into the fishermen's nets. The town's main attraction is the Amanda Dutch mill, built in 1888, which was used both for grinding grain and as the town's sawmill until 1964. The mill has undergone several restorations over the years, and today it stands beautifully with its own small mill museum, and from the high gallery of the mill, there is an excellent view of Kappeln and the Slien. At 30 metres, it is the tallest mill in the whole of Schleswig. Find the trip at Risskov and go on a real family drive holiday.

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.