Hotel Heidehof Garni

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.

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.

St. Nicholas Church Kiel

The beautiful Evangelical St. Nikolai Church stands on the Alter Markt in Kiel and is the city's main church and oldest surviving building. The church is particularly famous for its stunningly beautiful interior with its ornate winged altar and huge main organ.

On 22 May 1944 the church was heavily damaged in an Allied air raid. In 1950, the damaged parts of the church were rebuilt with more modern forms, structures and materials, as witnessed by the concrete columns and cement ceiling. In 1986 further renovations were carried out to the interior of the church.

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.

War Cemetery Kiel

Kiel War Cemetery is located as part of Kiel's largest cemetery, the 16-hectare beautiful Nordfriedhof dating from 1878, located northwest of Kiel Altstadt. The war cemetery was added in 1952 in accordance with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) building regulations. The graves include many different soldiers of various ranks and the memorial plaques of high-ranking naval officers underline the importance of Kiel as a naval base.

Botanical Garden Kiel

Kiel in northern Germany is certainly not a city to be underestimated, packed with history, an exciting harbour and perfect for a self-drive holiday in northern Germany. Take a family holiday to the area and find a cheap, child-friendly hotel with Risskov. Kiel's large beautiful botanical garden surrounds Christian Albrecht University. The garden has seven greenhouses, with all kinds of exciting and exotic plants, divided into climatic themes. At certain times of the year, you may also be lucky enough to see butterflies. Find cheap mini breaks and child-friendly hotels in the area at Risskov and enjoy a family holiday together in the exciting northern German city of Kiel.

Tannenberg animal enclosure

Tiergehege Tannenberg is a lovely nature area of about 40 hectares located at the Baltic Sea Canal north of Kiel. The beautiful area is characterised by large forests and meadows and small idyllic streams and ponds and is home to a wonderful wildlife with many different species, such as Scottish Highland oxen, wild boar, rams, deer and fallow deer. The harmless animals roam freely in the area, while the dangerous ones are in large fenced areas.

Dithmarscher Wasserwelt

Visit Dithmarscher Wasserwelt, a large water park with fun for the whole family both indoors and outdoors. There's an indoor 50 m pool, outdoor pools, water slides, but also a bio sauna, Finnish sauna and 32 degree pool. The water park is a sure hit with the youngest members of the family.

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.

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.