Ostseehotel Midgard (Ostsee Resort Damp)

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.

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.

Gammelby

All year round there are many opportunities for activities in and around Gammelby. Take a nice walk by the lake Windebyer Noor. The lake was once directly connected to the Baltic Sea, but during the ice age the outlet was partially blocked. In 1929, the town of Eckernförde finally built a dam that closed the connection to the sea, but today there are plans to open up the flow at the town. Moss rocks and fossils have also been found in the lake, which can now be seen at the Gottorp Castle Museum in Schleswig.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Golf & Country Club Uhlenhorst

If you like golf, visit the beautiful course of Golf and Landclub Uhlenhorst, located just 12 km north of Kiel. Here you can try your hand at a well laid-out par 72 championship course in the beautiful Schleswig-Holstein countryside. There is also a 9-hole course where the short game can be adjusted. The courses are open all year round.

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.

Christmas market in Kiel

Open from 21th November - 23rd December - 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 Flensburg

Open dates

25 November to 31 December: Holm, Große Straße, Schiffbrückstraße, Nordermarkt

Mon. - Sat.: 11:00 - 22:00 hrs

Sun.: 11:00 - 20:00 hrs.

24.12. + 31.12. until 14:00 hrs.

25.12. + 26.12. closed

Please note that dates and opening hours may vary. You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information.

Along with Lübeck and Kiel, Flensburg is one of the Danes' favourite Christmas destinations in northern Germany. The maritime atmosphere and the Scandinavian touch make you feel at home and at ease. Let the smell of roasted almonds and tasty mulled wine lead you through the streets, between the stalls and lead the Christmas spirit directly into your heart.

The Christmas market's many stalls are lit by the cosy lights that stretch from Südermarkt through the pedestrian zone and all the way down to Nordermarkt. One of the highlights of the Flensburg Christmas Market is the "World's Smallest Bar Counter", where the traditional and famous Tallin Punch is served in many different varieties.

From the approximately 60 stalls of the Christmas market, the beautifully decorated stalls entice with a large selection of handicrafts, specialities and Christmas goods in a wonderful combination of German and Danish traditions. If this isn't enough to bring out the Christmas spirit, the Christmas music in the street and Flensburg's large, traditional German Christmas pyramid will certainly do wonders.

If you're looking for culinary experiences, Flensburg is packed with great options. The beer breweries on the harbour and cafés and restaurants galore ensure you can take a much-needed break from Christmas shopping, with a great selection of local specialities and delicious Christmas treats.

For shoppers, Flensburg city centre offers a wide range of shops where you can find everything from clothes to speciality shops at German prices, often with great savings. In addition, a trip to Flensburg is also an excellent opportunity for cross-border shopping, where you can buy in this year's Christmas confectionery.

Spend Christmas holidays in Northern Germany with a cheap hotel stay in Flensburg and experience the magical Christmas market in the city. The location is ideal for a self-drive holiday and Risskov has a great selection of good hotels in and around Flensburg. When you book with us, we also give a free bottle of red wine to all adults on the booking, which you can pick up at Fleggaard.