City by the water and gateway to the Baltic: Kiel

Kiel is the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein and has a long shipbuilding and naval tradition. Today, it is characterised by its vibrant student scene, laid-back lifestyle and urban flair. This can be seen in its stunning setting on the Kiel Fjord, the modern and spacious city centre and Dänische Strasse, a street full of maritime charm at the heart of Kiel with many preserved buildings from the late 19th century.

Port, shipyards and the gateway to Scandinavia

Water is the dominant feature in this city by the sea, as can be seen by the expanding Baltic Sea port, the huge cranes in the shipyards, giant ferries docked at Scandinavia Quay and, of course, the Kiel Week regatta, which has earned Kiel its reputation as the world's sailing capital.

The city owed its rapid – and rather chaotic – growth in the 19th century to its importance to shipbuilding and the navy. Jahrhunderts. After the widespread destruction of the Second World War, the plan was to create a contemporary city with a modern, open and spacious feel. Greater focus was placed on the location of the city centre and Kiel's connection with the water, and none of the historical buildings that had been destroyed were going to be rebuilt. However, over the past decade or so, the city centre has been systematically enhanced, and part of the old quarter is even being reconstructed by restoring the historical Eggerstedtstrasse and redesigning Alter Markt square.

Maritime flair and the best-known music festival in the north

Places of interest in Kiel include the picturesque Friedrichsort cliffs, numerous beaches within the city limits, the promenade along the western shores of the firth, the locks on the Kiel Canal at Kiel-Holtenau, the naval port and quarter, the Botanical Gardens of the Christian Albrecht University, Holstenstrasse – one of the oldest pedestrian precincts in Germany – and the Hörn bridge with its ingenious folding mechanism. There are also many fascinating museums to visit, such as the Maritime Museum on Sartori Quay, the Computer Museum, the Kunsthalle art gallery with its collection of antiquities and the Engineering Museum. The varied arts scene includes Kiel Theatre, the Polish Theatre and the Philharmonic Orchestra. A popular event in summer is the acclaimed Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors. Kiel is also a great destination at other times, maybe because it is the best place to eat kieler sprotten – a local speciality made from sprats.