Travemünde
Understand
Today about 13,500 people live here and it is an important port town. Even during the German separation, Travemünde remained well known to most Germans, for its being part of the historic Hanse city pact, and for the novel "Buddenbrooks" which took place in parts in the town. To commemorate the local Mann family (Thomas Mann was Nobel laureate in 1929) there is still today a Buddenbrook house in Travemünde. The old town has maintained its sleepy character despite the fact that at weekends there are loads of tourists.
Tourist office
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phone: +49 451 889-9700address: Bertlingstraße 21Lübeck and Travemünde have a joint tourist office but they run a separate website for Travemünde. Their office in Travemünde is inside the historic railway station, which is very convenient for day trippers, although quite far away from the port.
Get in
By train
There are three railway stations in Travemünde.
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Lübeck-Travemünde Strand station
phone: +49 431-2479-1055address: Bertlingstr. 21
By car
Use Autobahn A1 until you pass Bad Schwartau, then A226 or B76. Travemünde is directly connected to Lübeck (20 min) and Hamburg (1 hr).By bus
Lübeck-Travemünder VerkehrsgesellschaftBus lines 30, 31 and 40 from Lübeck go regularly to Travemünde. Public transport tickets from Lübeck can include Travemünde.
By boat
To travel between Lübeck Hbf and Skandinavienkai Terminal, take buses ##30, 31, or 40. You can also take the local train to station Lübeck-Travemünde Skandinavienkai, then switch to bus 30 or 40, which runs every 15 minutes. Although the station is right next to the ferry terminal, it is not allowed to walk in. You have to take the bus one stop.
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phone: +49 451 1507443Operates ferries to Helsinki, Finland around the year. The trip's duration is a little more than a day. Also operates ferries to Malmö, Sweden, trip duration is about nine hours.
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phone: +49 431 9099Five times a week to Liepaja in Latvia
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phone: +49 4502 80181Operates up to three daily ferry trips between Travemünde and Trelleborg, Sweden. During the summer and on public holidays the ferries are very heavily booked. Make sure you have a reservation.
Several ferries and cargo ships travel to other ports in the Baltic Sea and, especially in the summer, they are willing to take travellers on board.
Get around
Foot Passenger Ferry NordermoleSmall passenger ferry commutes across the navigational channel from the Promenade to Priwall. During the summer, a smooth way for pedestrians to circumvent/short-cut the Priwall ferry.
See
BeachThe 1.7km of white sand is the town's main attraction and the beach is, without a doubt, the place to be during the summer. The beach is the main reason why this town has been a popular seaside resort since 1800s.
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phone: +49 4502 889180address: Am Leuchtenfeld 1Travemünde has two light houses. The old one was erected in 1539 and is one of the oldest light houses in Germany. The light house is 31 metres high and you need to climb 142 steps to the top. It was in service until 1972, when the new navigation light on top of the Maritim Hotel was erected. Today it houses a maritime museum that focuses on the history of the light house. During the summer season (May until October), the museum offers several walking tours to explain the history and development around the light house.
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New light house
address: NordermoleThe new lighthouse is on the Mole, which delimits the passage for the ships, right on the summit of the navigation channel. The new lighthouse is not to be confused with the navigation light on top of the Hotel Maritim. -
phone: +49 45 029-9980address: Torstraße 1The exhibition illustrates the development of Travemünde as a sea resort since 1802.
MövensteinGlacial erratic which legend says a seagull dropped. Basically a rock sticking out of the water but has a history regarding bathing local activities and in German literature.
Do
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phone: +49 4502 2249address: Vorderreihe 12 aThe Priwall ferry commutes over the navigation channel for the big boats and connects Travemünde with the Priwall Peninsula. It is a historic ferryboat and very popular during summer as it is the easiest mode of transport to the sailing ship Passat and the calmer beaches on the peninsula.
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address: Am Priwallhafen 16aThis tall sailing ship was built in 1911 in Hamburg and sailed between South America and Europe. In 1957 it was taken out of service due to the wreck of its sister ship Pamir. Today it is a museum ship and popular for wedding receptions and youth groups.
Brodtner UferWalk along the steep cliff line of Brodtner Ufer from Travemünde to Niendorf. The four km walk can be done in 1-1.5 hrs and it offers great views along the coastline.
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address: pier Überseebrücke 2,60 minutes sea and harbour cruise.
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phone: +49 4502 74545address: pier PrinzenbrückeSea and harbour cruises, trips along Trave river to Lübeck or along the Baltic Sea to Grömitz or Boltenhagen.
Events
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phone: +49 451 388-1329The main event of the year is organised by the Yacht Club. Around 1,500 sailors compete and parade with their ships. The event takes place in July and lasts about ten days.
Buy
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phone: +49 4502 2031address: Vorderreihe 56Founded in 1806, this shop and café is an institution in both Lübeck and Travemünde. A visit to buy some marzipan or drink a hot chocolate is a must.
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phone: +49 4502 86660address: Vorderreihe 63/64Traditional department store.
Eat
Budget
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Fishing port
address: FischereihafenSeveral fishermen set up huts or small shops where a variety of fish dishes are offered. These dishes are simple but good and offer good value for money. Popular with kids as they can see the fishing business in detail -
Fisch Paul
phone: +49 4502 74200address: Am Leuchtenfeld 8An institution for fish sandwiches. Open only during the summer. No fixed closing time, but usually closes at sunset.
Mid-range
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phone: +49 4502 77086address: Vorderreihe 7This house was built in 1551 as the bailiff's residence, served later as police station, then turned into a restaurant with fresh local kitchen. Brunch on Sundays.
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phone: +49 4502 8896560address: Trelleborgallee 2aYacht Club restaurant next to the harbour. The patio is very popular.
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phone: +49 4502 307799address: Auf dem Baggersand 3, 23570 TravemündeStylish restaurant with good roof-deck bar. Good view on the bypassing ships. During summer weekends reserve for dinner.
Splurge
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phone: +49 4502 3080address: Kaiserallee 2 D3-star Michelin restaurant, the first in the state, and in itself a destination for gourmets. Reservations are essential!
Drink
There are several small bars in the fishing port and the old town that are only open during the summer. So drink a cocktail and move to the next bar until you have found your preferred place but keep in mind that most places close latest by 01:00.
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phone: +49 451 28032940address: Strandpromenade 4Lounge with live music next to the beach. Open during the summer and offers cocktails, et al.
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phone: +49 4502 880-9851address: Auf dem Baggersand 7Restaurant and bar in the fishing harbour.
Sleep
If you do not plan to stay for at least a week, hotels are another option.
Travemünde's tourist office is ready to help with finding accommodation, they have big list of options to stay, mostly at local's homes.
Budget
If you are on a tight budget, it is better stay in Lübeck because Travemünde isn't cheap and has fewer choices of accommodation. There are good and cheap youth hostels in the small village Brodten and in Lübeck. The regular youth hostel was closed in 2007.-
phone: +49 451 122-5202 (Reservations)address: Am Priwallhafen 16aProbably the most spectacular sleeping place in town is a dorm. After the ship was decommissioned it was turned into a youth hostel. Today there are 102 beds in several dorms. They are spartan but popular with youth groups in summer.On board number +49 4502 5287
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phone: +49 4502 2835address: Dünenweg 3Camping ground Priwall on the Peninsula with 200 places. Pre-booking is recommended in summer.
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phone: +49 4505 1300address: Auf dem Baggersand 15Rental Vehicles place next to the ferries. Really basic infrastructure but prices including disposal of waste water and trash. More convenient place to wait for the next ferry than the waiting lines in the harbour.
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phone: +49 4502 804310address: Am Kowitzberg45 RV camp sites next to the golf course. Place is operated by the Lübeck-Travemünde tourism office and only operational from 15 May until 14 Sep. Good and clean infrastructure and serves also bigger RVs.
Mid-range
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phone: +49 4502 75035address: Strandpromenade 7Directly on the promenade and just several metres from the beach. 33 rooms for one to three people in art nouveau style and a good restaurant. Closed in January. Minimum three nights during high season.
Splurge
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phone: +49 4502 307-0632address: Außenallee 10Traditional, but completely renovated grand old hotel in the centre of Travemünde, in the middle of a green garden. It's the former spa house of the town and has an amazing outdoor pool. 185 rooms and suites with sea view. Strong focus on spa and fine food.
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Atlantic Grand Hotel Travemünde
phone: +49 4502 3080address: Kaiserallee 2Casino and hotel in one complex that opened in 1825. This art nouveau building houses several rooms and suites, most with outstanding sea views. Its casino closed in 2012, and today there is an excellent restaurant and bar on the premises. -
Maritim Strandhotel Travemünde
phone: +49 4502 890address: Trelleborgallee 2Completed in 1974 and has 35 floors. The completion of this building was a milestone for the tourism industry, and it is still the tallest building on the German Baltic coastline at 119 m. This edifice houses the hotel, a pub and on its top floor a restaurant with wide views over the complete region. The spa area is completely renovated but the rooms are not. It is very popular for receptions and associations or company parties, so reserve in advance during holiday seasons.
Connect
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Play off
phone: +49 45 0288-8512address: Kurgartenstraße 74 -
Playpoint
phone: +49 45 0284-4901address: Rose 10-12
Cope
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phone: +49 4502 800 1700address: Dreilingsberg 7
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phone: 112Travemünde teams up with Lübeck to deliver emergency response services.