KIEL (HAMBURG)

Located along the north-western German coastline, this city of 245,000 people has a long and storied maritime history. Whilst it doesn’t boast the same depth of aesthetically pleasing historic architecture as other cities in this part of the world, mainly due to the affects of bombing during WWII, Kiel does have an interesting canal area with strong air and sea history, evident by it’s museums.

What appeals to many visitors about a port call here however is the ability to make the 56 mile /90km trip to Germanys second largest city, Hamburg.

Due to it’s port access for smaller vessels, Hamburg flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries via international trade, much of the remnants of which are still on display, especially at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Speicherstadt, the largest continuous warehouse complex in the world. The city is filled with wonderful architectural gems, art galleries, museums and shopping, as well as a number of tributes to The Beatles due to their performances here in the 1960’s.

For those looking for something a little different, a big recommendation is a visit to Lubeck, a 12th century river town to the south east of Kiel. One of the founding cities of the Hanseatic League, Lubeck and its over 1000 historical buildings have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Whilst many cruise lines will offer tours here, it is also possible to make your own way via train too.