Holiday in Schleswig-Holstein

What makes Schleswig-Holstein special as a destination?

Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost federal state of Germany, lies between two seas — the stormy North Sea to the west and the gentle Baltic Sea to the east — and combines a maritime diversity that is unmatched in a small area. The North Sea, with the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wadden Sea and the islands of Sylt, Föhr, and Amrum, represents wild nature, while the Baltic Sea, with the Lübeck Bay, Timmendorfer Strand, and the island of Fehmarn, offers milder bathing pleasures. Lübeck, the former queen of the Hanseatic League, delights with its water-surrounded old town featuring Gothic brick architecture, the iconic Holstentor, and the sweet marzipan from Niederegger — the entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Flensburg, at the Danish border, surprises with Germany's northernmost rum heritage, the historic Rum Mile, and a charming harbor town with Danish influence. Kiel, the state capital, is the city of sailing — Kiel Week is the largest sailing event in the world. The Holstein Switzerland between Lübeck and Kiel offers a lovely hilly landscape with lakes, including the Great Plön Lake, Plön Castle, and romantic estate villages. The Halligen, ten tiny islets in the Wadden Sea, are unique worldwide: during storm surges, only the warfts with their houses rise above the water. The Schlei, a 42-kilometer-long arm of the sea, leads from Schleswig with its Viking Museum Haithabu to the mouth at Maasholm. Fish sandwiches at the harbor, Labskaus, and Pharisäer (coffee with rum and cream) are part of the northern German coastal culture.