Rostock: The Top 9 Attractions of the Hanseatic City

Rostock captivates with truly amazing attractions. The city offers a unique location with its harbor on the Warnow River, which flows into the well-known district of Warnemünde by the sea. When you visit Rostock, you have it all: history, a seaside atmosphere with breathtaking sunsets at the lighthouse, and fish sandwiches among fishing boats in the city harbor. We'll tell you which attractions you shouldn't miss in this article.

The wind is blowing through our hair, and the smell of salty seawater is in the air. From a small cutter, a fish vendor calls out to us: 'Hey, come over here! I have the best fried fish.' We let ourselves be persuaded to have a beer. The sun is just about to set, casting warm light over the Rostock Harbor.

The welcome to the Hanseatic city is certainly atmospheric. We stroll past an old harbor crane. These cranes were already used in the 15th century for loading and unloading ships. In our minds, we can almost see the hustle and bustle of those earlier times. Nowadays, the atmosphere is more laid-back, with chill-out music playing from speakers and boats drifting on the water, facing the setting sun.

A look at the icebreaker Stephan Jantzen is also worthwhile. It is named after a famous pilot commander Jantzen (1827 - 1913), who rescued many people in distress and is still a hero to the people of Rostock today. The icebreaker was once the strongest icebreaker in Germany. Onboard, there is a small museum.

In the summer, many food trucks and pop-up bars are set up in the Rostock Harbor. It's particularly cozy at the Rost Dock. Here you can sit among containers in deck chairs right by the water. By the way, musician Joey Kelly's sailing ship is also docked there.

Extra tip: One of the best spots for sunset in the city harbor is on the Poseidon. This old ship has been converted into a snack bar with a bar. On the mast of the ship, two people can sit and watch the sun sink into the sea. The Poseidon is located right next to the old harbor crane.

If you walk to the end of the harbor, you'll pass the Brewery Restaurant Zum alten Fritz. Here, you should definitely make a stop. In this cozy local spot, you can test many different Störtebeker beer varieties. From tarte flambée to fish and burgers, there's a wide selection.

From the harbor, it's not far to the famous University Square. From the former historic marketplace, the shopping street Kröpelinerstraße branches off. It leads to the Kröpeliner Tor, one of the last three surviving city gates. There's always something going on here. Tourists watch the hustle and bustle from one of the cafés while enjoying a latte macchiato.

At the center of the square stands the giant Fountain of Joy. It's also called the Porno Fountain. Why? The poses of the figures in the water feature are more than ambiguous. Children play in the water, and pigeons take a nice bath. Housewives, teenagers, and street musicians gather here. The fountain is one of the city's top attractions.

Directly behind the fountain stands a massive, beautiful building in the Neo-Renaissance style: the university founded in 1419. Despite severe bombings during World War II, many parts of the university are still intact in their original state. A detour is definitely worthwhile!

We continue to the New Market. The sun breaks through the clouds and shines on the red brick building. The Rostock Town Hall is the oldest preserved public building in the city. Built in the 13th century, it is one of the most important brick Gothic houses in the Baltic Sea region.

The square in front of the town hall is worth seeing. Cafés with colorful umbrellas and chairs line the area. In the Middle Ages, it wasn't as idyllic: witch burnings took place here. We find the smell of freshly ground coffee wafting from one of the bistros far more pleasant.

Rostock also offers many beautiful old Gothic merchant houses. For example, the Hausbaumhaus, the Kerkhoffhaus, the Ratschow House, or the Krahnstöverhaus. It's worth walking through the city with open eyes.

Upon arriving in Warnemünde, we immediately take off our shoes and walk through the fine sand to the sea. An incredible feeling. The Baltic Sea is a bit wilder today; seagulls are fighting over a crab. Just before sunset, beachgoers gather to admire the setting sun.

And we are lucky. We are treated to a spectacular play of colors in the sky. The Warnemünde Lighthouse is bathed in warm light. It is the symbol of Warnemünde and a very popular photo subject. Right behind it is the beach. Although Warnemünde is a district of Rostock, you feel like you're in another world here.

The Warnow River flows into the Baltic Sea in Warnemünde. White beach chairs line the beach. Chill music sounds from the speakers of a beach bar. While some pull out their phones to capture the sunset, others are already in one of the stylish restaurants, drinking tea or a sundowner at the Teepott. The futuristic building, which resembles a shell, is located right next to the lighthouse.

We are so delighted with Warnemünde that we come back again in the morning to stroll through the small streets past windows decorated with white lace curtains, where wooden ships are displayed. Afterwards, we head straight back to the sea. We simply stand there and gaze at the water.

The charming Warnemünde has greatly impressed us. Equally fascinating is the old Rostock. Around St. Peter's Church, the first of the three medieval quarters from which Rostock eventually emerged developed. The small streets and quaint houses with rose bushes in front of the door reflect how life was here in the past.

At the center is the 117-meter high church tower-by the way, the second highest in all of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after Schwerin Cathedral. Be sure to climb the tower and enjoy the view over old Rostock and the Warnow River. The entrance costs 4 Euros per person, which is definitely worth it.

A tip that not every visitor knows about is the city tour with the night watchman. The exciting tour begins at St. Peter's Church. At twilight and by the light of the lantern, you'll learn a lot of interesting things about medieval Rostock.

The night watchman takes us on a journey through time. We discover great details, such as the old street lamps that line the path from St. Peter's Church to the nearby Nikolaikirche. They used to be gas-powered.

Nikolaikirche is another highlight. In the early 1980s-still during the GDR era-about a dozen apartments were built in the church's attic. Curious, right?

The night watchman also leads us to two of the three remaining city gates. At Kuhtor, he blows his horn. It sends chills down our spines. In the past, the watchman warned residents of impending dangers-today it's a fun tourist gimmick.

And at the beautiful Steintor near the town hall, the tour comes to an end. Here, princes used to ride into the city center.

The night watchman tour runs from May to October every Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and from November to April every Monday and Saturday. The hour-and-a-half tour starts at 8 PM and costs 10 Euros per person, which is truly a good investment.

We zip up the life jacket and climb into the kayak. We signed up for a very special experience: city paddling. A real insider tip. With a small group, we head out onto the water in kayaks. It's not as easy as we thought, but soon we get the hang of it. The paddles dip evenly into the water, and we make good progress on the Warnow. Occasionally, the whole group stops with the city guide, and we learn a lot about the founding of Rostock and the city harbor.

The view of the huge ships docked in the harbor from the water is fantastic. We need to be careful not to get too wet with the waves. We really enjoyed the tour and highly recommend it.

You can find this and other slightly unusual tours with the provider Stadtpaddeln Rostock. Here you can also book directly; the two-hour tour costs 19 Euros per person.

In the IGA Park-located between Rostock's city center and Warnemünde on the eastern bank of the Unterwarnow-there is a huge ship. You really have to tilt your head back to look up to the mast. The traditional ship MS Dresden is now an exciting shipbuilding and shipping museum.

Inside the colossus, there's still a smell of motor oil. We walk through narrow corridors. In one of the ship's rooms, a captain figure is seated at a huge control panel filled with buttons. The story of shipbuilding comes alive here.

Next to it, you can admire accurately recreated ship models. The small boats can be controlled remotely and are a highlight for children.

Opening hours: April to October Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, November to March Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Admission: Adults pay 4 Euros, children 2.50 Euros

By the way, 'IGA' stands for the International Garden Show, which took place in Rostock in 2003. Today, the park is a popular destination for families, athletes, and dog owners. You can take lovely walks through the well-kept park area and even grill publicly. We particularly liked the Japanese Garden with its pond and pavilion. Various events are also held on the IGA grounds, and there is even a drive-in movie theater.

Our tip: On the way from Rostock to IGA Park, you pass the fish market. Make a stop here, take a look around the fish market, and then pop into the restaurant for lunch. The prices are fair, and the food is delicious.

Of course, we have another insider tip that most visitors miss if they're only in Rostock for a short time. It's worth taking a stroll through the Kröpeliner Tor Vorstadt, simply known as KTV. This hipster district lies outside the Kröpeliner Tor and offers a contrast to the bustling city center with its shopping mile.

In Kröpeliner Tor Vorstadt, things are laid-back. A group of students turns the corner. We ask them about a specific graffiti piece. 'You'll find it on Leonhardstraße,' the three of them know. And indeed, the entire street is covered with beautiful murals. It's fun to stroll along here.

Finally, the delicious smell of cake wafts into our noses. We discover a small café that couldn't be more packed with plants, knickknacks, and crockery. Outside stands an old Hollywood swing. Here, at the Waldenberger Cake Shop, you'll realize what KTV stands for. Opposite is Vegangster, a vegan burger spot, and right next to it is Veis, a vegan ice cream shop. It feels a bit like Kreuzberg in Berlin here. We love it.