Mighty Maritime & Naval History

The Baltic Sea reaches into the heart of the city of Kiel, capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, creating a truly traditional maritime city. A drive with panoramic views will take you past the city's highlights including the impressive Kiel Canal that connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. Be on the lookout for submarines that frequent this marine highway. Next, you'll continue along the eastern shore of the Kiel Fjord to the lovely town of Laboe. The Laboe Naval Memorial offers visitors a chance to view a monolithic memorial dedicated to the fallen sailors of all nationalities during the battles of World War I and II. Next to the memorial you'll find a U-995 — the world's only remaining Type VII U-Boat (submarine), which is also a museum. Time at leisure affords you the choice of either exploring the inside of the submarine U-995 on the beach below or perhaps climbing the main memorial tower, which offers terrific views from the observation deck of the Bay of Kiel, the Baltic Sea and surrounding Schleswig-Holstein. End your tour in Laboe to stroll along the shore of the Baltic. You may want to try a delicious local fish roll, a typical snack in Kiel (not included).