In Travemünde, you can experience different aspects of maritime life: the four-masted barque PASSAT lies at the mouth of the Trave, the Baltic Sea Station on the Priwall peninsula showcases local marine life, and the North Pier extends out to sea. For your trip, you can choose between maritime history, insights into the underwater world and walks along the water.

Maritime History Aboard Ship and at the Lighthouse

The PASSAT lies at the mouth of the Trave and has become the seaside resort’s floating landmark. Its maritime exhibition aboard the ship features diary entries by a 15-year-old boy and offers insights into his life at sea. The boy signed on to the PASSAT in 1932 and sailed around the world aboard her. So, alongside the ship itself, visitors can also discover a personal historical perspective on life aboard.

The Old Lighthouse in Travemünde dates back to 1539 and houses a maritime museum. Together with the PASSAT, it offers another point of interest for anyone interested in the history of the seaside resort and seafaring: one is a historic building with a museum, the other a ship with an exhibition on board. These two topics can be considered separately when planning your visit, rather than combined into a single visit.

Baltic Sea Station and Promenade Loop

On the Priwall peninsula, the Baltic Sea Station features Baltic Sea aquariums with local marine life and houses a small marine museum. During an interactive tour lasting around an hour, visitors can touch the creatures, feed voracious flatfish and ask questions. The station therefore offers a different focus from the historic sites: here, the emphasis is on the Baltic Sea and its inhabitants, as well as a tour that invites visitors to take part.

The promenade loop connects the Trave promenade on the Travemünde town side with the new promenade on the Priwall side. The route includes two relaxing short ferry rides across the mouth of the Trave. If you plan to walk the loop, it’s best to check the ferry timetable in advance. The connection between the two promenades and the crossings make this a great way to include both sides of the waterfront in your travel plans.

Watch Ships and Plan Your Stay

The crescent-shaped North Pier, made of reinforced concrete, extends around 250 metres out to sea. From there, you can watch ships coming and going, including small fishing boats and sailboats. The pier is therefore a destination in its own right for anyone who wants to watch the comings and goings of ships. Its length and shape also give the spot a distinctive profile on the waterfront.

The activities also differ in nature: the tour at the Baltic Sea Station lasts around an hour, while the promenade loop connects two waterfront promenades and includes two ferry rides. At the North Pier, by contrast, the focus is on watching ships coming and going. This lets you choose whether you’d like your stay to centre more on maritime exhibitions, Baltic Sea aquariums, or walks and ships by the water.

When looking for a hotel in Travemünde, it helps to first decide which aspects you’d like to focus on during your stay. The PASSAT and the Old Lighthouse offer historical themes, while the Baltic Sea Station, the promenade loop and the North Pier provide other ways to experience the Baltic Sea and life by the water. Use these differences to guide your travel plans, then compare hotels to find one that suits the experiences that matter to you.

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