Plan a CruiseTravemunde Cruise Port Guide
Travemunde is a charming sea resort and a borough of Lübeck, popular with families. It serves as a significant harbor town with daily passenger and cargo ferries connecting to Scandinavia and the Baltic states. What began as a small fishing village has grown into a tourism hub, maintaining a distinctly "sleepy character" in its old town despite attracting many tourists on weekends.
Your cruise ship will likely dock at one of two locations. Smaller ships often use the convenient Ostpreussenkai, which is within walking distance of the main town and beach, and near the local bus station. Larger vessels typically dock at the Skandinavienkai cruise terminal, requiring a 10-minute bus ride into Travemunde town, with buses running every 20 minutes. While in the region, consider visiting Lübeck's Altstadt (Old Town), which is not an open-air museum but a vibrant, living city center blending historic architecture with modern infrastructure.
Getting Around from the Port
From Skandinavienkai: A bus service operates every 20 minutes, taking approximately 10 minutes to reach Travemunde town center. From Ostpreussenkai: The main town and beach are within easy walking distance. A bus station is also conveniently located nearby.
To reach Lübeck: From Travemunde, you can take bus number 30. The journey to Lübeck takes about 25 minutes and costs 2.50 Euro.
Attractions and Activities
- Explore Travemunde: If docked at Ostpreussenkai, enjoy a leisurely walk into the main town and to the beach. Experience the "sleepy character" of the old town, explore the harbor, and soak in the atmosphere of this family-friendly sea resort.
- Discover Lübeck's Altstadt (Old Town): Take bus #30 (25 min, 2.50 Euro) for a trip to the historic heart of Lübeck. The Altstadt is a living city, offering a captivating mix of old and modern buildings. Don't miss the particularly well-preserved 13th-century Koberg area at the northern end of the island. Also, seek out the "Gänge," small atmospheric streets tucked away off the main roads, with their unique small houses.
Dining & Shopping
Travemunde offers local charm, but for more extensive shopping, Lübeck is the primary destination.
Shopping in Lübeck: Lübeck boasts a wide variety of shops for a relaxed shopping experience.
- Main Shopping Streets: Stroll along Breite Straße, a lively pedestrian street, or explore shops on Königstraße, Holstenstraße, Sandstraße, and Mühlenstraße.
- Selected Offers: For more curated selections, visit Hüxstraße.
- Romantic Side Streets: Discover unique finds in streets like Fleischhauerstraße or Wahmstraße.
- Shopping Malls: Königpassage and CITTI-PARK offer over 50 attractive shops.
Shopping Hours: Be aware that store hours in Germany can be shorter than in some other countries. Most stores close no later than 8 p.m., with some closing as early as 6:30 p.m. On Saturdays, many stores close by 1 or 2 p.m., though larger city centers might stay open until 2 or 4 p.m. On Sundays, almost all stores are closed, with the exception of some bakeries that open in the morning.
Currency and Language
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). There are numerous ATM machines available for cash withdrawals. When visiting smaller establishments, it is advisable to ask in advance if they accept credit cards.
German is the spoken language. Germans are generally regarded as punctual and disciplined. When addressing people you don't know, it's customary and more formal to use "Sie" (the formal "you") along with their last name, rather than "Du" (the informal "you").
In case of emergencies, dial 110 for Police and 112 for Fire Emergency or Ambulance. An Internet-Café is located just two blocks from the top of the Ostpreussenkai cruise terminal building. Note that German keyboards have a different layout; to find the @-sign, you'll typically need to use Ctrl + Alt + Q.