Travemünde

Travemünde is a borough of Lübeck, in northern Germany. The town is a relaxed seaside resort, popular for its beach and seafood, and is Germany's largest ferry port on the Baltic Sea.

On Ferryhopper, you can find all the information you need for your vacation in Travemünde. Discover the best things to do and find out how to get there. Check all available routes and book ferry tickets to Travemünde from Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia at no extra cost!

The lush green town of Travemünde by the Baltic Sea

Holidays in Travemünde

Located in northern Germany, Travemünde is a coastal district in the area of Lübeck. The resort-like town offers many beautiful sandy beaches backing onto the Baltic Sea, a relaxed atmosphere and an exciting restaurant scene. It’s a place where you can leave all stress behind, and enjoy the simple yet valuable pleasures of a summer vacation.  

Although the medieval paradise of Lübeck is a year-round destination, the seaside Travemünde vibes better in the summer months. Its peak season is from June to August, but if you also can meet its more laid-back version in April, May, September and October. In the winter, it’s still a great place to stay if you want to visit the famous Christmas Markets of Lübeck and are looking for more budget accommodation.

How to get to Travemünde

One of the easiest ways to reach Travemünde from Baltic Sea countries is by sea. In fact, you can catch a ferry directly to the port of Travemünde from Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania. Find out more about ferry routes and schedules to Travemünde below!

If you prefer to travel by plane, the closest airport to Travemünde is Lübeck Airport, which is connected to several central European cities. The airport is a bit more than 30 minutes away by car and 1 hour by public transport.

Alternatively, there are numerous bus and train services to Lübeck from neighboring cities in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden (through Denmark). Most connections are operated by Deutsche Bahn and Flixbus. The Lübeck railway station is about 25 minutes from Travemünde.

If you wish to travel to Travemünde from the neighboring Hamburg by car, take motorway A1 and you will get there in a bit more than 1 hour.

The busy Travemünde promenade on a sunny day

What to do in Travemünde

In the bay of Lübeck, Travemünde is a place to relax and get refreshed. The coastal town promises chill days and the beach, long walks and lots of natural beauty. After a good swim, you will get lunch and drinks with a sea view. Walk down the promenade, explore the Old Town and admire the beautiful sights.

And if you are looking for cultural tours and a boat ride at the Elbe-Trave canal, Lübeck is at hand’s reach!

The cute huts at the sandy beach of Travemünde

Sightseeing and activities in Travemünde

Travemünde, just like Lübeck, has a long history. It began as a fortress built by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, in the 12th century to guard the mouth of Trave river. Its fortifications were demolished in the first decade of the 19th century and the town has been a seaside resort eversince!

Nowadays, the town’s sights have more of a recreational character. And, of course, Travemünde’s most important attraction is its white-sand beach (Strand), perfect for swimming, with its distinctive beach huts.

Some of the best things to see in Travemünde are:

• the SEA LIFE Timmendorfer Beach aquarium
• the Mikado Garden, a Japanese garden with statues, flowers and a bookshop
• the Old Town, with colorful brick houses
• the 16th century lighthouse, the oldest on the German Baltic Coast
• the museum ship Passat, anchored in the mouth of the Trave
• the town promenade and the fountain field
• the Fisherman’s Harbour
• the St. Lorenz Church
• the bailiff's residence from 1551

If you feel like shopping, Travemünde's Vorderreihe shopping street, which runs alongside the Trave estuary, features numerous stores, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. And just a mini-ferry ride across the Trave, there's the BeachBay market hall on Priwall.

Finally, if you are a sailing enthusiast, you can’t miss the annual "Travemünder Woche" sailing race, held at the end of July.

The impressive barque Passat at the harbor of Travemünde

Nightlife in Travemünde

Travemünde is a lively resort town where thousands of travelers arrive each year to enjoy a relaxing and fun vacation. There, you will find a wide variety of entertainment options. There are many bars and lounge cafés at the town promenade, as well as beach bars, where you can just chill with a glass of beer or wine and gaze at the ocean.

If you are looking for wilder nights, there are also several pubs and night clubs for dancing, such as Bay’s and the Nautic Club.

Food in Travemünde

The town’s restaurant scene is wide and mostly focuses on German cuisine. Most restaurants are located close to the water and have terraces, so you can feel the light breeze and dine with a sea view.

The leader in Travemünde’s gastronomy is, of course, seafood. The most unique experience the town has to offer is the quaint Fishermens’ Harbour, where you can get an authentic view of marine life. Freshly caught fish is sold there, coming directly from the boats. Satisfy your hunger with delicious fish rolls, smoked fish, and other fresh herring or mackerel bites from the snack bar, that’s best to eat with your hands. The small fish restaurants around are also seafood goldmines worth visiting.

Plus: craving something sweet? Definitely taste the famous Lübeck marzipan, one of the most quality marzipans in Europe.

Delicious fish sandwich to enjoy at the Travemünde promenade

Useful information about Travemünde

Travemünde is a popular German destination in the Baltic Sea, receiving thousands of tourists every year. Travelers have access to all necessary amenities, available both in Travemünde and in the city Lübeck, right next to the town, including hospitals, medical services and pharmacies.

The German town of Travemünde, ideal for seaside holidays in the summer, offers a wide range of accommodation options, depending on your budget and preferences, from bed-and-breakfast places to beautiful hotels with a sea view. There is also a great campsite, Travemünde Ivendorf, that provides visitors with modern amenities and is well connected to Lübeck by bus.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Travemünde

Here are some contacts that might prove useful during your stay in Travemünde:

• Städtisches Krankenhaus Priwall und Süd Betriebsteil Priwall (hospital): +4945028000
• Lübeck Airport: +4945131710
• Travemünde Port Authority: +494502807
• 24/7 medical services: +4945171081
• Travemünde police station: +494502863430
• European emergency number: 112

Transportation in Travemünde

The coastal town of Travemünde is pretty small, so it’s easy to get around on foot, as distances are short. Walk down the long beautiful promenade, enjoy the ocean views and fill your lungs with fresh sea air! Cycling your way around the town is also a good alternative and great exercise!

If you want to move to Lübeck for a day trip, trains to the city depart from the ferry terminal at the pier of Skandinavienkai, and the Strandbahnhof, the beach station in the town center. Buses 30, 31, and 40 also run from the bus station next to the Strandbahnhof to Lübeck.

Of course, you can always move around by taxi or your car if you want to feel more comfortable. There are several car and bike rental agencies both in Travemünde and Lübeck.

Ports in Travemünde

At the mouth of the river Trave in Lübeck Bay, the historic port of Travemünde, with the big Skandinavienkai terminal, is one of the largest ferry ports in Europe and is well connected to neighboring countries, such as Sweden, Finland and Latvia. The port receives annually more than 400,000 passengers embarking on a Baltic voyage.

Naturally, this big port is equipped with a variety of traveler amenities, such as free Wi-Fi, coffee shops, restaurants, ATMs, parking lots (long/short term), duty-free shops, baby-changing facilities, etc.

Moroever, there are organized harbor tours, as well as entertainment options and the sandy beach of Travemünde, all within walking distance.

Boats at the port of Travemünde on a sunny day

Travemünde ferry: schedules and tickets

Traveling there by ferry gets you in the right mood for seaside holidays in the Baltic Sea! You can find ferry connections to the port of Travemünde from Sweden (Malmö, Trelleborg), Finland (Helsinki), Latvia (Liepāja) and Lithuania (Klaipeda).

More specifically, there are ferries traveling to Travemünde from:

• Malmö: the ferries from Malmö to Travemünde (Lübeck) are available up to 3 times a day year-round, with the average travel time being around 9 hr. The route is operated by Finnlines.
• Trelleborg: there are up to 4 daily ferries from Trelleborg to Travemünde that arrive in around 8 hr. The connection is served by TT-Line ferries.
• Helsinki: you can travel by ferry from Helsinki to Travemünde (Lübeck) all year round, with up to 7 weekly crossings by Finnlines. The duration of the ferry ride is approximately 28 hr.
• Liepāja: throughout the year, the Liepāja - Travemünde ferry route is usually operated with up to 6 weekly crossings by Stena Line. The duration of the ferry trip to the German port is around 19.5 hr.
• Klaipeda: the company TT-Line normally serves up to 2 weekly Klaipeda - Travemünde ferry crossings. The trip duration varies from 25 to 35 hours.

Tip: as ferry schedules are subject to change, we recommend checking our search engine for the latest ferry information.

The calm lighthouse pier of Travemünde at sunset

Where to book ferry tickets to Travemünde online

On Ferryhopper, you can find all ferry routes to and from the port of Travemünde in northern Germany. Compare prices, timetables and companies, and book ferry tickets to Travemünde online with no hidden fees.