Lübeck

Travel Guide

Museum Holstentor featuring heritage architecture and wildflowers as well as a small group of people
Buddenbrooks House featuring heritage elements
Museum Holstentor which includes heritage architecture and a park
Lübeck
Museum Holstentor which includes heritage architecture

Visit the famous Holsten Gate and journey into the past on your city trip to Lübeck.

Lübeck’s renowned medieval old town, a UNESCO world heritage site, is situated in Schleswig-Holstein, around 65km north-east of Hamburg. You can get to the city via the A1 or A20 motorways. If you’re arriving by train, you can choose to begin your journey by getting off either at the main train station or at six other stops. You also have the option of arriving into either Lübeck or Hamburg airport.

The famous Travemünde spa resort is also situated in the area of Lübeck. It has made a name for itself with its glorious sandy beach and elegant promenade. In summer you can combine your city visit to Lübeck with a relaxing mini-break by the sea. The idyllic district of Schlutup lies on the Trave river and the fishing boat, the Schlu. 2a, in the centre of St. Andreas’ churchyard heralds the town’s heritage as a fishing village. Admire the thatched cottages on a walk through the estate of Gothmund in the St. Gertrud district. Some of the fishermen’s houses are listed buildings. There are a few more fishing boats to see at the port.

The main attraction on a city trip in Lübeck is the old town. It was the first in northern Europe to be listed as a heritage site by UNESCO. Lübeck’s old town contains lots of historic buildings like the city hall, castle abbey, St. James’ Church and the Hospital of the Holy Ghost. The salt warehouses will grab your attention on the western banks of the Trave river. The famous Holsten Gate demarcates the old town to the west. The striking building was depicted on the 50 Deutsche Mark note and can now be seen on the German 2 Euro coin from 2006. Inside, it houses a museum about the history of the city. The Holsten Gate Museum exhibits artifacts from the old days in Lübeck and information about the development of the city.

Lübeck has a wealth of museums that are worth a visit on your short trip. The Museum for Natural History and the Environment is right next to the cathedral. A skeleton of a sperm whale will grab your attention in the cathedral courtyard, and the museum’s collection will show you many exhibits on the nature and environment of the region. Just down from St. Peter’s Church is the Lübeck Theatre Puppet Museum, which displays different puppets from Europe, Africa and Asia. The Indonesian shadow puppets and the abstract figurines by the Kassel art professor, Harry Kramer, are particularly worth a visit. A museum quiz shares the world of puppet shows with both big and small visitors alike in an entertaining way.

Where to stay in Lübeck

Travemuende which includes a bay or harbor

Travemuende

You'll enjoy the beaches and museums in Travemuende. You might want to make time for a stop at Old Lighthouse Travemuende or Baltic Station Priwall.

Travemuende
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Lübeck Old Town

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

Lübeck Old Town is noteworthy for its historical sites, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Lübeck Town Hall and Lübeck Christmas Market.

Lübeck Old Town
Old Lighthouse Travemuende showing heritage architecture

Alt-Travemünde

You'll enjoy the beaches and museums in Alt-Travemünde. You might want to make time for a stop at Old Lighthouse Travemuende or Travemuende Beach.

Alt-Travemünde
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Priwall

While there might not be top attractions in Priwall, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Baltic Station Priwall and Priwall Beach.

Priwall

Brodten

While visiting Brodten, you might make a stop by sights like Travemuende Beach and Niendorf Beach.

Brodten

Schlutup

When in Schlutup, you can plan a visit to Gothmund and St. Mary's Church, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Schlutup
Park Inn by Radisson Lübeck

Park Inn by Radisson Lübeck

4 out of 5
Willy-Brandt-Allee 1-5, Lübeck, SH
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is RM598 per night from 13 Aug to 14 Aug
RM598
RM640 total
13 Aug - 14 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Lübeck. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,013 reviews)
Great location
"Hotel is very short walk into town. Dtaff all very polite in texeption. Did find dinner in the restaurant very very slow service but food was excellent. Room with view over river very nice. Cant believe there is no a/c though"

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Park Inn by Radisson Lübeck
Radisson Blu Senator Hotel

Radisson Blu Senator Hotel

5 out of 5
Willy-Brandt-Allee 6, Lübeck, SH
The price is RM732 per night from 18 Aug to 19 Aug
RM732
RM783 total
18 Aug - 19 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Lübeck. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,020 reviews)
"Great hotel and service from the front desk staff"

Reviewed on 16 Jul 2025

Radisson Blu Senator Hotel
Maritim Strandhotel Travemünde

Maritim Strandhotel Travemünde

Trelleborgallee 2, Travemuende, Lübeck, SH
The price is RM910 per night from 24 Jul to 25 Jul
RM910
RM1,004 total
24 Jul - 25 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Lübeck. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (884 reviews)
"Nice hotel in a great location, but the hotel is quite old fashioned and could do with some updating."

Reviewed on 19 Oct 2024

Maritim Strandhotel Travemünde
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Bob W Lübeck Old Town

Bob W Lübeck Old Town

Lindenpl. 2, Lübeck, SH
Stay at this aparthotel in Lübeck. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and Netflix. Popular attractions Nature Reserve Wakenitz and Salt Storage Warehouses ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (62 reviews)
"Lovely apartment, cleverly modernised in a building with character. Very easy and helpful communication before and during my stay. Close to the railway and bus stations."

Reviewed on 28 May 2025

Bob W Lübeck Old Town
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Things to do

Reviews of Lübeck

4.9
Top destination
5 - Excellent
7
5 - Excellent 88%
4 - Good
1
4 - Good 13%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Luebeck is a wonderful place to visit ... I visit every year

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Walkable, easily. The churches are stunning. Take a bus (3.20€ each way) to Travemunde.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Absolutely beautiful place! I’d studied the Holy Roman Empire and the Hanseatic League for years, and it was well worth a visit. 10/10!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Gorgeous place to visit, we didn’t do any of the things around Lubeck as we had already visited quite a lot of Germany, but a lovely old town.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

A lovely compact town in the north of Germany with lots of history to look at and learn about. It's old town is easily walkable, plenty of shopping facilities and cafes are available and Marzipan lovers find themselves certainly in the right spot.