Step through the Holstentor, the big brick gate that has guarded Lubeck since the 1400s, and you step right into the old town. This compact city on the Trave river has a lot of things to do in Lubeck Germany for a day trip or a weekend stay. The narrow cobbled streets lead past merchants' houses and hidden flower-filled courtyards. Marzipan shops and beer gardens sit next to UNESCO-listed landmarks and churches with 40-metre brick vaults. It feels like a quieter version of Bruges but with its own proper northern German character. You can easily cover the old town in an hour or so, but slowing down reveals more.
- Best time
- Autumn or winter for the cozy indoor spots and Christmas markets. Summer for beer gardens and boat tours.
- Where to stay
- Old Town (Altstadt) for easiest access to everything. Near the main station for train connections.
- Perfect for
- History lovers . Architecture fans . Day-trippers from Hamburg
- Don't miss
- St. Mary's Church for the broken bells and danse macabre windows. Or just walking through the Holstentor.
Things I'd tell a friend
A few pieces of practical advice based on visiting the city.
Bring cash for small purchases
Card payments work in most hotels and large shops. Small cafes, parking machines, and some ticket desks still expect cash. Keep a few 1 and 2 euro coins in your pocket. This is a common setup across Germany.
Source · Learned this the hard way
Start walking before the crowds
The hidden courtyards and the inside of St. Mary's Church get much busier around 11am. If you start your walk right after breakfast you will have most places to yourself.
Source · Did this myself
Use the train for day trips
Lubeck makes a good base. Hamburg is 45 minutes away by train. The beach at Travemuende is 20 minutes by train. Both stations are easy to reach from the old town.
Source · Tested the routes
Holstentor
Holstentor is the massive brick gate that marks the western entrance to Lubeck's old town. It is the symbol of the city.
- Built between 1464 and 1478
- One of only two remaining city gates
- Small museum inside on Lubeck's history
- Notice the slight sag in the middle from subsidence
You will walk through it if you arrive by train. The gate is made of two thick towers with a passageway between them. Inside the Holstentor there is a museum that covers the city's Hanseatic past. It works well as a rainy-day stop. The gate was rebuilt twice but still leans inward a little. The other remaining gate is Burgtor to the north.
Check the museum website for hours
The Holstentor museum has its own official website with up-to-date opening times.
Right next to the main station
It sits at the west end of the old town, less than 5 minutes on foot from Lubeck's main train station.
Watch for the lean
The gate has settled over the centuries. It is not perfectly straight, which is part of its character.
Walk through it before 10 AM to get a photo without crowds.
The Radisson Blu Senator Hotel is right by the water near Holstentor. The Atlantic Hotel is inside the old town.
Park Inn By Radisson Luebeck
- Parking on site
- Free Wifi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Facilities for disabled guests
- 24-hour front desk
- Room service
- Elevator
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
Radisson Blu Senator Hotel, Luebeck
- Indoor swimming pool
- Parking on site
- Free Wifi
- Non-smoking rooms
- 2 restaurants
- Facilities for disabled guests
- 24-hour front desk
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church is the main church of Lubeck and a landmark of brick Gothic architecture.
- Highest brick vault in the world at 40 meters
- Third-largest church in Germany
- Broken bells from a 1942 air raid left as a memorial
- Stained glass windows showing the danse macabre
The church was built between 1250 and 1350. It set the standard for about 70 other churches in the Baltic region. The vaulted brick ceiling reaches 40 meters high. Inside you can see the broken bells that fell from the tower during a WW2 air raid. They were never removed and now serve as a war memorial. The stained glass windows, added in the 1950s, show skeletons and dancing corpses. It is a danse macabre motif. The church costs 2 euros to enter. There is also an astronomical clock inside. It does its thing just before noon.
2 euro entrance fee
St. Mary's Church charges a small 2 euro fee to enter. Check the official website for opening hours as they change through the year.
Broken bells left on display
The bells shattered when they fell in 1942. They were left exactly where they landed as a memorial.
Pair it with the devil statue
Just outside the church is a bronze statue of the little Lubeck devil. Across the road is the Ratskeller tavern, which has a direct connection to the local legend.
Time your visit for just before noon to see the astronomical clock work.
The CVJM Hotel am Dom is a budget choice nearby. The Atlantic Hotel is a comfortable mid-range option within walking distance.
Mercure Hotel Luebeck City Center
- Private Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Elevator
- Bar
- Terrace
- Very Good Breakfast
Atlantic Hotel Luebeck
- Private Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Facilities for disabled guests
- 24-hour front desk
- Airport shuttle
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Excellent Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Hidden Courtyards
Behind the main streets of the old town lies a network of narrow alleys and flower-filled courtyards.
- Around 80 alleys and courtyards open to the public
- Most are located in the Kober district
- Fuechtingshof was used in the film Nosferatu
- Once housed tradesmen and artisans in medieval times
Look for the entrances on Engelswisch, Engelsgrube, and Glockengießerstraße. The courtyards are often just narrow doorways between the grand facades. Inside you find timbered houses, cobbled paths, and small gardens. Glandorpshof and Fuechtingshof are two of the most famous. Fuechtingshof appears in the 1922 silent film Nosferatu. The courtyards were where the less wealthy part of the population lived. Many are still lived in today. Go quietly and respect that people live there.
Start at the Kober district
The northern area of the Altstadt called Kober has the highest concentration of courtyards. Check your map for Engelsgrube and Glockengießerstraße.
People still live here
These are not museum pieces. People live in these houses. Keep your voice low and do not block doorways.
Easy walking from the Holstentor
The courtyards are spread across the old town. You can easily walk from one to another. The entire island is only 5 km around.
Go early in the morning before the tour groups start looking for them.
Niederegger Marzipan
Lubeck is the marzipan capital of the world, and Niederegger is the most famous producer.
- Marzipan shop in business since 1806
- Free marzipan museum on the second floor
- Cafe upstairs serving marzipan cakes
- Protected under EU law as a regional specialty
Niederegger sits on Breite Straße in the middle of the old town. Its facade looks like something from a fairy tale. The shop sells marzipan in every shape, from fruit to Christmas figures. Upstairs is a cafe where you can have coffee and marzipan pastries. On the second floor there is a free museum. It shows the history of the company and has life-size marzipan figures on display. The shop smells strongly of marzipan. If you do not like the stuff, the shop itself is still worth seeing for the window displays. The marzipan is protected under EU law as a Protected Geographical Indication food.
Free museum on the second floor
The marzipan museum is completely free to enter. You do not need to buy anything from the shop.
Open standard shop hours
Check the website for exact times. The cafe and museum follow the shop's opening hours.
Breite Strasse in the old town
Niederegger is right in the center on Breite Straße, next to the Rathaus and just opposite the main market square.
If you only go for the free museum, you still get a good sense of the craft.
The Atlantic Hotel is a four-star stay on the same street. The Radisson Blu is a short walk across the island.
H+ Hotel Luebeck
- Free Wifi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Fitness center
- 24-hour front desk
- Elevator
- Bar
- Good Breakfast
Hotel IV Jahreszeiten Luebeck
- Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Elevator
- Bar
- Terrace
- Very Good Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Lübeck Cathedral
Lubeck Cathedral is the oldest church in the city, built in the 12th century.
- Built by Henry the Lion in the 12th century
- Heavily damaged in WW2 and restored in 1982
- Houses one of the largest organs in Germany
- Built in brick Gothic style
The cathedral was founded in 1173 by Henry the Lion, the Duke of Saxony. It is one of the oldest brick buildings in the Baltic region. During an air raid in 1942 the cathedral was set alight and the interior was largely destroyed. The organ was burned in the fire. The cathedral was restored over decades and completed in 1982. The current organ is one of the largest in Germany. You can walk through the nave to see the scale of the restoration. The cathedral sits in the southern part of the old town, a few minutes walk from St. Mary's Church.
WW2 damage visible in the restoration
The church was badly hit in 1942. The fire destroyed much of the original interior. The reconstruction work was not finished until 1982.
Free entry to the cathedral
The cathedral is open during the day for visitors. Check the official website for any service closures.
Walk south from the market square
The cathedral is in the southern part of the Altstadt. It is about a 10-minute walk from the Rathaus and a 15-minute walk from the Holstentor.
Stand under the organ for a full minute to appreciate the size of the pipes.
The CVJM Hotel am Dom is right next to the cathedral. The Atlantic Hotel is a 10-minute walk to the north.
Liho - Einfach Luebeck
- Private Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Elevator
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
Holiday Inn Luebeck By Ihg
- Indoor swimming pool
- Private Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Restaurant
- Fitness center
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Excellent Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
European Hansemuseum
This museum covers the history of the Hanseatic League, of which Lubeck was the capital.
- Largest museum on the Hanseatic League
- Interactive exhibits on piracy, trade, and plague
- Built on the site of a medieval monastery
- Good rainy-day activity for an hour or two
The museum sits in the north of the old town, near the Burgtor gate. It covers the full story of the Hanseatic League, from its rise in the Middle Ages to its decline. The exhibits are interactive but they involve a lot of reading. If you have good weather outside you might want to speed through. On a rainy day you can easily spend two hours here. The museum is built onto the Lubeck Castle Monastery ruins, which you can also visit. The official website has opening times.
Lots of reading involved
The museum is interactive but depends heavily on text panels. If you are short on time, prioritize the main exhibits.
Check the official website for hours
Opening times vary seasonally. Check the museum's own site before you go.
Visit the Castle Monastery ruins too
The museum incorporates the remains of the Lubeck Castle Monastery. It is included in your ticket.
Save it for a rainy afternoon rather than a sunny morning.
The H+ Hotel by the station is a practical choice for a short stay. The museum is a 15-minute walk from there across the old town.
Hotel Ko15
- Private Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Elevator
- Terrace
- Excellent Breakfast
Baltic Hotel Luebeck
- Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Elevator
- Terrace
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Very Good Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
What is the best way to get to Lubeck from Hamburg?
The train from Hamburg Central Station takes about 45 minutes and runs every hour. From Hamburg Airport, take the S-Bahn to the main station first.
Is the old town in Lubeck walkable?
Yes, the old town is compact and entirely walkable. Walking all the way around the island takes about an hour.
How much does it cost to enter St. Mary's Church?
Entry to St. Mary's Church costs 2 euros. The marzipan museum at Niederegger is free.
Where are the hidden courtyards in Lubeck?
Most of the alleys and courtyards are in the Kober district in the north of the Altstadt. Look for the entrances on Engelswisch, Engelsgrube, and Glockengießerstraße.
What is Lubeck famous for besides the old town?
Lubeck is world-famous for its marzipan, protected under EU law. It is also known as the capital of the Hanseatic League.
Can I visit the beach from Lubeck?
Yes, the beach in Travemuende is reachable by train in about 20 to 25 minutes. The station is called Travemuende Strand.
