PORT REPORT 4 HOLSTEN GATE Top 5 sights in... 1
Founded in the 12th century on money from merchant ships, this German city has much to offer, reports Tamara Hinson
LuLubeckbeck ● ● SCHIFFERGESELLSCHAFT 2
Centuries ago, when storms prevented sailors taking to the high seas, weather-bound seamen hunkered down in the Schiffergesellschaft (seafarers’ society), which is now a cavernous – but cosy – restaurant. The sailors bided their time making the impressive models of ships that hang from the ceiling of the building’s lovingly preserved interior, with its ornate wooden panelling and historic memorabilia. Try the Büsum North Sea shrimp soup with a stein of Haake-Beck Kräusen Pils, brewed in northern Germany.
OLD TOWN
Lübeck’s old town has 1,800 listed structures, many in a style known as brick gothic, typified by the use of red and black bricks. The old town has five historic churches, of which Lübeck Cathedral is the grandest. The Town Hall, which dates back to 1226, is equally stunning.
3
travelweekly.co.uk/cruise
NIEDEREGGER LÜBECK FLAGSHIP STORE
Marzipan producer Niederegger Lübeck was founded in 1806 by pastry chef Johann Georg Niederegger. There’s a life-size marzipan bust of him in the store’s museum, where marzipan sculptures depict 12 famous fans of the sweet treat. The shop sells thousands of marzipan creations, from lobsters and bunnies to pretzels and fruits.
BOOK IT: Holland America Line calls at Kiel, with a self-guided excursion in Lübeck from $130; Princess Cruises has a Hanseatic Lübeck & Brewery Tour from $210 available on Hamburg port stops; and Norwegian Cruise Line also calls at Hamburg, offering a Hanseatic Lübeck & Brewery tour for £106.
This twin-towered medieval city gate now houses a history museum. Exhibits include donation boxes once found in Lübeck’s guildhalls. Centuries ago, even the poor enjoyed a relatively elevated standard of living here, thanks to the belief that philanthropic acts eased one’s passage to heaven, so these donation boxes were uickly filled by wealthy, god- fearing merchants.
5 DREHBRÜCKENPLATZ
This viewing area is a great spot from which to admire the city’s harbour and its historic sailing ships. These include the Lisa von Lübeck, a replica of a sailing ship from the time when Lübeck was known as the Queen of the Hanseatic League, that visitors can now board. The fish sandwiches sold at the neighbouring kiosk are nearly as legendary.
December 2025 13
PICTURES: Shutterstock/FooTToo; LTM
PICTURES: Shutterstock/FooTToo; Olaf Malzahn
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
