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- General info about Kiel
"Kiel is beautiful, very beautiful, the most beautiful city in
beautiful Holstein..., a splendid old nest and full of nice fellows."
— Theodor Storm, 19th-century German writer and poet
A cultural and maritime gateway of northern Germany
| Kiel is the capital and most populous city of the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Home to around 250,000 people, it is Germany’s largest city on the Baltic Sea. Situated on the Kiel Fjord—Kieler Förde—and the Bay of Kiel, the city lies at the southeastern edge of the Jutland Peninsula, where the River Schwentine meets the sea, about 90 km northeast of Hamburg. The world’s busiest artificial waterway, the Kiel Canal, ends in Kiel’s Holtenau district. The city of Kiel was founded in 1233. Over the centuries, it evolved into a major port and trading hub thanks to its strategically favorable location. Today, Kiel is one of Germany’s foremost maritime centers and the seat of the state government, home to many of Schleswig-Holstein’s key administrative, scientific, and educational institutions. Its vibrant intellectual atmosphere—marked by openness, curiosity, and productivity—attracts people from across the region and beyond. |
Kiel offers a cultural landscape as diverse as it is lively: theatres and opera, cinemas and concert halls, museums and galleries, botanical gardens, and cultural institutions of all kinds. The city is a proud venue of the world-renowned Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and hosts major events in the Wunderino Arena, one of Germany’s largest event halls. Visitors value Kiel’s extensive shopping opportunities and its broad spectrum of entertainment, from casino to cabaret. Set directly on the Baltic Sea, water is Kiel’s defining element. The fjord—its most striking natural feature—reaches deep into the urban landscape. The harbor’s bustling maritime scenery—from massive passenger ships to towering dockside cranes—shapes the city’s unmistakable character. Kiel’s maritime identity is ever-present: in its international oceanography, its specialized navy, its thriving port, and its world-class water sports. Each summer, the city hosts Kiel Week, the largest sailing event in the world—a celebration of the close bond between Kiel and the sea. |
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A national hotspot for evolutionary medicine research |
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Beyond its maritime heritage, Kiel is also Germany’s leading center for evolutionary medicine research. The city and its surrounding region are home to several internationally recognized research infrastructures in this field, including the Kiel Evolution Center (KEC)—an interdisciplinary platform that integrates and coordinates evolutionary research with applications in health, environment, and biotechnology—and the Kiel Microbiome Center (KMC), which brings together microbiome research linked to host–microbe interactions and health outcomes. The nearby Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön is a key partner, contributing core expertise in evolution, host–pathogen dynamics, and related areas, and strengthening Kiel’s role at the interface of basic evolutionary science and biomedical translation.
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Kiel’s strong focus on evolutionary medicine is further reflected in major DFG-funded research consortia and training programs, including the Collaborative Research Center CRC 1182 “Origin and Function of Metaorganisms,” the Research Unit “miTarget” on microbiome-based therapeutic strategies in chronic inflammatory diseases, and the TransEvo Research Training Group (RTG 2501) on translational evolutionary research. In addition, Kiel hosts the DFG-funded Clinician Scientist Program in Evolutionary Medicine and is a core partner in the Excellence Cluster “Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation,” integrating evolutionary perspectives into precision medicine. Together, these centers, consortia, and collaborative networks underscore Kiel’s international reputation as a hub of cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the intersection of evolution, microbiology, systems medicine, and clinical translation. |
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Local
time |
Kiel
is in the Central European Summer Time (CEST) zone in July, which is UTC + 2. |
Climate |
Late July is typically Kiel’s warmest and sunniest period, though still mild compared to continental Europe. Daytime temperatures usually range from 20–25 °C, with cooler evenings around 14–17 °C. Thanks to its coastal location, Kiel enjoys a refreshing sea breeze, but the weather can change quickly—sunshine, clouds, and passing rain showers can occur multiple times in a single day. We recommend bringing light summer clothing for sunny spells, a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings and wind, and a waterproof layer in case of sudden rain. |
Security
information |
Kiel is generally very safe. The German emergency number for fire, police, and ambulance services is 112. |
Sightseeing |
| Kiel offers a wide range of attractions both within the city center and in the surrounding area. The oldest building in the city is the 13th-century Church of St. Nicholas, which features the striking sculpture Geistkämpfer by Ernst Barlach in front of it. The Rathaus (Town Hall), built in 1911, is famous for its operating paternoster lift, and its tower design was inspired by one in Venice. The square in front of the Rathaus, bordered by a lake and the Kiel Opera House, creates a picturesque urban scene. The city also has numerous lakes and parks, including the scenic Schrevenpark, as well as two botanical gardens: the Old Botanical Garden and the Botanical Garden Kiel (New Botanical Garden). For shopping, Holstenstraße is one of Germany’s longest shopping streets, lined with shops, cafes, and local boutiques. Kiel is also home to a variety of museums, covering zoology, geology, history, fine arts, industry, and military history. |
In the summer, the Kiellinie, Kiel’s waterfront promenade, is the place to be. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the fjord, the bustling harbor with its ships and cranes, and the coastline dotted with beaches and marinas. Along the promenade, a variety of restaurants and food trucks offer local and international specialties—don’t miss the traditional Krabbenbrötchen, a fresh North Sea shrimp sandwich. The waterfront is also home to several attractions. The small Kiel Aquarium gives visitors a glimpse into local marine life, while the adjacent seal basin allows to watch playful seals up close. The promenade often hosts street performers, open-air markets, and seasonal festivals, making it a lively hub for both locals and tourists. Water sports enthusiasts can rent sailboats, kayaks, or paddleboards to explore the fjord from a different perspective. The Kiellinie also connects to nearby parks, making it easy to combine a stroll along the busy waterfront with detours to peaceful green spaces. |
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| A short drive from Kiel opens up even more sightseeing opportunities. We particularly recommend the picturesque town of Laboe, which features a scenic waterside promenade lined with cafés, ice cream stands, and viewpoints for watching sailboats and ferries. Laboe is home to the Laboe Naval Memorial, an iconic tribute to sailors of all nations lost at sea, with an observation deck offering panoramic views over Kiel Bay. Right next to the memorial is U-995, a WWII-era submarine turned into a museum—both are popular tourist destinations. Nature enthusiasts can explore the Coastal Dune Nature Area (Dünenlandschaft Laboe), which offers walking trails and birdwatching spots along the dunes by the bay. To get to Laboe, you can take the Fjord ferry route F1, offering a scenic journey along the fjord that takes approximately 50–70 minutes depending on your departure stop in Kiel. The ferry arrives directly at Laboe harbor, close to the beach and the attractions mentioned above. |
More information about Kiel can be found here. |