The conference banquet will take place on board the Raddampfer Freya, a historic paddle steamer.

Vessel specifications:

• Year built: 1905

• Length: 51.60 m

• Breadth: 11.40 m

• Draught: 2.20 m

• Speed: 8.5 knots

• Power: M 150 kW, D 400 kW

• Passenger capacity: up to 200 guests

Registration deadline: June 30, 2026

A limited number of additional places are still available. To add the conference banquet to your booking, please email hostingcommittee@evmed.org by July 22, 2026.

Molfsee Open-Air Museum – Guided tour of the State Museum for Ethnology showcasing historic rural buildings and folk culture in northern Germany. Learn about life and work in the countryside from the 17th to the 20th century, with a focus on the variety of house types typical of Schleswig-Holstein, including the Probstei, the Elbe marshes, and North Frisia.

Transport to and from the museum will be provided.

Price: 50 USD

Landscape Park Arche Warder – Guided tour of Europe’s largest conservation park for rare and endangered domestic animal breeds. Visitors can see unique breeds such as White Park cattle, Turopolje pigs, the Poitou giant donkey, Exmoor ponies, and many others whose roots reach back centuries. Arche Warder is also a living museum where visitors can touch and interact with the animals.

Transport to and from the museum will be provided.

Price: 50 USD

Botanical Garden Kiel – Guided tour of the the Christian Albrecht University of Kiel’s botanical garden, featuring diverse plant collections from around the world, including the iconic butter tree. The tour also includes the seasonal exhibition of living butterflies.

The botanical garden is approximately 20 minutes on foot from the venue or 8 minutes by public transport, so transport will not be provided.

Price: 12 USD

Options for free time activities

Meet with others

On Thursday evening, some of the conference organizers will be spending time at the Kiellinie—Kiel’s famous waterfront promenade, lined with bars, food stands, and other attractions. We warmly invite all participants to drop by, say hello, have a drink with us, and meet fellow conference attendees. You can also use the opportunity to explore the nearby sights and enjoy the atmosphere by the fjord.

The organizers will be easy to find near these two locations:

• MOBY (bar offering local snacks)
• Seebar (restaurant offering vegan dishes)

Look out for the conference beach flags!

Go for a swim

You do not need to leave the city to enjoy a swim in the sea. Kiel has several official free public bathing spots where you can take a refreshing dip in the Baltic Sea. We recommend:

• Badestelle Kiellinie (near MOBY)
• Badestelle Bellevue (near Seebar)

These public bathing areas are supervised, and the water quality is regularly monitored.

If you would prefer a traditional sandy beach and do not mind a short trip outside the city, we recommend:

• Schilksee Strandbad
• Falckensteiner Strand

Both beaches are easily accessible by public transport, including the F1 fjord ferry.

At Falckensteiner Strand, an additional attraction is the High Spirits high ropes park, while Schilksee is home to the popular restaurant El Möwenschiss, which offers excellent food. If you visit, we recommend trying fish dishes—such as the freshly caught Kutterscholle (plaice)—or other regional specialties.

Points of interest in the city

A good starting point for exploring Kiel is the city center. You could begin with the Town Hall (Landeshauptstadt Kiel), located next to Hiroshima Park, a peaceful green area with two lakes. A short walk east will take you to St. Nikolai Church, the oldest building in Kiel. Continuing further towards the fjord, you will find the Maritime Museum, where you can learn more about the city’s strong connection to shipping, naval history, and the sea.

A little further north is the Zoological Museum, which is well worth a visit for its impressive collections of animals and natural history exhibits. Nearby, at the Kiellinie waterfront, you can visit the GEOMAR Aquarium, featuring various species of marine life. In front of the aquarium, you can see the playful seals in their outdoor pool. Close by is the Old Botanical Garden, a beautiful and relaxing place for a walk or a quiet break.

If you continue walking along the Kiellinie towards its northern end, you can enjoy views of the naval harbor and, depending on the schedule, may see the famous German Navy training ship Gorch Fock.

If you are interested in local shops, cafés, and experiencing Kiel’s urban architecture, we recommend a walk along Holtenauer Straße, the longest street in the city. It offers a lively atmosphere with many independent stores, cafés, and restaurants.

Venturing outside the city

If you would like to take a short trip outside Kiel, we recommend visiting Laboe, a charming seaside town on the eastern shore of Kiel Fjord.

Laboe features a scenic waterfront promenade with cafés, ice cream stands, and beautiful views of sailing boats and ferries passing through the bay. The town is also home to several important attractions:

• Laboe Naval Memorial – a landmark dedicated to sailors of all nations who lost their lives at sea. The observation deck offers spectacular panoramic views over Kiel Bay.
• U-995 Submarine Museum – a World War II-era submarine located directly next to the memorial, which visitors can explore from the inside.
• Dünenlandschaft Laboe (Coastal Dune Nature Area) – a peaceful natural area with walking paths and opportunities for birdwatching along the coastline.

The most scenic way to reach Laboe is by taking the F1 fjord ferry, which offers beautiful views of Kiel Fjord along the way. The journey takes approximately 50–70 minutes, depending on your departure point in Kiel. The ferry arrives directly at Laboe harbor, close to the beach and the aforementioned attractions.