Best things to do in Kiel

The Old Botanical Garden in Kiel , also known as the Old Botanical Garden on the Fjord, is a former botanical garden and arboretum located at Düsternbrooker Weg 19, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is open daily without charge.Kiel has had various botanical gardens since 1668, when professor Johann Daniel Major established his horticus medicus within the garden of Kiel Castle. It is unclear whether this garden survived the Danish occupation of 1675-1676. Subsequent gardens were established on the site of the former Franciscan monastery on the Falckstraße and the garden at the Prüne . No trace of these early gardens remains.The Old Botanical Garden began as the private park of tobacco manufacturer Abraham Christian Brauer, who in 1825 created a garden with curved walkways, differentiated woody plantings, a swan pond, and excellent views of Kiel's fjord landscape. Upon his death in 1868 the site was acquired by the University of Kiel, and from 1878-1884 was refashioned by botanist Adolf Engler as a botanical garden, introducing geographic plantings of exotic species while preserving the landscape aesthetics. In 1891 the university added a hilltop pavilion, an octagonal brick building with a graceful dome of iron mesh, and in 1906 added the garden inspector's cottage. After the university created a new botanical garden on its campus in 1978, the garden became a public park in 1980. Its fence and pavilion were extensively restored from 1984–1994, and since 1998 the cottage has served as the Literature House of Schleswig-Holstein.

Lubeck Altstadt (Lubeck Oldtown) represents one of the best-preserved maritime cities in Germany. Church steeples and a compact, medieval core dominate this UNESCO World Heritage site. You can explore the winding streets and old fortifications. At one point in the past, this was accessible only via imposing gates set within the walls. Admire the wide array of Gothic-style architecture and the mix of northern European fashions on display. The latter is a product of the city's 600-year position as the capital of the Hanseatic League. The giant Holstentor gate, a two-towered structure, is a symbol of Lubeck itself. Be sure to stop at a shop for marzipan treats, considered to be the local specialty.

Holstentor, a historical city gate, serves not only as an icon of Lübeck but also as a museum about the city's history. Originally built in the 15th century, it is one of the relics of Lübeck's medieval city fortifications. Spend time admiring the gate before entering the museum, and look for the Latin inscription, which translates to "Harmony within, peace without." Step inside to explore seven rooms that focus mainly on Lübeck's trade history. Squeamish visitors should skip the Holsten Gate exhibit, which contains medieval torture instruments.