Lubeck Germany Travel Guide: 15 BEST Things To Do In Lübeck

Lubeck Germany Travel Guide: 15 BEST Things To Do In Lübeck

So you want to know what are the 
best things to do in Lubeck, Germany? Great, you’re in the right place.
In this video we’re gonna discuss the top things to do in Lubeck.
Number 18: Holsten Gate (Holstentor) The Holsten Gate is Lübeck’s most 
famous landmark and one of Germany’s best-known medieval city gates.
Built between 1464 and 1478, it once guarded the western entrance 
to the Old Town and symbolized Lübeck’s wealth and power during the Hanseatic era.
Its two round towers lean slightly inward due to the soft ground beneath them, 
giving the building a unique look. The Latin phrase “Concordia domi foris pax” on its 
front means “harmony at home and peace abroad.” Located inside is the Holstentor Museum, where 
you can see ship models, measuring tools, armor, and weapons that show Lübeck’s rich 
history as a Hanseatic trading city. Number 17: Lübeck’s Old Town (Altstadt)
A stroll through Lübeck’s Old Town takes you along narrow cobbled streets 
surrounded by the Trave River. You will see high gabled merchant houses, 
towering church spires, strong defensive towers, and rows of half-timbered houses 
from the 13th to 15th centuries. Walking the streets feels like moving through 
an open-air museum, with passageways that lead to hidden courtyards, especially in the Kober area 
in the north and near the cathedral in the south. For shopping, visit Breite Straße and Königstraße, where stylish boutiques and sweet 
shops stand beside well-known brands. Number 16: Salzspeicher
Just a few minutes’ walk from the Holsten Gate, you will find the 
Salzspeicher, a row of six historic brick warehouses along the Upper Trave River.
Built between 1579 and 1745, each building shows different styles 
of Renaissance gabled architecture. These warehouses once stored salt brought 
from Lüneburg, which was then shipped to Scandinavia in exchange for herring and furs.
Over time, they also held cloth, grain, and wood. One warehouse was even used 
as a Hitler Youth center. You can take photos from the opposite 
riverbank where the Quandt Line boats depart. If you enjoy classic films, you will recognize 
these buildings from the 1922 movie Nosferatu. Number 15: St Mary’s Church (Marienkirche)
Built between 1250 and 1350, St Mary’s Church is one of the largest Brick 
Gothic churches in the Baltic region. Its twin towers rise 410 feet (125 m), and 
the interior has the highest brick vaulted ceiling in the world at 126 feet (39 m).
The church has three aisles, side chapels, intricate carvings, stained-glass 
windows, and an astronomical clock with moving figurines at midday.
Inside, you can see the shattered bells from a 1942 air raid, a 14th-century bronze baptismal 
font, the Darsaw Madonna restored from hundreds of pieces, and the winged altarpiece from 1495.
Outside, you will notice a small devil sculpture linked to a local legend about the 
church’s construction, which often becomes a photo highlight for visitors.
Number 14: Lübeck’s Town Hall If you enjoy discovering historic buildings, 
Lübeck’s Town Hall shows a mix of medieval and Renaissance architecture.
Its dark brick facade, high walls, and slender turrets make it 
a striking sight on the Market Square. You can see different styles from the 
13th to the 16th century, including Gothic arcades and a Dutch Renaissance staircase.
Inside, the Rococo-style Audience Hall has bright decorations and ten allegorical paintings 
showing the virtues of good government. Another highlight is the hall’s 
doorways, which have different heights reflecting medieval courtroom traditions.
To see more details, consider taking a guided tour through its historic rooms.
Number 13: European Hansemuseum At the European Hansemuseum, you can learn 
about the Hanseatic League, a powerful trade network that connected over 200 cities across 
northern Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. The museum combines historical objects with 
interactive digital displays to show how the League grew from a small group of merchants 
into a major economic and political force. You can see reconstructed ports from cities like 
Lübeck, London, Bruges, Bergen, and Novgorod, and view documents, contracts, and coins from the era.
Each visitor uses a digital chip to follow the story of a merchant from a member city and 
access information that matches your interests. Number 12: Hospital of the Holy Spirit
This is one of the oldest social institutions in the world, dating back to 1286.
Built by wealthy merchants and councillors, it provided food, shelter, and care 
for the poor, elderly, and sick, who lived in small monastic-style cubicles.
The building has a T-shape, with a larger section containing the living quarters and a 
smaller section housing a Gothic hall church. Inside, you will see 14th-century 
frescoes and a 16th-century altar. The exterior has three gables and four towers.
At Christmas, the hospital hosts an international arts and crafts market.
You can also see the tiny living quarters inside the larger section that were used until the 1970s.
Number 11: Lübeck Cathedral Known as the oldest building in the 
city, Lübeck Cathedral dates back to 1173 and was first built by Henry the Lion.
The church was enlarged in Gothic style during the 14th century and later restored 
after heavy damage in World War II. Its two towers are visible from far 
away and shape the city skyline. Inside, you will see Late Gothic and Baroque 
art, including the 56-foot (17-m) Triumphal Cross by Bernt Notke, the ‘Beautiful 
Madonna,’ and other impressive sculptures. The cathedral also houses a 
large organ and a striking clock. The funeral chapels on the south aisle feature 
works by Flemish sculptor Thomas Quellinus. Number 10: Buddenbrook House
Located opposite St Mary’s Church, the Buddenbrookhaus is famous 
as the home of the Mann family, including the writers Thomas and Heinrich Mann. The white Rococo house with its gabled roof 
and recessed doorway dates back to 1758. Thomas Mann, born in Lübeck in 1875 and Nobel 
Prize winner in 1929, used this house as the model for his novel Buddenbrooks, which tells 
the story of a wealthy Lübeck family in decline. The house now functions as a museum 
with exhibitions about Buddenbrooks and the Mann family’s literary work.
You will see displays about Thomas and Heinrich Mann’s lives, their writing, and their 
childhoods spent in Lübeck, giving a clear sense of the family’s history and cultural impact.
The museum is currently closed for expansion and renovation but hopefully when you see this 
video in the future, it will be open again. By the way, check the links in the 
description for the ultimate guide on saving money while traveling, plus 
recommended tour operators in Lubeck. Number 9: Burgtor
Also known as the Castle Gate, Burgtor is one of the two surviving medieval gates 
in Lübeck, built in 1444 in a late Gothic style. It served as the northern entrance to the city 
and was part of Lübeck’s defensive walls that protected its castle and merchants.
The gate has five floors with rows of arched windows and a Baroque dome 
added in the late 17th century. Over time, it housed embroidery and weaving 
workshops and later became a private residence. Today, it partly serves as a youth center.
Walking through the gate, you will see detailed brickwork, pointed arches, and passageways that 
once guided people and goods into the city. Number 8: Museum Harbour
This open-air museum sits on the north-western edge of Lübeck’s 
old town along the Trave riverbank. You will see traditional sailing ships 
and historic watercraft moored neatly along the shore, their polished wooden 
decks and tall masts standing out. Each ship has a unique history and has been 
carefully restored by its owners over many years. You can walk close to the vessels 
or view them from the opposite bank. The historic lightship FEHMARNBELT and the 
replica Hanseatic caravel LISA VON LÜBECK are moored here, and you can even join them 
for short sailing trips or group charters. Number 7: Lübeck Museum of Theatre Puppets
At the Lübeck Museum of Theatre Puppets, you will see over 300 years of puppets and 
puppeteering props from Europe, Africa, and Asia. The collection was assembled by 
Fritz Fey, a puppeteer, and shows how puppets reflect the society they come from.
You can view small stages, posters, and barrel organs, and learn about Indian legends, Chinese 
social traditions, and African tribal rituals. The museum is spread across several Medieval 
brick buildings, with well-designed spaces that make it easy to move through the exhibits.
There is also a theatre next door where you can watch live puppet shows.
Number 6: Willy Brandt House The Willy Brandt House is the childhood 
home of Germany’s Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Chancellor Willy Brandt.
The museum shows his unusual life from youth, including his resistance against the 
Nazis, exile in Norway, and work as a reporter during the Nuremberg Trials.
You can see documents, letters, and newsreels that reveal his time as 
Berlin’s mayor when the wall was built. The largest part of the exhibition highlights his 
efforts to bridge Germany’s North-South divide, promote human rights, and improve 
relations with East Germany. The displays also cover his role in 
shaping West Germany and his lifelong commitment to democracy and peace.
Number 5: St. Peter’s Church Originally built as a three-aisled 
Romanesque church between 1227 and 1250, St. Peter’s Church was later expanded 
into a five-aisled Gothic hall church in the 15th and 16th centuries.
After being damaged in World War II, it was restored in 1987 and now hosts 
exhibitions, events, and artistic performances. You can go up the 164-foot (50-m) high 
viewing platform, accessible by elevator, to see panoramic views of Lübeck and, 
on clear days, as far as the Baltic Sea. Inside, the whitewashed interior is simple 
and spartan, and outside you can see the historic Danziger Glocke bell, cast in 1647.
During Christmas, the church is transformed into an arts and crafts market.
Number 4: Günter Grass House Lovers of literature and art will find 
the Günter Grass House fascinating. The museum showcases the life and work of the 
Nobel Prize-winning author of The Tin Drum. You can see his manuscripts, the old 
typewriters he used, and personal items that reveal his creative process.
Grass was also a visual artist, and the museum displays over 1,300 pieces, including drawings, 
paintings, sculptures, and graphic works. His art often reflects themes from post-war 
Germany, National Socialism, and the Baltic Sea. Walking through the museum, you will gain insight 
into both his writing and his visual imagination, seeing how his ideas took shape in multiple forms.
Number 3: An der Obertrave Stretching along the River Trave, An der 
Obertrave is a 2,362-foot (720-m) promenade that runs along Lübeck’s Old Town.
You will see beautifully preserved Medieval and Renaissance buildings 
with crow-stepped and rounded gables. The street leads to seven courtyards accessible 
through narrow passageways, where you can admire colourful houses and peaceful green spaces.
In summer, cafe terraces fill the promenade, giving you a place to sit and watch 
the river and the opposite bank. The area hosts music events, 
markets, and tango dancing, and children have play areas along the way.
You will also pass spots where recreational boats are moored along the waterfront.
Number 2: Schiffergesellschaft Formerly used as a guildhall for Lübeck’s 
seafarers, the Schiffergesellschaft was built in 1535 and still keeps its historic look.
The building has a beautiful Renaissance-style front with stepped gables and tall Gothic windows.
Inside, you will find wooden benches carved with old guild symbols, brass decorations, 
and model ships hanging from the ceiling. Another interesting detail is the set of 
nine painted frescoes from 1624 that show Bible scenes once meant to inspire the sailors.
Today, the hall serves as a traditional restaurant where you can enjoy your meal surrounded by 
centuries-old maritime décor and the same warm setting that once welcomed seafarers.
Number 1: Museum Quarter St. Anne The Museum Quarter St. Anne combines the St. 
Anne’s Museum and the St. Anne’s Art Hall, creating a large cultural space inside 
former monastery buildings from 1515. You can walk through medieval halls that display 
sacred art, Gothic wooden altars, and works by artists such as Hans Memling and Bernt Notke.
The exhibitions show how Lübeck’s citizens lived from the Middle Ages to modern times.
The Art Hall presents 20th and 21st-century art, while a multimedia “time tunnel” connects past 
and present through pictures, sound, and video. There’s also a special section for children, a 
café in the courtyard, and rotating exhibitions on culture and traditions.
Click here to watch this video.

This Lubeck travel guide shares the best things to do in Lubeck.

————–
How to travel more and visit your dream destinations without breaking the bank: https://travelmorepayless.com

Recommended Tours in Lubeck:

All-in-One: Beautiful Lübeck: Shore Excursion from Kiel Port: https://www.viator.com/tours/Kiel/Beautiful-Lubeck-Private-Day-Trip-from-Kiel-Cruise-Ship-Port/d4203-63772P157?pid=P00104625&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector&campaign=yttj-Lubeck

Lübeck: The culinary city tour – Lübeck Lukullisch: https://www.getyourguide.com/lubeck-l147/lubeck-the-culinary-city-tour-lubeck-lukullisch-t1004888/?partner_id=QE3VGN2&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=yttj-Lubeck

Lübeck: 1-Hour Splash Bus City Tour: https://www.getyourguide.com/lubeck-l147/lubeck-1-hour-splash-bus-city-tour-t282037/?partner_id=QE3VGN2&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=yttj-Lubeck

Historical Christmas tour of Lübeck: https://www.getyourguide.com/lubeck-l147/lubeck-entertaining-guided-tour-to-old-town-highlights-t516147/?partner_id=QE3VGN2&utm_medium=online_publisher&cmp=yttj-Lubeck
—————

Lübeck sits in northern Germany and is one of the most charming cities on the Baltic coast. Known as the Queen of the Hanseatic League, the city still carries the look and feel of a medieval trading hub. The old town is wrapped by water and filled with brick buildings, narrow lanes, and historic churches that give it a calm and classic atmosphere.

The Holsten Gate is the city’s landmark and the first thing many visitors see. Its round towers and brick arches make it a great spot for photos. From there, the old town is easy to walk. You can wander past merchants’ homes, courtyards hidden behind simple doorways, and long rows of red-brick Gothic architecture. St Mary’s Church stands out with its tall spires and detailed interior.

Lübeck is also famous for marzipan, and you can try it in cafés and shops around the center. Niederegger is the most well-known place for tasting local sweets or picking up gifts.

The Museum Harbor gives a look into the city’s trading past. Old wooden ships sit along the water and create a nice place for a slow walk. The European Hansemuseum is worth a visit if you want to learn how Lübeck became one of Europe’s most important ports during medieval times.

If you want a short trip outside the city, the seaside town of Travemünde is only a quick ride away. It has a long beach, a lighthouse, and a quiet waterfront lined with cafés.

Lübeck works well for a day trip or a longer stay. Its mix of history, water views, and peaceful streets makes it one of Germany’s most pleasant northern cities to visit.

Keep watching to see the top things to do in Lubeck, top attractions in Lubeck, places to visit in Lubeck and Germany travel guides.

Subscribe for travel inspiration videos and travel guides! Inspired by Touropia, expedia, Wolters World, Beautiful Destinations, MojoTravels & Tourradar.

Inspired by 10 Fun Things to Do in Lübeck, Germany [Summer Travel] 4K

Inspired by Lubeck in 48 hours | City guide | Weekend in Germany | by TravelGretl

Inspired by Lübeck Travel Guide | Top 10 Things to Do in Lübeck, Germany | Northern Germany’s Hidden Treasure

Inspired by Lübeck in 5 minutes 👬 Visit the medieval German city Lübeck

Inspired by Lübeck – Queen of the Hanseatic League | Discover Germany

(PG Clean, Family Friendly For kids, No Swearing)