Around the Rostock city harbour

The tour around Rostock's city harbour described here is a circular tour and can therefore start and finish at any time. Due to the good car parking facilities and public transport connections, we recommend starting at the icebreaker Stehan Jantzen, which is located in the city harbour and at the large car park. From here, you can walk the tour either clockwise or anti-clockwise; in the following we describe the anti-clockwise tour.

So you head east and follow the Kempowski embankment along the quayside. The promenade is an   extremely popular promenade and benches, restaurants (with outdoor catering depending on the season) and former fishing boats, where fresh fish is prepared today, invite you to linger. After about 800 metres, you reach the "Am Strande" warehouses and continue along the waterfront. You will pass the main administration building of the AIDA cruise line and come to a pedestrian bridge over a small harbour basin with wooden steps, where young and old often meet. Use this to get to the wooden peninsula. On the former harbour and trading site, where a residential quarter has been built in recent years, people now live and work in an urban, idyllic setting close to the water. You remain close to the water and can once again see the contrasting silhouettes of the old warehouses and the new AIDA complex before you walk up the stairs and through the residential neighbourhood. A small footpath and cycle path leads through a green area and around the new buildings to Petridamm. Here you cross the Warnow over the bridge for the first time. Keep to the left and turn left again as soon as possible (either directly after the bridge or approx. 200 metres further on via Altkarlshof) to get back to the banks of the Warnow. Now follow the wide footpath along the banks of the Warnow. The silhouette of the Hanseatic city changes more and more and soon you will have a marvellous view of the skyline. Watch the water sports enthusiasts, sunbathe on one of the many green seating areas and treat yourself to a break. We particularly recommend taking a break on the Warnow jetty, which is about a 20-minute walk from Petridamm. After another 15 minutes, the Gehlsdorf riverside promenade begins at the Rostock Rowing Club. Continue along the riverside road to the yacht club and sailing club and stroll through the Eldorado of water sports enthusiasts. Depending on what time of year you are travelling, there is always plenty to see here: Boats are stored away for the winter or prepared for the coming season, sailing boats moor and unmoor at the jetties. Once you have passed the last jetty, it is about 750 metres to the ferry landing stage. The waterfront promenade leads through the greenery and you can still fully enjoy the view of Rostock's old town and the city harbour. From the ferry pier, take one of the ferries across the Warnow - either to the Kabutzenhof ferry pier or to the Schnickmannstraße ferry pier (located at the starting point of the tour), depending on the day of the week and season. If you cross over to Kabutzenhof, you still have about 1 kilometre to walk from there to the starting point. From Kabutzenhof, we recommend a detour to the sailors' memorial and towards the former site of the Neptune shipyard, which is now home to modern office and residential buildings. The restored crane in Hellingstraße is a reminder of the former use of the so-called shipyard triangle.

Back at Kabutzenhof, follow the shoreline of the Warnow again, passing the old docks, which are now used as cultural venues such as the MAU Club and the Compagnie de Comedie and restaurants. You pass a small marina and later the small museum harbour on the Haedge peninsula. You can already see the Stephan Jantzen from the Alter Fritz brewery inn and you have reached the starting point. Round off the tour with a brewery speciality!

Please note the information on ferry transport under "Further information and links"

Light hiking boots and possibly a rucksack with snacks and drinks.

Depending on the season, there are various places to stop for refreshments on the tour.

Plan enough time for the tour - it's worth stopping for a break and a bite to eat.

Rostock is easily accessible via the A19 and A20 motorways.

There is a large car park ("Rostock Stadthafen") directly at the start/finish of the tour where you can park your vehicle for a fee.

Arrival e.g. by tram - the nearest stop "Rostock Kröpeliner Tor" is approx. 500 metres away.

From Rostock main station there is a regular connection with tram lines 5 and 6.

City map Rostock & Warnemünde

City map Rostock & Warnemünde

When planning your tour, please note the times of the Gehlsdorf ferry connection to the southern bank of the Warnow.

At the weekend, in addition to Gelhsdorf - Kabutzenhof, there are also connections to the Rostock Schnickmannstraße ferry terminal. This connection shortens the trip by around 1.5 kilometres.

In winter, only limited or no ferry service at weekends!

Here you will find current information and the timetable for the departure times of the Gehlsdorf ferry.

Rostock city harbour / ship icebreaker Stephan Jantzen

Rostock city harbour / ship icebreaker Stephan Jantzen