A first-hand account
A tour of Kiel on a double-decker bus
There are so many ways to explore Kiel, the city on the fjord. On foot on a city walking tour, by bike on a guided cycle tour, and so on. But none is as convenient as the hop-on hop-off tour on City Sightseeing’s red double-decker buses. Best of all, the bus tour is great fun whether the sun is shining or it’s raining cats and dogs. The first stop on the tour is at the railway station. From here, you can really just go with the flow. The first part of the journey runs continuously along the waterfront, giving you a real sense of Kiel’s maritime atmosphere.
Along the way, you can marvel at the truly massive cruise liners, and at stop number 4 you’ll find the Schleswig-Holstein State Parliament. It’s worth taking a short stroll here, as furry swimmers await curious onlookers just nearby. Here, the GEOMAR seals show off their skills. In the northern part of Kiel, the red bus passes the Flandernbunker – a remnant of the Second World War that houses various exhibitions – and heads into the city’s maritime quarter.
Once you arrive at the Kiel Canal, the viewing terrace offers a superb view of the hustle and bustle in the lock. Did you know that the canal, which runs from Kiel to Brunsbüttel, is the busiest shipping route in the world? From this stop, a trip across to the other side of the canal on the little ferry – known as the ‘shoebox’ – is almost a must, as that’s where you’ll find the maritime Thiessenkai with its historic lighthouse dating from 1895. After that, it’s on to the home stretch. During the slightly longer journey between the final stops, you can comfortably soak up the atmosphere of this fjord city and reflect on what you’ve seen.
Passing the Holstein Stadium, home to Kiel’s ‘Störche’ football team, the bus takes its passengers on to the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel. As you travel along Holtenauer Straße, Kiel’s popular shopping street, you can find inspiration for your next shopping trip.
The sightseeing tour is the perfect way to get an overview of the city and its attractions. But it’s not just visitors to Kiel who’ll find ideas for a day out here and during the journey – even true Kiel locals will discover a highlight or two. So hop on!