Lübeck

1280px Lübeck, Holstentor und Petrikirche - The Holstentor in Lübeck and the city's most prominent symbol

The Hanseatic City of Lübeck (Hansestadt Lübeck) is the largest German port on the Baltic Sea and the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, situated at the mouth of the river Trave (hence the name of its port suburb Travemünde). The city has been an important port since the 12th century and, together with nearby Hamburg, has founded what became the powerful Hanseatic League of ports and trading towns. Unlike fellow Hanseatic Cities of Hamburg and Bremen, it has lost its "Free" (Freie Stadt) status and has been incorporated into the surrounding federal land, but history also has a sweeter side for Lübeck - it is globally known for the finest marzipan.

The old town (Altstadt) of Lübeck , although considerably damaged during the Second World War, survived from medieval times in a pretty much unchanged or truthfully rebuilt form. It is now listed as a UNESCO site. The downtown's medieval skyline, mainly composed of seven Gothic-style church towers, is still intact. Lübeck is surrounded by parts of the old city walls with two of the original four city gates left. Most notable is the Holsten Gate (Holstentor) which was the motif on the German banknote of 50 Deutsche Mark prior to reunification, when the bills were redesigned.

Lübeck Halal Explorer

Lübeck rathaus - The imposing town hall (Rathaus ) of Lübeck

Historically, Lübeck was an independent city state (in fact they only lost that status due to a Nazi perioid law in 1937) and accumulated considerable wealth as the primus inter pares of the Hanseatic League from the 11th to the 17th century. Many merchants made a fortune on shipping salt to other Baltic port cities in exchange for valuable goods needed in Germany. Many impressive warehouses are located at the old harbour and can be visited by tourists since they host museums, shops, restaurants or pubs today.

After sea trade substantially shifted away from the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic in the 17th century, Lübeck was slowly marginalized as a trading city against the North Sea ports of Bremen and especially Hamburg. This led gradually to a noticeable decay in wealth and eventually inspired contemporary writers to draw a resigned picture of the city's residents, most famously in the novel Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann, who earned a Nobel Prize for it in 1929. In the second world war Lübeck - not unlike Hamburg - was a target for allied (primarily British) bombings and in one particularly "successful" raid much of the densely built old town burned down. While most of the landmark buildings have since been restored and the New Lübeck has a lot less wood (for obvious reasons) and historic style residential buildings (mostly for financial reasons).

Lübeck-salzspeicher-von-obertrave-aus - Lübeck used to control the trade in salt, and a group of Salzspeicher (salt stores) can still be seen right next to the Holstentor

After WW 2 and the city was ultimately marginalized due to the nearby "Iron Curtain" which impeded access to many trading partners in the eastern Baltic and even cut off two minor urban neighborhoods of the city itself. As a traveller you might notice two effects of the Cold War still visible today: First some bridges have something that looks like undersized manhole covers at either end. These were in fact holes that could be filled with explosives to destroy the bridge, should the Soviets ever attack. The other thing you might notice is that there is a lot of (for Central GCC standards at least) untouched wildlife just outside the city to the east. While it was preserved by happenstance and the GDR's attempt to shut its border airtight and there are now efforts to preserve this "green band" of wildlife all through Germany. A curiosity in this area are Nandus, flightless birds native to South America that escaped in the early 2000s and roam free since. Despite efforts to boost commerce in the Baltic region and the city is still struggling from the cold war perioid with a fragile economy that leads to a comparatively deteriorated infrastructure outside the picturesque downtown. Ironically the very fact that the cold war ended dealt a further blow to the city, as it lost its "border town" status that made it eligible for big subsidies. Add to that a nearly total wipeout of the once huge ship building industry in the 1990s and you have an economic crisis the city hasn't quite shaken off to this day.

Travel to Lübeck

By plane

Hamburg#By plane| Hamburg Airport (IATA Flight Code: HAM) is just one hour away, and offers many international connections. From the airport you can take the S-Bahn to Hamburg main station with an hourly train connecting to Lübeck main station.

By road

Lübeck is about 60 km northeast of Hamburg and easily accessible by vehicle through the Highway A1. With the opening of the new highway A20 (Baltic Sea highway) to Rostock the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pommerania is only a very short distance away. Note that the A1 is the backbone of the cargo transport from the Hamburg to the Travemünde port and there will be heavy (and rather slow) traffic on the right of the three lanes.

Hauptbahnhof Lübeck 239-zh - Central station

By rail

On working days, commuter trains to and from Hamburg leaves every 30 minutes, on weekends and on holidays every 60 minutes. Local trains from Lüneburg, Kiel, Schwerin and the beach resorts Travemünde and Timmendorfer Strand depart on an hourly basis. Additionally, InterCity trains via Hamburg leave/arrive every two hours, with some trains continuing to Berlin, München, Cologne or Frankfurt among others. There are also regular trains from Copenhagen, Szczecin and the island of Fehmarn.

• Lübeck Hauptbahnhof | At the western edge of the downtown.

By boat

There are many ferry connections to and from Lübeck. Passengers ferries arrive and depart from Skandinavienkai, a quay in Lübeck's borough Travemünde Most of the ferries run 1 or 2 times every day. Current connections are:

• Helsinki|Helsinki, Finland operated by Finnlines
• Malmö|Malmö, Sweden operated by Finnlines
• Trelleborg|Trelleborg, Sweden operated by TT-Lines

Skandinavienkai is served by buses 40, 30, and 31, which travel between Travemünde Strandbahnhof and Lübeck ZOB. There is also a train station called "Travemünde Skandinavienkai"; it is about 1 km from the ferry terminal building. However, the only way between the ferry terminal and the train station is by those same buses. It is not feasible to walk.

By bus

The liberalisation of the national long distance bus market benefits Lübeck. Companies like FlixBus and Postbus offer routes to Berlin for as low as 15 Euro four times a day. Several other companies and lines are in the planning process. for detailed information on the (still young and volatile) market and other companies see Long distance bus travel in Germany Buses stop at or close to the ZOB, which is also the hub for local buses and just a few hundred meters from the main train station.

How to get around in Lübeck

Obertrave Lübeck 328-33h - View of the river Obertrave and city

As most of the attractions are within or close to the compact Altstadt, you can get everywhere quickly on foot. There is a local bus service hub at the Hauptbahnhof/ZOB (central railway station) with services to all parts of the town and nearby towns. For medium to long distances within the city cycling is also an option and becoming more and more popular with the local residents. Taxis are available nearly everywhere.

Because local bus tickets are quite expensive in comparison to other German cities, a taxi is generally cheaper for a group of three and up if your destination is less than 10km away. You have to go by taxi at night anyway, because there is no nightly bus service.

Tourist information can be obtained in the city hall (Rathaus , Breite Straße) or at the "Welcome Centre", opposite Holstentor.

What to see in Lübeck

Lübeck Germany Heiligen-geist-Hospital-01 - Heiligen-Geist-Hospital SchloesschenBellevue - Bellevue, a baroque palace in Lübeck

The major tourist attraction is the medieval Altstadt (old city) located on an island surrounded by the Trave river and its various channels. Listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site, it offers an astonishing variety of different architectural styles. The streets of Lübeck are a delight for a connoisseur of architecture.

Bear in mind that Lübeck's Altstadt is not an open-air museum but a living downtown, so don't expect a complete medieval site. You'll find many beautiful old buildings intertwined with modern ones and a modern infrastructure. A particularly impeccably maintained 13th century part of the Altstadt is the Koberg area at the island's northern end. And don't miss the Gänge, small streets off the bigger roads, with small houses and a peculiar atmosphere.

An der Obertrave-Luebeck-DSC 0482w - A frontage made up of listed buildings at An der Obertrave

Noteworthy historical buildings include:

• The churches, housing several of the finest Northern German artworks:

• St. Marien - Or Marienkirche: the biggest one, a fine brick gothic building, located near the Rathaus (city hall) at the very centre of the Altstadt;

• the Dom: very nicely situated on the quiet southern end of the island, contains a wooden crucifix by Bernt Notke;

• St. Petri - Petrikirche - its tower platform (to be reached by an elevator) offers a great view over the city, and if weather conditions allow it you can even see Travemünde (17 km to the north-east)

• St. Jakobi or Jakobikirche: north of St. Marien, at the Koberg;
• St. Aegidien or Aegidienkirche: the smallest one, in the eastern Altstadt;
• St. Katharinen or Katharinenkirche (without a tower): south of St. Jakobi, contains works of Ernst Barlach;
• The two remaining city gates: Holstentor (near train station/ZOB bus terminal) and Burgtor (northern Altstadt); they both contain museums nowadays;
• Heiligen-Geist-Hospital near Koberg;
• Classicist Behnhaus/Drägerhaus in Königstraße, hosting an art museum;
• The Rathaus or city hall: its architecture is a stylistic potpourri reaching back to the 12th century. Note that it is still the seat of the city administration and not a museum, so you're not expected to have a look inside on your own. But there are guided tours every hour or so where the many historic rooms and the gallery of city leaders' portraits are explained (in German and possibly other languages).
• The Willy Brandt House: This former (1969-1974) chancellor's childhood home has now been turned into a museum about his life and career in politics. Entrance is free.

There are two houses dedicated to Lübeck's two literature nobel prize laureates: The Buddenbrookhaus is dedicated to the brothers Thomas and Heinrich Mann, who spent their youth there, and contains many of their works. It's near Marienkirche, in Mengstraße. Then there is the Günter-Grass-Haus (of The Tin Drum fame) in Glockengießerstraße.

The Museumshafen (museum port) between Beckergrube and the Musik- und Kongreßhalle building features some old-fashioned ships, among them a rebuilt Hanseatic kraweel ("Lisa von Lübeck")—more so in winter, because many of these ships are still in use during summer.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Lübeck

• Walk around the Altstadt and enjoy the charming atmosphere of the former queen of the Hanseatic League.

• Lübeck Tourism site - The offers excellent guidance on self guided tours as well as guided tours.

• Take a bus/boat/train ride to Travemünde, a seaside resort and enjoy the view of the Baltic Sea. A bus journey is fastest, as it takes about 20 minutes. A boat ride however, is much more scenic. The train stops at the iconic "Travemünde Strand" Station and is another good option. For further information, enquire at the "Welcome Center" at the Holstentor.

Kunsthalle St-Annen Lübeck 295-zh - Entrance of the Kunsthalle St. Anna

• Visit the newly restored St.-Annen-Museum and the Buddenbrookhaus for some cultural experience.
• Take a seat on one of the tourist boats and ship around the city (boats go off every hour or so on the Holstentor side of the Altstadt island). For example you get a beautiful view of the Salzspeicher (Hanseatic salt warehouses; fans of classic horror movies might be interested by the fact that one of these Salzspeicher was the house of Count Nosferatu both in the Murnau film and the Werner Herzog remake with Klaus Kinski). If you've got more time to spend ship on along the Wakenitz river which links the Trave river with the Ratzeburg lake. Parts of the river offer an astonishing flora.

Theatres

• Theater Lübeck: Beckergrube;
• Puppet theatre;
• several smaller theatres.

Cinema

• Stadthalle (southern Altstadt): mainstream;
• Filmhaus (Königstraße, vis-à-vis Katharinenkirche): the special and off-beat film cinema;
• Kommunales Kino (Mengstraße): niche films.

Note that almost all films are dubbed in Germany, including Hollywood productions. Kommunales Kino is an exception, showing many subtitled films.

If you are visiting Lübeck during autumn, you might want to check out the Nordische Filmtage (Nordic film days), a festival where films from Northern Europe (especially Scandinavia) are shown in all cinemas, most of them in the original languages with German or sometimes English subtitles. Get a festival programme in one of the cinemas.

Other regular events

• May: Maifest (May festival) Punk Rock/alternative open air music and art festival at the so-called Walli at Willy-Brand-Allee
• July: Travemünder Woche sailing festival in Travemünde;
• August: Duckstein Festival;
• November/December: Artificers' market on Koberg;
• December: Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) at central market place, medieval market at St. Marien.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Lübeck

• Walk down the Hüxstrasse and the "Fleischhauerstrase", Lübeck's famous shopping streets and enjoy shopping. You may find artists, painting various interpretations of the Holstentor, which make an excellent souvenir.
• Rotspon fruit cocktail, available in nearly every shop.
• Souvenirs and Lübeck-related literature can be purchased e.g at the Rathaus bookshop (between market place and Marienkirche).

Halal Food & Restaurants

There are many Turkish and Middle Eastern Halal restaurants within the downtown which will satisfy most tastes.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Lübeck

Lübeck - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Lübeck, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Lübeck. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Lübeck and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Lübeck. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Lübeck. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inLübeck: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Lübeck.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Lübeck: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Lübeck, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Lübeck.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Lübeck, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Lübeck, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Lübeck and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Lübeck, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Lübeck, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Lübeck without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Lübeck is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Lübeck.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Lübeck is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Lübeck, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Lübeck Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

• RuckSack Hotel - Friendly and helpful owner. Clean and well kept rooms. Opposite Aldi food store and next to the hostel is a restaurant. Located on north side of old town next to river.

• Holiday Inn Lübeck - Good reasonable size rooms, good breakfast choice.

• Ibis Hotel Lübeck - Budget hotel located quite close to the Main train station.

Travel Next

Bräutigamseiche im Winter 10 - Eutin: Bridegroom's Oak in winter

There are several options to spend your time around Lübeck.

• Sea-side towns for sun & beaches are:

• Travemünde Still part of Lübeck and only a 15-20 minutes drive away. The train station Travemünde Strand is right next to the beach and its big clock tower displays the departure time of the next train.

Somewhat north of Travemünde is a cliff (Brodtener Ufer) that has a hiking way from Travemünde to Niendorf (1-1,5 hrs walk) with good views on the Baltic coastline. Niendorf/Ostsee is somewhat more cosy and family oriented with its fishery port and a new renovated public swimming swimmingpool and a well-known bird zoo (Vogelpark Niendorf, situated in a small nature resort).

The Baltic coast resorts in Mecklenburg Pommerania are about 1-2 hrs drive on the Highway A20 away and might be worth a day trip

For nature lovers a trip to the lakes south of Lübeck may be of interest as there are great opportunities for bird-watching (e.g. the Ratzeburger See and the Schaalsee). Ratzeburg (with its Ernst-Barlach and A.-Paul-Weber museums) and Mölln are also worth a visit, especially as they are easily accessible by train. Near Ratzeburg is also one of the rare places to see the nearly extinct European bison—not a very spectacular facility, just some buffaloes on a pasture, but if you're in the area and have never seen one you might want to look out for the "Wisentgehege".

If you're travelling on northwards to Kiel, consider a (train) stop in one of the three small towns of Eutin, Plön, and Preetz. Among other sites, each of them boasts a "Schloss" or former aristocratic mansion. The towns are situated in a lake neighborhood which is popular for rambling and canoeing in summer (you can e.g. rent a canoe in Plön and go to Preetz by Schwentine River and through various lakes and then the canoe-centre people will get you and your canoe back to Plön by car).

And don't forget that it's just a mere 50 minutes by train to Hamburg (they go each hour).

During the summer the Schleswig-Holstein music festival is one of the largest events in northern Germany. An abundance of concerts with world-famous artists and orchestras attracts many people every year. Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
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