Not going to Berlin? The best of a Warnemünde port day
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Berlin isn’t the only good day out from Warnemünde, and on a call of less than about ten hours it isn’t a good one at all. These are all closer, cheaper and calmer.
Warnemünde itself (on foot)
The ship docks a few minutes’ walk from the Alter Strom, the old fishing harbour lined with cafés and fish stalls. Walk out to the lighthouse and the Teepott, then along the wide sandy beach. A good choice for a relaxed day or a short call.
Rostock (20 minutes by S-Bahn)
A Hanseatic port city with a red-brick old town. Highlights: St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche) and its 15th-century astronomical clock, the town hall on the Neuer Markt, and the old city walls. Easy to do independently by train.
Wismar (about an hour by road)
Wismar’s medieval old town, with Stralsund’s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a large market square, Gothic brick churches and the old harbour. Best by tour or taxi on a port day.
Schwerin (about an hour and a quarter by road)
Schwerin Castle stands on an island in the lake, part of the Schwerin Residence Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2024. The most photogenic half-day from the port.
Bad Doberan and the Molli steam railway
The narrow-gauge Molli steam train runs from Bad Doberan, with its Gothic minster, through the streets to the seaside resorts of Heiligendamm and Kühlungsborn. A fun half-day, especially with children.
Still tempted by Berlin? Check what your ship’s times really allow with the Berlin time calculator.
Questions people ask
How do I get from the cruise ship to Rostock's old town?
Walk to Warnemünde station and take the S-Bahn to Rostock Hauptbahnhof (about 20 minutes), then a tram or a 15–20 minute walk to the old town.
Is Warnemünde worth a day on its own?
On a short call or a sunny day, yes. The lighthouse, the old fishing harbour and one of the widest beaches on the German Baltic coast are all a short walk from the ship.