Centred around a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, Stralsund is a historic Hanseatic settlement on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast. It’s home to striking Gothic landmarks and several engaging museums, as well as an exceptional aquarium that forms part of the German Oceanographic Museum.
Things to do in Stralsund
Spend an afternoon strolling around Stralsund’s atmospheric Old Town to see its red-brick buildings and Gothic landmarks. Admire the beautifully decorated facade of the 13th-century Town Hall and marvel at one of the oldest astronomical clocks in the Baltic region at the St. Nicholas Church. Originally dedicated in 1279, it features elaborately designed altars and a soaring spire that can be seen throughout the city.
You can delve into the local history at the Stralsund Museum, which occupies a former chandler’s house and the medieval St Catherine’s Monastery. Get up close to Gothic altars and artefacts illustrating the lifestyle of Hanseatic merchants, as well as one of the oldest still-functioning Gothic elevator wheels in Northern Europe.
One of Stralsund’s most popular attractions is the Ozeaneum, a state-of-the-art aquarium that showcases the marine life of the North and Baltic seas. In addition to its immense tanks and giant glass tunnel, it features life-size whale skeleton replicas and exhibits addressing the impacts of climate change on our oceans. Don’t miss the Humboldt penguin habitat on the roof terrace or the immersive cinema where you can take a virtual journey 4,000 metres down to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Getting around Stralsund
Stralsund is just over an hour’s drive from Rostock and Rostock–Laage Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Trains connect to Berlin from the Stralsund railway station while buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Stralsund is easy to explore on foot.