Kiel Fjord waterfront
Walk beside the harbour for ferry views, marinas and an immediate sense of the city’s maritime identity.
Schleswig-Holstein · Germany
Kiel Ferry &
Kiel Ferry &
Destination Guide
Explore Kiel’s maritime waterfront and Baltic coast, then sail overnight to Oslo, Gothenburg or Klaipėda from one of the city’s major ferry terminals.
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Discover Kiel
A major Baltic ferry city with a lively waterfront, maritime heritage and direct passenger links to Norway, Sweden and Lithuania
Kiel is one of Germany’s most important passenger-ferry cities, wrapped around a long Baltic fjord and closely connected with shipping, naval history and sailing. Ferries and cruise ships are visible from many parts of the centre.
The waterfront and harbour promenades are the natural focus for visitors. Kiel’s centre is largely modern, but museums, maritime collections and the restored Nikolaikirche provide cultural stops between the shopping streets and the water.
North of the city, beaches and small fjord communities provide an easy escape from the urban area. Laboe is particularly popular for its beach, naval memorial and preserved U-boat.
Kiel is internationally famous for Kiel Week, one of the world’s largest sailing events, but the fjord is active year-round with ferries, local boats and recreational sailing.
Color Line, Stena Line and DFDS use different terminal areas for Oslo, Gothenburg and Klaipėda. This is one destination where confirming the exact operator terminal is essential before travelling to the port.
City highlights
What to see while you are in Kiel
Kiel is defined by the fjord: ferries, sailing, waterfront walks and easy excursions to Baltic beaches all revolve around the water.
Maritime Museum
Discover Kiel’s shipping and naval story inside a former fish-market building on the waterfront.
Laboe Naval Memorial
Travel north along the fjord to the monumental memorial, preserved U-boat and nearby beach.
Kiel Week
Experience one of the world’s great sailing festivals if your trip falls during the annual summer event.
Botanical Garden
Explore Kiel University’s extensive plant collections when you want a quieter break from the waterfront.
Baltic beaches
Use local transport or a car to reach beaches and small resorts around the outer Kiel Fjord.
Tours & experiences
Things to Do in Kiel
Browse Kiel, Lübeck, Hamburg and Baltic-coast experiences that can be combined with a ferry journey through northern Germany.
Tours and activities displayed in this section are supplied through Viator. Availability, descriptions and prices are provided by the activity supplier and can change.
Arriving or departing by ferry
Kiel Ferry Terminals
Foot passengers and vehicles are accepted on the main services. Cabins are central to the longer overnight journeys, and Color Line states that a cabin is mandatory on Kiel–Oslo.
The routes use different terminals. Color Line uses Norwegenkai, Stena Line uses Schwedenkai, and DFDS uses Ostuferhafen at Ostuferhafen 15, 24149 Kiel. Norwegenkai and Schwedenkai are close to the central station; Ostuferhafen is on the eastern side of the fjord.
Kiel currently has three principal international passenger-ferry corridors: Color Line sails daily overnight to Oslo, Stena Line operates the overnight Gothenburg route, and DFDS connects Kiel with Klaipėda in Lithuania.
Color Line Norwegenkai, Kiel for the daily Oslo passenger ferry
Stena Line Schwedenkai, central Kiel for the Gothenburg overnight route
DFDS Ostuferhafen 15, 24149 Kiel for Klaipėda
Directions to the port Open Kiel ferry terminals in Google Maps
Rail connections Kiel Hauptbahnhof is close to the central waterfront terminals
Check your operator The three international routes do not share one passenger check-in point
Plan your stay
Getting around Kiel
Kiel’s central waterfront is easy to navigate on foot and by bus, while the main railway station provides strong connections towards Hamburg and the wider German network.
Walk the central waterfront
The main station, Norwegenkai, Schwedenkai, shopping streets and much of the inner harbour are close together.
Use Kiel Hauptbahnhof
Regional and intercity trains connect Kiel with Hamburg and onward destinations across Germany.
Find Kiel rail tickets here...Use buses for Ostuferhafen
DFDS’s Ostuferhafen terminal is across the fjord from the centre and is reached by bus, taxi or road rather than a short central walk.
Stay in Kiel
Find Kiel Accommodation
Stay near Kiel Hauptbahnhof, the waterfront or the old centre
Central Kiel is most convenient for the Color Line and Stena terminals; travellers using DFDS can still stay centrally but should allow additional transfer time to Ostuferhafen.
Common planning questions
Kiel ferry & destination FAQs
Where is Kiel Ferry Terminal?
Kiel has several passenger terminals: Color Line uses Norwegenkai, Stena Line uses Schwedenkai and DFDS uses Ostuferhafen.
Where can I sail from Kiel?
Direct passenger ferries connect Kiel with Oslo in Norway, Gothenburg in Sweden and Klaipėda in Lithuania.
How long is the Kiel to Oslo ferry?
Color Line’s normal schedule departs in the afternoon and arrives the next morning, taking about 20 hours.
How long is the Kiel to Gothenburg ferry?
Stena Line describes the direct overnight crossing as about 14 hours.
Can I travel as a foot passenger from Kiel?
Yes. The main international services carry passengers without vehicles, subject to the selected sailing and operator rules.
Can I take a car on ferries from Kiel?
Yes. The principal Oslo, Gothenburg and Klaipėda routes are passenger-and-vehicle services.
Is Kiel railway station close to the ferry terminals?
Kiel Hauptbahnhof is close to Norwegenkai and the central waterfront; DFDS at Ostuferhafen requires an additional bus, taxi or road transfer.
What are the best things to do in Kiel?
The Kiel Fjord waterfront, Maritime Museum, Laboe Naval Memorial, Baltic beaches and the city’s sailing culture are key highlights.
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