Rostock travel guide

Rostock is the largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, though not its capital. It is a hub for Baltic Sea ferries, Germany's largest port for cruise ships by number of boardings and pleasant enough for a longer stay mostly due to its Hanseatic heritage.

Understand

At the Warnemünde beach (Photo: Dirk Vorderstraße, CC BY 3.0)

Rostock stretches along the Warnow River estuary up to the Baltic Sea, with Warnemünde (literally "mouth of the Warnow" - analogous to Travemünde in Lübeck) district being a popular seaside resort and long the main port of Rostock. Rostock was an important member of the Hanseatic League, and one of the most important ports of the GDR (East Germany). Until the collapse of the East German economy in 1989/90 Rostock was a major center for shipbuilding and a few shipyards still remain, despite their economic woes. Rostock Warnemünde harbour was the main base of the East German fishery fleet. Warnemünde port remains one of the more important German ports for Baltic Sea Ferries as well as Germany's most important port for cruise ships.

• Tourist Information City Centre, Universitätsplatz 6 (Barocksaal), ☏ +49 381 3812222. May-Oct: Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-15:00; Nov-Apr: Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-15:00, Sun closed.

Get in

By plane

• Rostock–Laage Airport (RLG IATA) (20 km south of Rostock). A military airbase with a small civilian section for commercial passenger service. There is no regular public transport from and to the airport; a few companies in Rostock offer private transfers, and a municipal transport operator offers an on-call bus (website in German only) that has to be pre-booked. As of 2025, Antalya on Corendon Airlines is the sole destination available.

Unless you come from a destination with direct flights to Rostock, it is likely much more convenient to travel to Hamburg (HAMIATA) or Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BERIATA) first, and then travel by train to Rostock (see below).

By train

• Rostock Central Station (Rostock Hbf). From Hamburg Central Station you can take one of 16 trains a day to Rostock 1 hr 50 min to 2½ hours. If you buy a Schleswig-Holstein-Ticket for €34-58, you can travel with up to 5 people from Hamburg to Rostock. From Leipzig and Berlin Central Station, Deutsche Bahn runs numerous connections each day. There are a couple of ICE trains a day from places as far away as Munich.

By car

From Hamburg take the motorway A1 to Lübeck and from there take the A20 to Rostock. It's a 2-hour trip. If starting in Berlin you have to drive along the A24 in the direction of Hamburg until the A19 is crossing the motorway. Following the A19 you reach Rostock. It's a trip of 2½ hours.

By bus

• Intercity bus station Rostock (ZOB). Right next to the main station.
• Intercity bus stop Warnemünde Werft. It's near the centre of Warnemünde
• Intercity bus station Warnemünde Strand. It's at the beach.

There are numerous domestic and international bus connections to Rostock; Flixbus being the major operator. Most long distance buses arrive at the central bus station (ZOB) next to the central train station, but some call at the ferry terminal.

By boat

The ferry from Denmark arriving in the harbour (Photo: ru:User:Digr, CC BY 3.0)

Rostock is one of the hubs for Baltic Sea ferries in Germany. And the busiest German port for cruises.

There is a ferry from Gedser in Denmark every second hour with Scandlines. This connection covers a rather short stretch on the sea and has been suggested as an alternative to the Fehmarn Belt fixed link that is being built to link Putgarden (on Fehmarn) and Rødby by road and rail. Ferries from Trelleborg in Sweden have up to 6 departures per day with Stena Line or TT-Line

• . All Baltic Sea ferries arrive at the ferry terminal on the eastern side of the Warnow River.

Buses call frequently at the ferry terminal (Rostock Seehafen Fähre), linking to Dierkower Kreuz tram hub or Lütten Klein urban railway (S-Bahn) station. A taxi ride downtown will cost you around €34-€42 (April 2026).

Most cruise ships approaching Rostock call at the passenger terminal in Warnemünde. Urban railway (S-Bahn) trains to the central train station and some long distance train services depart right adjacent from Warnemünde station.

By bicycle

The Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route passes through Rostock.

Get around

By public transport

(2026) (Photo: Lucas Weiss, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Public transport (bus, tram, ferry, train, etc.) in Rostock is part of the Verkehrsverbund Warnow (VVW), the traffic association which provides a common ticketing and integrated transport system in the surrounding area.

Rostock features a good inner-city tramway system. A bus system serves other locations.

The following tickets are available for transportation within the fare zone of Rostock (which includes Warnemünde), as of April 2025:

Single ticket: adults €3.20, reduced €2.40

• Single ticket (ferry): adults €2.10, reduced €1.40
• Single ticket (bicycle): €2.30
• Day ticket: adults €8.00, reduced €6.00
• Day ticket (bicycle): €5.00
• Day ticket (groups): €21.60 for up to 5 people

Single tickets can be used for a one-way trip and you can switch between modes of transportation. Day tickets are valid until 03:00 the next day.

Overnight guests pay a tourist tax (Kurabgabe) of €3.70 per day (€1.45 for children between 6 and 14 years). The tourist tax includes public transport use.

See

Rostock has a lot of different architecture (Photo: Norbert Kaiser, CC BY-SA 3.0)

(Photo: Tina Weinreben, CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Warnemünde beach. Visit the sandy 3-km beach at Warnemünde in the north. Go swimming there, if the weather is warm enough.
• Petrikirche (St. Peter's Church). Open from 10:00, closing time depends on the season (16:00 in winter, 18:00 May - Sep - consult website if unsure). Petrikirche boasts the tallest tower of the three remaining churches within the old town. The church itself can be visited for free (open daily, mind the Sunday service 11:00-12:00), but there is a small admission fee for the tower (€3, €2 reduced fee, family ticket €6). Climbing the steep spiral stairs is fun and a good exercise! There is also a barrier-free option: the parish has had the original bell shaft replaced by a lift which brings you up to the lower of the 2 platforms. Both offer good views over town, river and harbour. Many guided tours of Rostock also start in front of the church. The parish has installed what is probably the only free public toilet in the old town (although it might be a nice idea to put some coins into the collection column inside the church), also barrier-free and accessible from the outside, to the left of the main entrance.
• Zoo, Barnstorfer Ring 1, ☏ +49381 20820. Mar 28-Sep 30: 09:00-17:00; Oct 1-Mar 27: 09:00-16:00. Founded in 1899, this 56-hectare facility in the Barnstorfer Wald is the largest zoo on the German Baltic coast. It houses approximately 6,500 animals across 500 species within a zoo-botanical landscape that integrates diverse educational programs and accessible animal exhibits. Adults €24, concessions €17, children €10,.
• Warnemünde Lighthouse (near the beach promenade). Apr 4-Apr 12 10:00-18:30; Apr 13-Apr 16 10:00-15:30; 17 Apr-11 Oct 10:00-18:30. Built in 1897 and still in use, this landmark offers panoramic views of the Baltic Sea and the coastline. The lighthouse is also an officially registered venue for civil wedding ceremonies and is accessible to the public.
• The Teapot (Teepott), Seepromenade 1, ☏ +49 381 548 45 88. 08:30-21:00. Built in 1968, this iconic three-story circular building is a prominent example of East German hyperbolic paraboloid shell architecture. Located near the Warnemünde lighthouse and harbor entrance, it houses several restaurants and tourist facilities.
• The Alter Strom canal area in Warnemünde boasts restaurants, pubs, and a fish market.
• St. Mary's Church Rostock (Marienkirche), Bei der Marienkirche 1. May-Oct Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00 Sun 11:00-16:00; Nov-Apr Mon-Sat 10:00-16:00 Sun 11:00-15:00. The greatest church of Rostock, a huge brick Gothic church, built from the 13th-15th century with an astronomical clock of 1472 and fine historical altars. Adults €4, children €3.
• Gespensterwald (Ghost Forest of Nienhagen). Located along the coastline between Nienhagen and Warnemünde, this woodland is characterized by coastal trees shaped by strong winds and salt spray, creating a distinct, twisted appearance. It is a popular destination for walks along the cliffs and the beach.

Do

• Stadthalle Rostock, ☏ +49 381 44 00 444. The Stadthalle Rostock has many shows and music events.
• Hansa Rostock, Ostseestadion, Kopernikusstraße, ☏ +49 381 4999910. Hansa Rostock is the most successful football club from the former East Germany and has a very dedicated fan base. The club plays in the 3. Liga (third tier). The Ostseestadion (capacity 29,000) offers an intense atmosphere, especially during home matches. Tickets for most matches can be bought online or at the fan shop, though high-profile games may sell out. Single tickets usually range from €15 to €40.
• KTV. The Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt (KTV, "Kröpelin Gate Suburb") was the first part of Rostock built outside the medieval city walls, in the 2nd half of the 19th century. It was designed to house workers flocking to the newly industrialised town. Today's KTV is one of the most popular residential areas, especially with students and artists. It is here that you will find the highest density of bars, cafes and small shops selling handicraft or organic food. To get to KTV from Rostock's main shopping street (Kröpeliner Straße), follow it all the way to the west, passing Kröpelin Gate and crossing the tram lines. Everything in front of you now is already part of KTV. Check out the Doberaner Platz, where most tram lines stop, where the best Döner Kebab is sold, and where everyone seems to meet before a pub crawl with friends.
• Harbour cruise on the Warnow river. Frequent passenger ferries and sightseeing boats connect Rostock’s city harbor with Warnemünde, providing an alternative to the S-Bahn for traveling to the coast.
• Stadtmauer (city walls). While much of Rostock's fortifications were removed on the "sea"side (towards the river Warnow), a large part of the city wall remains on the "land" side and is certainly worth a visit. You will encounter the three remaining gates, Kröpeliner Tor, Steintor (stone gate) and the oldest, Kuhtor (cow gate). Guided tours (some of them by a guide dressed up as a medieval night-watchman) are available and recommended for anyone interested in the history of the town. They can be booked under the stated link or in the tourist office. For the "night-watchman" tour, it is also possible to simply turn up at Petrikirche at 20:00 if you're not with a large group, but the tour will then be in German only.
• Watch the sunset in the harbour. Take some drinks and food down and watch time pass by - as well as sailing boats, rowing boats, and plenty of seagulls. If it's herring season, the quay at the Silos will be full of fishermen. If you're not into bring-your-own, there is a number of restaurants and bars along the quay, from German, Italian and Greek to Spanish cuisine. The Irish Pub is also in the Silos. Between the theatre and Latino bar "Besitos", you will find plenty of young people playing "Kubb", at least during summer. Why not try it out yourself? If you ask nicely, you are sure to be allowed a shot. Or buy your own wooden kit at the games store "Wupatki", Rungestraße 17. This part of the harbour is usually called "Strand" (beach) by locals, even if there is no sand within sight.

Learn

• University of Rostock, ☏ +49 381 498 - 0. One of the world's oldest universities, founded in 1419.

Buy

The main shopping district is located along Kröpeliner Straße within the medieval city center, while the greatest selection of souvenirs can be found in the Warnemünde seaside resort area. Typical local products include jewelry, artisanal crafts, sea buckthorn juice, and Rostocker Pils beer.

Rostock also hosts a bordershop (Scandlines Bordershop Rostock, Zum Südtor 5) primarily serving travelers to and from Scandinavia. It offers a variety of confectionery and beverages, including items from Denmark and Sweden. Due to differing national deposit-refund systems, the sale of certain deposit-exempt beverages is strictly regulated for export. Customers purchasing these items must present a valid photo ID and submit a pro forma export declaration; such goods are intended for export to Denmark and Sweden and are not sold for domestic consumption in Germany.

• Markets. Rostock hosts a variety of weekly markets throughout the city and surrounding areas, offering a selection of regional produce, artisanal goods, and local specialties. These markets provide insight into regional food culture and are held on different days at various locations, including the Neuer Markt in the city center.

Eat

If you want to begin the day with a breakfast or have a coffee later in the day, Rostock has a few chain store bakeries with cafés all over the city. Junge has 18 cafés, two of them in Warnemünde. Sparre has 14 cafés, one of them in Warnemünde. Nowak has 8 cafés in Rostock.

In the city centre

• Zum Alten Hafen, Strandstraße 24.
• Fränkis Körri Braatwurscht, Breite Str. 6.

Around the Doberaner Platz

• KTV Kantine, Friedrichstraße 1.
• Pinky's - pizza manufaktur, Arnold-Bernhard-Straße 33.
• Marktkrug, Ulmenstraße 18.
• Das Kumpirhaus, Wismarsche Str. 55.

Around the Marienehe train stop

• Rostocker Fischmarkt & Fischbratküche, Warnowpier 431, 18069 Rostock, ☏ +49 381 8111221. Mon-Sat 11:00 – 15:00. Fish restaurant and fish shop. On

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