Excursions from Keil port

Here's a thread about port excursions from Kiel from earlier this year: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/kiel-hamburg-lubeck-or-somewhere-else

Hi,

Since 2016 I always go back to Kiel when I am in North Germany, which is part of every trip in Germany anyway. You have ample time if the arrival time is in the morning.

Of course, there are short activities open to you once you dock. I would suggest taking the Kiel harbour cruise. It is 1.5 hours, only in German, very nice, but gives a good view of the harboour. It goes all the way to Laboe, where you can disembark and then take a ferry back, or you can catch the bus taking you back to Kiel Hbf. I've done this harbour cruise twice.

The distance from Kiel Hbf to the cruise ship stop is ca 30 min walk or so. I've done all this just for the information. I like going to Kiel, historically too, but also geographically it's different, and you feel that too.

Of course , you can take the bus on your own to Laboe, outside of the Kiel Hbf (central station) is the but deport, ie numerous lines stop there indicating their destinations.

Now, if you time it exactly, you can take the regional trains to other small towns nearby, the best of which is Eutin/Holstein.

With 14 hrs ...easily done, well worth spending 2-3 hrs. in Eutin from a historical and cultural perspective. It is the birthplace of Beethoven's contemporary, Carl Maria von Weber, a major composer in German Romanticism if you're into classical music.

The Weber Haus/Museum is there, signs from the train station point the direction., aside from the Schloss Eutin., a definite sight when seeing North Germany. I like Eutin...peaceful, relaxing. ...have been there only on day trips from Kiel or Hamburg.

Going to Laboe is primarily for the German Naval Memorial and Museum, the "Marine Ehrenmal" If you rather see something other than military and war related, then I suggest another town with its famous chateau, more well known than Schloss Eutin.

This is Schloss Gottorp in the town of Schleswig..

Which one between Eutin and Schleswig? I am far more familiar with Eutin (the house of Carl Maria von Weber as mentioned above and the WW1 monument and memorial are on the extended grounds of the Schloss, ) having spent much more time there than in Schleswig. Exploring Schleswig I've done a bit, but did not get to the famous Schloss. That requires time.

The train from Kiel Hbf to Schleswig takes less than one hour....very doable.