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Kiel Week - Germany's touristically unknown largest Volksfest (visitors per day)

It's end of June - so time again for 143rd Kiel Week (Kieler Woche). It is starting today for a week - forecasted with perfect wheather.

Never heard of it? Well, Germany is not only Oktoberfest and Cannstatter Wasen. By visitors per day Kiel Week tops these both Volksfeste easily. Of course it is also a sailing event but a large part of Kiel's inner waterfront is partyzone with various live music stages, open ships and everything what is needed around drinking, eating and having a good time. Also large ships from other countries are guest, also war ships. A detailed description of the upcoming Kiel Week from 22 to 30 June, 2024 was published this week in an article (German).

So, everybody who wants to experience Germany off-the-beaten-path, here is one of your annual chances.

In last century I was part of a team from a yacht manufacturer, organizing a special competition between the top sailing teams of the world. All teams were sailing the same yacht type from regular yacht production and showed in short 1:1 triangle races what was possible with these "ordinary" boats everybody can buy. It was such a great event every year.

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Ended WIndjammer Parade: Six large classic sailing ships are guiding a group of ten smaller ones out of Kieler Förde (Kiel fjord). Hundreds of private yachts and motor boats are sailing / driving along. A reporting video and an article provide details of the event (German language).

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9222 posts

I would like to go to this next year. Any information about where and how best to see it and experience it? Can you ride any of the ships?

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3008 posts

The tourist information of Kiel provides chances for booking a "Törn" by their experience website.

I think they will have much more contacts in preparation for next event.

If you want to look from landside the Kiellinie (a street) and further in the north the most narrow part of Kieler Förde are good viewpoints, e. g. around Friedrichsort Lighthouse.

During initial outbound way the parade is organized as described in a link. Most ships return into the Förde (fjord), so they are also coming back after a turn near Laboe.

A good travelzoom camera is recommended - smartphones pictures are often to far away to see details in the pictures in an acceptable quality.

And of course be prepared for every weather. Sun protection is a good decision when taking a boat tour at sunny weather because double / multiple sun load from water reflections.

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626 posts

The food was quite international when we went about 15 years ago--we had Rwandan springbok, Argentinian beef, and Finnish "reindeer blood" to wash it down. We very much enjoyed it even though it rained. We should really go back, but it tends to conflict with a lot of commitments every year.