If you are planning a trip to Schleswig Holstein, then a visit to Schleswig is a must. The level of English spoken everywhere we visited was excellent, which is maybe due to the fact that the city receives a lot of Scandinavian tourists. Given the rich history of the city, the very pleasant lakeside location and rich architectural heritage, it is surprising that not a lot has been written in the mainstream media about Schleswig. Here is my travel guide to Schleswig. PS If you are planning a Schleswig Holstein roadtrip, then a visit to the charming medieval town of Lübeck and also the island of Föhr is a must.

How to get to Schleswig

Hamburg Airport (HAM) is 125 kilometers distance from Schleswig with. Schleswig Train Station enjoys direct connections to Hamburg, Flensburg, and Kiel.

Getting around Schleswig

Public Transport System is excellent here with a good local bus network. Payment methods include cash and card. Day tickets available for regional travel. The city is also bike and pedestrian friendly. Our apartment rental had bike rental included in the price.

Things to do in Schleswig

Old fishing village of Holm

Nestled along the fjord, the ancient fishermen’s settlement known as Holm—meaning “little island”—offers a glimpse into the past. Once connected to the mainland by a bridge until 1933, this charming enclave is defined by its quaint cottages that cluster around a small chapel and cemetery, creating a picture-perfect scene. Holm’s historical significance is underscored by the special trade rights granted to its residents as early as the 11th century. Today, the area retains its old-world charm through inviting craft shops and cozy cafés that echo the spirit of a bygone era.

Hein Haddeby, Die Fahre Nach Haithabu

We really enjoyed the brief but pleasant crossing from Schlewsig to Haithabu onboard this ferry that once operated as a goods vessel in the docks of Hamburg. The ferry operator was chatty, friendly and gave us some good tips of the city, plus advice on how to return from Haithabu to Schleswig by bus later. 5 stars!

Address: Haddebyer Chaussee, 24866 Busdorf, Germany.

Visit the Viking Museum Haithabu

We probably left it too late in the day to visit the Viking Museum arriving just an hour before closing. The lady at the ticket counter gave us an information leaflet in English and kindly reduced our fare to €5 instead of the normal price of €7. We quickly skipped the museum to see the settlement which we were very curious about. 

We really enjoyed the authentic setting of the Viking village and how open and friendly everyone was in demonstrating their craft. Had a nice chat about metal music with a guy who makes honey wine in the village. It was a really cool, authentic experience. I really had no clue how big a deal the museum was, especially after reading the not so great recent reviews of the place on Google, especially post refurbishment. Something that maybe needs to be updated.

Address: Am Haddebyer Noor 5, 24866 Busdorf, Germany.

Hours: Tues-Sun 10AM-4PM.

Schloss Gottorf

Impressive building and beautiful grounds. The displays inside the museum are informative with a number of displays in English to inform visitors about the artefacts on display. Ticket to the castle also gives you a voucher to get a free chocolate or bonbon from their excellent in-house cafe restaurant, Occo. Had a really good lunch here and very well priced. It was really nice discovering this place.

Address: Schlossinsel 1, 24837 Schleswig, Germany.

Hours: Tues-Fri 10AM-4PM; Sat-Sun 10AM-5PM.

Where to eat and drink in Schleswig

Beirut Brunch

If you are looking for authentic Lebanese food at great prices, then Beirut Brunch is a fantastic place with lots of vegetarian and vegan options.

Address: Stadtweg 25, Schleswig

TASTE

If you are looking for excellent burgers or pizzas at great prices, then you will like Taste ( Am Lornsenpark 2 ) They also have a great cocktail menu.

Address: Am Lornsenpark 2

Bakery Jaich

Just before hopping on the train we discovered this local bakery. Run by a really friendly group of ladies who kept on insisting we try everything in their place. They even gave us some free donuts!

Klahbatt Pub

This pub was the only place showing World Cup football in Schleswig so I had to go and I’m glad to say that the staff and place is 10 times nicer than their sister pub in Flensburg. They speak excellent English and beers are reasonably priced.

Address: Lollfuss 46, 24837 Schleswig, Germany.

Hours: Fri-Sat 6PM-5AM; Wed-Thu 6PM-2AM.

Where to stay in Schleswig

If you are looking for something romantic and special, then the Romantik Hotel Waldschlösschen is a great choice with a great breakfast, service and nice beds.

On the slightly more budget end, the Ferienwohnung Möwe 14 is an excellent 1 bedroom apartment in a great central location. The owners left us water and beer in the fridge and also helped us get fresh bread rolls delivered to the apartment which was handy for breakfast.