Hotels in Schleswig-Holstein

High up in the north of Germany, right on the border with Denmark, lies this beautiful German state. A popular holiday spot for locals thanks to the range of outdoor activities on offer, Schleswig-Holstein is framed by the rough waters of the North Sea on one side and the gentler Baltic Sea on the other. But if you don’t fancy surfing, hiking or biking, come for the culture. Wander the medieval alleyways in Lubeck, pay a visit to a Viking settlement in Haithabu or soak up Kiel’s maritime past in a former U-Boat that’s now a fascinating museum!

Whether you’re seeing the sights or you’re here to do business, you can rest easy knowing that a great night’s sleep awaits you at any of our great-value Premier Inn Schleswig-Holstein hotels. And, thanks to our central locations, you’ll have all of Schleswig-Holstein’s top attractions right on your doorstep when you stay with us.

If you love picturesque landscapes, then why not visit Saxony, the east German state with out-of-this-world scenery and fairy-tale palaces? Staying in Baden-Württemberg lets you explore the stunning Black Forest, or there’s Bavaria, with its medieval castles and mountainous backdrops. But wherever your travels take you, you’ll find all the home comforts you need to make the most of your visit at our Premier Inn hotels in Germany.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are landmarks considered to have cultural, scientific or historical significance, and Schleswig-Holstein has three of them. Its North Sea coastline (known as the Wadden Sea) was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in June 2009 thanks to wildlife-packed mudflats, marshes and dunes. There’s also the Danevirke, a Middle Age fortress complete with moats and castles. Finally there’s the beautiful city of Lubeck itself, noted for the original 12th-century architecture in its Old Town.

Just a 20-minute train ride from Lubeck is the charming seaside resort of Travemünde. With 1.7km of white sand beach, this Baltic Sea beauty is split in two by the river Trave, and is so popular with tourists that it’s known as the St Tropez of Germany! Perfect in summer for a bit of beach volleyball, sunbathing and promenade-strolling, it’s also worth a visit in winter to browse the shops or to soak up the sea views. 

As you’d expect from a state with so much coastline, fish is always on the menu here. But Schleswig-Holstein is particularly famous for Kiel sprats - small, smoked fish from the herring family. And why not try a refreshing local beer? Countless small craft breweries have sprung up in the state, rejuvenating the local beer scene. But days out in Schleswig-Holstein wouldn’t be complete without tasting Lubeck marzipan. The city is also home to the Niederegger Marzipan Museum where you can see the original 1806 recipe.

Germans hold Schleswig-Holstein dear to their hearts as a charming holiday destination. Just hold onto your hats because the other thing Schleswig-Holstein is famous for is the wind. The state is notoriously flat and, with the bracing North Sea on one side and the Baltic on the other, you’ll feel the breeze! The state is also well-known for its historic castles and Viking connections, but you may also know it for its famous breed of black and white cows – Holstein Friesians are known to be the world's highest-producing dairy animals.

The main language is German, but English is also spoken in many shops, restaurants and hotels. The further north you go, the more Danish you’ll hear, while parts of the region on the North Sea coast still speak Low German, a rare dialect. Wherever you go in the state, you’ll hear the friendly greeting moin (and sometimes even moin-moin). It’s a Low German word that actually means “nice”, but it can be used to say “hello” or “goodbye” in any situation, day or night.

Kiel is the state’s capital and its largest city. Situated on the shores of the Baltic Sea, it’s one of Germany's major maritime centres playing host to the annual Kiel Week, the biggest sailing event in the world. Schleswig-Holstein’s second largest city is Lubeck, followed by Flensburg which is just 7km from the Danish border.

There are plenty of attractions to keep the little ones happy. These include the incredible Viking Museum Haithabu, the Hansa-Park theme park in Sierksdorf, and the German submarine U-995 museum. Plus, if you’re visiting Schleswig-Holstein in the winter, don’t miss out on seeing the Lübecker Weihnachtsmarkt!

The nearest international airport is in Hamburg, which is 70km away from Lubeck, or 97km from Kiel. Hamburg Airport is well-connected by train to many destinations in Schleswig-Holstein.