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Big cities – I visit mainly for foodie trips and a shot of culture with museums and plays. I prefer much more the smaller cities like the charming Rostock where the architecture is special and colourful. Read on and you will see what I mean…
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Table of Contents
Getting to Rostock
From Warnemunde Cruise Port
If you plan to visit Rostock from the cruise stop in Warnemunde like we did, I recommend the train because of the frequency of every 15 minutes.
The train station is about 300m away from the cruise terminal. You only need a single journey ticket (costs Euro 2,80 at the time published) for a 1-way direction to Rostock-SteinTor. This will include the train (S-Bahn) + tram to get you there. Check here for timetables and ticket prices.
By Plane
Rostock has a small airport : Rostock-Laage which has some seasonal flights to Greece, Spain and Turkiye. To check flight schedules in this smaller airport, click here. From the airport , the line 127 goes to Rostock center. The website for schedules and price tickets is here . Tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver or from ticket machines.
Flying in from a nearby international airport (Hamburg, Berlin) is a popular option as well – check the next section for the train.
By Long Distance Train
The bigger cities of Hamburg or Berlin are 2 – 2.5 hours travel time away by train. People usually fly in to these nearby bigger cities. Check here for train schedules and price.
By Ferry
If you plan to come from the northern Scandinavian countries of Denmark and Sweden, there is a ferry option.
By Car
If you plan to travel to Rostock by rental car, I frequently use and recommend Rental Cars providing a wide range of options and locations.
What we saw in Rostock
We visited Rostock as part of our cruise stop and was happy to be introduced to this port city. We walked and did the sight seeing on our own independently. If you lack time and prefer to be guided, here are options you can take for a guided tour around the city which will also be more comprehensive of course.
Stonegate (Steintor)
Be it as an entrance or exit, this formidable stone gate is hard to miss. The special build style is said to be Dutch Renaissance but I am clearly no expert. This was part of the main gate to the south.
Town Hall (Rathaus)
First of all, NO – this beautiful building is NOT used as a house for rats. Rathaus is the German word for town hall- so you will see one in every city. This is however one of the most brightly coloured I have seen.
The building is made up of 3 houses combined into one connected by the display wall with seven towers in the back. This is still a working town hall and houses administrative offices of the State in here. I just think it is worth seeing and is a great backdrop for any Wes Anderson fan!
New Market (Neuer Markt)
This is the happening place to be – a big square surrounded by the nice coloured buildings including the Rathaus. The market stalls here sells fresh produce like fish, vegetables, fruits and the like. Many of the trams has a stop here at the Neuer Markt.
St Mary's Church (Marienkirche)
The biggest church in Rostock not to be missed for there are much more treasures inside. The highlights are an astronomical clock with apostle rotation, a grand organ, the Vaulting and Bells and the impressive stained glass. The glass is one of the biggest in Europe and depicts “The Day of Judgement”. (I just feel the need to punctuate that line with a dramatic pipe organ note)
Since January 2021 the entrance costs 3 Euros which goes to the restoration and upkeep of this fine church. Should you decide to have a guided tour , this would cost an additional 2 Euros. For the church tower tours, an additional 3 Euros on top of the entrance fee. Check here for more information of opening times and schedules.
*Note: there is no elevator , have to walk up the tower with steep stairs.
Walk along the Kröpeliner Street
This pedestrian-only street is long and lined with little shops and cafes and buildings with interesting architectures on either side. I would call this a very unique street – where else would you find the city library, Rostock university, big shopping stores and a pornographic fountain where the young and old sit around all in one ? The street start/ends with the Kröperliner Tor on one end and the Neuer Markt on the other.
City Library (StadtBibliothek)
If you liked watching “You’ve Got Mail” as I do, you will remember a scene where Meg Ryan as Kathleen Kelly the owner of “Shop Around the Corner” reading out a children’s book during story time. We walked in on story time in the City Library which amazed me as I was not aware this was a normal practise outside of the US. If you would like to bring your 3-6 year old for story time here is the schedule and book lookup.
University of Rostock
The university like other architectures in Rostock stands out with its terracotta red facade. It has the distinction of being the third oldest university in Germany.
Fountain of Joy (Brunnen der Lebensfreude)
The fountain once criticized as pornographic – due to the naked and close proximity of the figures is a bustling meeting place for people of all ages. The striking water fountain with its features attracts plenty of visitors so be sure not to miss it on your walk here.
Kröpelin Gate (Kröpeliner Tor)
The Kröpelin Gate is 55-meters high and is a remaining medieval relic which did not get destroyed in the war. It strikes an impressive structure in Rostock.
Is Rostock worth visiting ?
That is a resounding yes from me – I did not do much research in the past before I visited. I came away completely impressed with the architectures in this Hanseatic city. It was a nice day out walking in the center and later complementing it with exploring the coastal town of Warnemunde.
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This place looks nice.. Wow.. How do u find this place?
Here can take the ferry to Denmark 🙂
Glad that you enjoyed your trip to Rostock. I agree that they have a very well-preserved old town. I live in Berlin and have to admit, that I never spent time there. However a passed the town on the way to the Danmark ferry. Actually Rostock has a bad reputation in Germany because if xenophobic and right-wing activities.
It was a very short stop but I remembered the beautiful buildings . I didn’t know about their reputation though..
I like visiting smaller cities and towns too, rather than the big ones. Rostock looks very pretty, I love the main square which reminds me of the one in Dusseldorf. There as well there is a local market where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, among others. I like that Rostock is such a colourful city, with such a pretty architecture. I’ve never seen a red Rathaus before!
I heard many good things about Dusseldorf but have not managed to get there just yet. If it is anything like Rostock , then I need to plan a trip pronto!
It looks like Rostock worth a stop when you are in the area. The Stone and Kropelin Gates are surely attract visitors attention with their sizes and colors. I wonder if people still have to pay if they want to pray at St. Mary. And I like the train frequency from the cruise port to Rostock.
The architecture there just blew me away! Yeah i wonder how that works when people merely wish to pray in the church – its hard to imagine having to pay to do that. If ever I am there again, I would re-visit just because I was not that attentive to the details until after.
We had a busy day when our cruise stopped in Warnemunde and did not get a chance to visit Rostock. Great to know on a return visit we could take a train. The architecture in Rostock is certainly charming. And we would definitely meander along the pedestrian street. And wonder about the pornographic fountain. A great option for a cruise port day.
Well I definitely get the busy day as part of cruising. Meander is a good word for what we did too!
I’m glad i stumbled onto this post. Germany is usually my entry point every time I go to Europe, and I’ve been to most of the major cities. It’s good to learn about some of the lesser known ones. I’ll definitely keep Rostock on my next to-visit list.
Ah definitely visit the smaller cities / towns : they are so charming especially Rostock.
Rostock sounds like an absolute gem! The unique architecture and vibrant culture make it a perfect destination. The train journey from Warnemunde Cruise Port seems super convenient, especially with trains every 15 minutes. Stonegate and Rathaus look so picturesque, and New Market with its fresh produce stalls is my kind of place. St. Mary’s Church with its astronomical clocks and grand organs is a must-visit. The Kröpeliner Street stroll and the Fountain of Joy add to the city’s charm. I’m sold – Rostock is definitely on my list now!
I have not been to Germany yet, and Rostock seems to be the perfect small city I would love to visit. I like the vibrant look with New market, and the busy square. The Kroppelin gate looks impressive. The city library and the church with its clock and organs are interesting places in a small city adding to the character. I prefer charming smaller cities like Rostock to larger crowded cities. 🙂
Just the kind of place I was wishing to visit before we decided to go to Munich from Berlin. Just a two hour journey. I love port cities and Rostock looks ideal. Love the thought of walking and checking out Stonegate, Kroplin Gate, Town Hall, New Market and the university area. The fountain of joy would be one I would be sitting for a while.Walk along Kropeliner Strret would be nice as well.
I think this place is charming and I am happy to hear that it’s worth visiting. As a bookworm, I would love to visit their library. How nice that they have story time there too!