Things to do in Lübeck – 12 attractions and experiences

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What is there to see and do in Lübeck? The old Hanseatic city in northern Germany offers brick Gothic architecture, impressive churches, cozy alleys, history and of course lots of marzipan. Lübeck's historic city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is perfect for exploring on foot.

We arrived in Lübeck late one afternoon and only had time to take a first stroll through the city. Despite that, we managed to be fascinated by the historical surroundings and stock up on Lübeck's perhaps most famous specialty – marzipan.

Lübeck – Queen of the Hanseatic League

Lübeck is located in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany, on the river Trave and about twenty kilometers from the Baltic Sea coast. The old town is located on an island surrounded by water and is still characterized by the time when Lübeck was one of northern Europe's richest and most powerful trading cities.

The city was founded in 1143 and during the Middle Ages became a leading city within the Hanseatic League, the large network of trading cities around the Baltic and North Seas. During its heyday, Lübeck had extensive trade relations with, among others, the Nordic countries.

Even today, that history is felt present. Here you can find old merchant houses, warehouses, churches and narrow alleys, while Lübeck's famous seven church towers rise above the rooftops.

Parts of the historic city center have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987. Lübeck was then the first city in Northern Europe where an entire urban area was given World Heritage status.

1. See the Holstentor – Lübeck’s main landmark

It is hard to imagine Lübeck without Holstentor. The mighty city gate with its two round towers is the city's great symbol and one of the most well-known buildings in northern Germany.

The gate was built in the 15th century and was part of the city's fortifications. It was not only to protect Lübeck but also to show visitors what a rich and important city they were entering.

Today, there is a museum inside the Holstentor where you can learn more about Lübeck, the Hanseatic League and international trade. But even if you don’t go inside, the building itself is well worth seeing – not least together with the historic salt warehouses right next door.

2. Stroll through Lübeck's old town

One of the best things to do in Lübeck costs nothing at all: take a walk. The old town is compact and perfect for exploring on foot. Here you can walk between grand brick buildings, old merchant houses and churches, and at the same time find your way down to the water.

It is precisely the whole that makes Lübeck special. The city was badly damaged during World War II, but the medieval city plan and much of the historic buildings remain. We had far too little time when we were here, but Lübeck is the kind of city where it is nice to just walk around without any particular goal.

3. Discover Lübeck's alleys and courtyards

Don't just look at the big sights. One of Lübeck's most charming quirks is hidden behind the facades.

All around the old town are narrow alleyways that lead into small courtyards and historic residential environments. They arose when the growing commercial city needed space for more people and smaller homes were built in the backyards behind the large houses.

Around 90 historic alleys and courtyards are still preserved. Here you can be a little curious and take a peek – of course with respect for the fact that many of the houses are still private residences.

4. See the town hall and square

In the middle of the old town is Lübeck Town Hall, Rathaus, which began construction as early as the 13th century and was expanded over the centuries that followed.

The result is a fascinating mix of different building styles, with dark brick, decorative gables and towers. Once the seat of one of Europe's most powerful trading cities, it is also close to the Markt, the historic market square, and the large St. Mary's Church.

5. Visit St. Mary's Church

St. Mary's, or Marienkirche, is one of the buildings that most clearly tells of how wealthy Lübeck once was. The huge brick church was built mainly in the 13th and 14th centuries and became a model for many other brick Gothic churches around the Baltic Sea. The church's two towers are part of the famous skyline that characterizes Lübeck.

The church was partially destroyed by bombing in 1942 but was rebuilt after the war. UNESCO highlights both St. Mary's Church and Lübeck's other monumental brick buildings as important parts of the world heritage.

6. Eat marzipan in Lübeck

Then we get to the really important thing: the marzipan! Lübeck is so associated with marzipan that you can hardly visit the city without at least tasting it. And for us, it didn't end there. and small taste.

The most famous manufacturer is Niederegger, which was founded by confectioner Johann Georg Niederegger in 1806. The company already supplied its sweets to the Russian Tsar's court in the 19th century and is today run by the eighth generation of the family.

7. Visit Café Niederegger and the Marzipan Museum

Niederegger's classic Stammhaus is located on Breite Straße opposite the town hall. On the ground floor is the shop, upstairs is the café and further up is a small marzipan museum, the Marzipan Museum.

There you can learn more about how marzipan is made and about Niederegger's more than 200-year history – and see impressive creations made from marzipan.

We were particularly caught up in the shelves in the shop. There is marzipan in every conceivable shape and packaging, and it is surprisingly difficult to leave the place empty-handed. When we were here, Christmas was also approaching, so we had the perfect excuse: Christmas presents!

8. See the old salt warehouses

Next to Holstentor is a row of characteristic brick houses called Salt storage, The salt store. Salt was a very valuable trade item during the Middle Ages. It was transported from Lüneburg to Lübeck, among other places, and then shipped out into the Baltic Sea area, where it was needed to preserve fish in particular.

The warehouse, together with the Holstentor and the Trave River, today forms one of Lübeck's most classic views. The salt warehouse is also part of the historic environment that UNESCO particularly highlights.

9. Learn about the Hanseatic League at the Europäisches Hansemuseum

If you want to understand why Lübeck became so important, European Hanseatic Museum, the European Hanseatic Museum, one of the city's most interesting attractions.

The museum tells the story of the origins, trade and people of the Hanseatic League, and the network of trading cities that influenced the economy and politics around the Baltic and North Seas for centuries. The museum is also located next to the historic Burgkloster, a former Dominican monastery and an important part of Lübeck's medieval environment.

10. Discover Lübeck from the water

Lübeck's old town is surrounded by water, and this gives you a completely different perspective of the city from a boat. During parts of the year, sightseeing boats go around the old town and along the Trave. From the water, you can see the church towers, the old house facades and the quays from a different angle.

Even a walk along the water is pleasant. At Museum Harbor A number of historic sailing ships and other traditional boats are moored.

11. See Heiligen-Geist-Hospital

Holy Spirit Hospital, the Helgeandshospitalet, is another of Lübeck's special historical buildings. It was founded by wealthy merchants in the 13th century for the elderly and sick and is considered one of the oldest surviving examples of social institutions from the Middle Ages in Europe. The building is located at Koberg in the northern part of the old town and is worth seeing even from the outside.

12. Experience Lübeck at Christmas time

We visited Lübeck in November and arrived a little too early for the Christmas markets. However, preparations were already in full swing, with market stalls all around the city center and Christmas just around the corner.

And Lübeck undeniably feels like a city that is well suited to Christmas time. The combination of medieval alleys, brick houses, church towers and marzipan does its job. If you want to travel here specifically for the Christmas markets, however, it is wise to check the current dates and programs before your trip, as they vary from year to year.

Lübeck and Sweden – a long shared history

During the Hanseatic period, Lübeck had strong connections with Swedish trading cities, not least Visby and Stockholm. And in the 16th century, the city also played an important role in Gustav Vasa's struggle against Christian II.

After his captivity in Denmark, Gustav Eriksson, the future Gustav Vasa, fled to Lübeck in 1519. Later, Lübeck provided financial and military support for the rebellion against Christian II. But of course, it was not quite as simple as ”the Lübeckers saved Sweden” – Lübeck also had strong economic interests in countering the power of the Danish king and protecting its trade in the Baltic Sea.

The support was important for Gustav Vasa's victory, but also costly for Sweden. When Gustav became king in 1523, Sweden was heavily indebted to Lübeck, which affected relations between the countries in the years that followed.

How much time do you need in Lübeck?

We speak from personal experience when we say: more than a late afternoon! We managed to get a nice first impression of Lübeck, see some of the most important sights and of course buy some marzipan. But the city deserves much more time than that.

For a first visit, we would like to have at least a full day, and with two days there is time to walk around properly, visit some museums and churches, eat well and maybe take a boat trip.

More to see near Lubeck

If you have more time, you can continue your journey to beautiful and interesting places nearby. Here you will find tips and reports:

• Timmendorfer beach 
• Things to do in Wismar 
• Bad Segeberg
• Schwerin Castle
• Things to do in Hamburg