Things to do in Stralsund – attractions and Swedish history

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What is there to see and do in Stralsund? The old Hanseatic city on the Baltic Sea offers grand brick Gothic architecture, cozy streets, a lively harbor and exciting Swedish history. The old town is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and just outside awaits the island of Rügen. We visited Stralsund during a motorhome trip in northern Germany and were really delighted with the city.

Stralsund – Hanseatic city on the Baltic Sea

Stralsund is located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northeastern Germany, right on the Strelasund strait that separates the mainland from the island of Rügen. The city received city rights in 1234 and grew into an important trading city within the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages.

The historic city center is well preserved, with churches, town houses and magnificent buildings in the red brick Gothic style that is so typical of the cities around the Baltic Sea. Since 2002, Stralsund's old town, together with the historic city center of Wismar, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It is also a very pleasant city to explore on foot. The distances in the center are short and during a walk you have time to experience medieval alleys, large churches and the harbor.

1. Stroll through the old town of Stralsund

A great way to discover Stralsund is simply to stroll around the historic city center. Here, houses from different eras stand side by side and much of the medieval city structure still remains.

Stralsund also survived the Second World War relatively well compared to many other German cities, which means that a lot of authentic historical buildings have been preserved. The combination of the Hanseatic period and the later Swedish period is an important part of why Stralsund and Wismar have World Heritage status.

2. See the Alter Markt and the Town Hall

In the middle of the old town lies the Alter Markt, the old market square and an obvious stop during a tour of Stralsund. Here are several historic buildings from different periods gathered around the square.

The most striking feature is the town hall with its fantastic facade in North German brick Gothic. Construction began around 1300 and the town hall is today considered one of the most important secular buildings in brick Gothic style along the Baltic coast. The facade features coats of arms from other Hanseatic cities – a reminder of Stralsund's importance during the heyday of the Hanseatic League.

Right next to the town hall stands St. Nicholas Church, so in one place you can see two of the city's most important buildings.

3. Visit the Nikolai Church

St. Nikolai is the oldest of Stralsund's three large medieval parish churches. The church was first mentioned in 1276 and, fittingly for an old maritime town, is dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, Saint Nicholas.

As Stralsund became richer through trade, the church was expanded into an impressive basilica with twin towers. The original tall spires were destroyed in a fire in 1662, which explains why the towers look different today.

4. See St. Mary's Church – once the world's tallest building

Another impressive church is St. Marien, the Church of St. Mary, which is the largest church in Stralsund. It was first mentioned in 1298 and the current building was mainly built between the end of the 14th century and the end of the 15th century.

And here is a really fun historical detail. The church tower previously had a pointed spire that made the building a full 151 meters high. St. Mary's Church was thus considered the tallest building in the world until 1647, when lightning struck and the spire was destroyed in a fire. It was later replaced with the much lower Baroque dome that the church has today.

Those who are brave enough can also climb the tower. The viewing platform is located high above the city and is reached via 366 steps. From there, you can see over the roofs of Stralsund and all the way to Rügen.

5. Discover Stralsund's Swedish history

For us Swedes, there is another reason to take a closer look at Stralsund. The city has a long shared history with Sweden.

After the Thirty Years' War, Stralsund became part of Swedish Pomerania and the city developed into an important administrative and military center within the Swedish Empire. The Swedish era left its mark on both the cityscape and the fortifications, and is also part of the history that UNESCO highlights in the justification for the World Heritage Site.

Swedish influence in the area had begun earlier. In 1628 Stralsund entered into an alliance with Sweden and Swedish forces subsequently participated in strengthening the city's defenses. The Swedish era ended in 1815, when Stralsund and Swedish Pomerania passed to Prussia.

This means that Stralsund was for a long time much more closely tied to Sweden than you might think when walking around a German city today.

Swedish tracks in Stralsund

Traces of the Swedish era are not always obvious, but those who start looking will find them in several places. Fortifications, buildings and historical monuments tell the story of the period when Stralsund was part of the Swedish sphere of influence around the Baltic Sea.

In St. Mary's Church, for example, there is the tomb monument of Johan Paulinus Lillienstedt, a Swedish count, diplomat and civil servant who served Charles XII and later Frederick I. And so Sweden appears in a much more modern way as well.

6. Find Olof Palme Square

In the middle of our walk we found Olof-Palme-Platz. It is of course not a memory from Swedish Pomerania, but a much more modern Swedish imprint in the city. The square is located by the theater just north of the old town and is a slightly unexpected Swedish element during the walk through Stralsund.

7. Walk down to the harbor

From the old town it is close to the harbor, and there is also a lot to see here. Old warehouse buildings meet modern elements and out on the water are boats and ships. From here you can also see the large Rügen Bridge that connects the mainland with Germany's largest island.

The harbor area is worth a stroll even if you don't plan on visiting any particular attractions. However, if you want to stay longer, two of Stralsund's major attractions are here: the Ozeaneum and the sailing ship Gorch Fock I.

8. Visit the Oceanarium

The Ozeaneum is a large marine museum and aquarium located in the harbor. The focus here is primarily on the northern seas and their wildlife, and the museum is a good tip, especially for families and for days when the weather is not really cooperating. One of the large aquariums holds a whopping 2.6 million liters of water.

We didn't have time to visit the Ozeaneum during our visit, but it's definitely on the list for next time.

9. Board the Gorch Fock I

The port also houses the stately sailing ship Gorch Fock I. The ship was built in 1933 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as a sailing training ship and has had an eventful life to say the least.

After World War II, the ship ended up in the Soviet Union and sailed for several decades under the name Comrade. Since 2003, Gorch Fock I has been back in Stralsund. Restoration work is currently underway, which means that only the ship's exterior and decks can be visited. Therefore, check the latest information before visiting.

10. Have a beer at the historic Zum Fähre

A completely different kind of historical attraction can be found on Fährstraße. Here, the Zum Fähre restaurant is located in an old yellow house.

When we were in Stralsund, we were told that this was one of Germany's oldest taverns, dating back to the 14th century. Regardless of its exact position on the list of Germany's oldest pubs, the house is a fun stop during a walk through the old town.

11. Try beer from Stralsund

Stralsund also has a long tradition of beer brewing. Today, the Störtebeker Braumanufaktur in particular is known far beyond the city and brews a large number of different beers.

The brewery is named after the legendary pirate Klaus Störtebeker, whose history is strongly associated with the Baltic Sea region. For beer enthusiasts, the brewery can therefore be another stop during a visit to Stralsund.

Stralsund with a campervan

Stralsund is easy to visit by motorhome and there are several special parking spaces in and around the city. The tourist information office lists three regular motorhome parking spaces in 2026, and there are also additional parking options for motorhomes.

An alternative is Motorhome parking space-Stralsund at Boddenweg 3. There are 35 pitches here and facilities include electricity, fresh water, greywater disposal and toilet, shower and wifi. The site is located approximately 4.5 kilometres from the centre and buses run into the city.

There is also RV parking closer to the harbor, which can be handy if your main purpose is to explore the old town on foot. Always check current prices and rules before you go.

Combine Stralsund with Rügen

Stralsund is located right at the entrance to Rügen, making the two destinations easy to combine. From the city, the large Rügen Bridge leads across the Strelasund to the island.

After our visit to Stralsund, we also continued out to Rügen with the camper. There, completely different environments await with seaside resorts, beaches, beech forests and the famous white chalk cliffs.

READ MORE: Rügen in Germany – tips on sights and experiences

More places to visit in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Stralsund is a good place to visit as part of a longer trip through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Some other places we have visited ourselves are:

• Greifswald
• Waren an der Müritz
• Camping Havelberge
• Usedom