What to Do & See in Rostock, Germany

Rostock is a charming port city in northern Germany. Although small in size, there’s lots to do and see in the area!

Rostock is a charming port city in northern Germany along the coast of the Baltic Sea. It’s an incredibly popular vacation spot for Germans wanting to enjoy a staycation at the beach (did you know Germany had beaches?). Rostock is just 30 minutes from the neighboring town of Warnemünde, making it the perfect home base for a weekend by the sea! 

I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting to love Rostock as much as I did. It’s a small city, but it’s incredibly pretty. From a historic viewpoint, visiting Rostock was special because it was under Soviet control post-WWII. It served as East Germany’s largest port and played an important role in trade between the East and West. 

Looking around the city today, you’d never know that it was heavily damaged during the war. Moreover, there are lots of interesting things to see and do in Rostock, Germany! Below are my favorite Rostock sights. Note that the city center is easy to navigate on foot, but you’ll want to wear comfy walking shoes. 

Table of Contents

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University Square 

Formerly known as the Hopfenmarkt, University Square is in the heart of Rostock. It’s a picturesque square with the Joy of Life fountain in the center and the university building behind it. University Square intersects Kröpeliner Straße, which is the main shopping street in the city. 

Tip: The tourist information center is located at University Square, so this is a good place to begin your explorations! You can grab a free map inside. 

Kröpeliner Tor 

The Kröpelin Gate is one of the last remaining city gates of Rostock (at one point there were 22!). The six-story gate stretches 54 meters high and is now home to a small exhibition on the city fortifications of Rostock. The exhibition costs 3 Euros to enter; to be honest, I didn’t go in but the gate itself is a pretty photo spot! 

Behind the Kröpelin Gate is the main shopping street of Rostock. It’ll lead you straight to University Square, where the tourist information center is. 

City Wall and Ramparts 

Rostock’s city walls used to stretch all around the city center, roughly 1 square km in total. You can follow part of the old city wall from Kröpeliner Tor to Schwaanschen Straße. Along the way, you’ll pass the Wallanlagen, which is a pretty park set along the hillside. 

At the end of the city wall, cross over Schwaanschen Straße and into the rose garden. It’s gorgeous in the early summer months when the roses are all in bloom! 

Kröpeliner Straße 

Kröpeliner Straße is the main shopping street in the city center. There aren’t many local stores here, but the buildings are pretty and there are quite a few cafes and restaurants scattered throughout. 

Kröpeliner Straße will take you from the Kröpeliner Tor to the Neuer Markt. It’s a handy street to remember since most of the Rostock sights on this list can be accessed from this shopping street! 

St. Marienkirche 

St. Mary’s Church dates back to the 1230’s, although the structure you see today isn’t the original. The current church was finished in 1454 and was built in the Gothic style. 

You have to pay a few Euros to enter St. Mary’s church, but it’s worth the money! The star attraction inside St. Mary’s is the astronomical clock. It was built in 1472 by Hans Düringer and was updated to the heliocentric system in 1643. 

There are many dials on the face of the clock; they represent the date and time (naturally), as well as the current phase of the zodiac, the phase of the moon, the solar altitude, and more. 

The astronomical clock is wound by hand twice per day — at noon and at midnight. Try to get to the church before noon so you can watch Jesus and the Apostles dance around the top of the clock after it’s been wound! 

Neuer Markt

The Neuer Markt is a pretty square in Rostock’s Old Town. Here you’ll find lots of cafes and restaurants, plus you’ll get to admire the pink city hall (Rathaus). I popped my head into the city hall thinking there might be an exhibit inside, but there’s really not much to see.

Tip: There are free toilets on the lower floor, which may come in handy since Germany doesn’t really do free public toilets! 

Historic City Gates

In addition to the Kröpeliner Tor that was mentioned above, there are a few other historic city gates still standing. Kröpeliner Tor is the most impressive, but the Steintor (near the Neuer Markt) is easy to get to on foot and is worth the few extra minutes of walking. If you have time, you can also hunt down the Cow Gate (Kuhtor) which was once the main south-facing city gate. 

Botanical Garden 

Rostock’s botanical garden is quite small and feels a bit like you’re wandering through Grandma’s vegetable patch. However, there are lots of shady spots with benches dotted around the garden and it’s a peaceful place to relax and read a book. I actually loved the few hours I spent reading my book next to the pond there; the place smelled heavenly! 

Tip: The botanical garden is a great spot to visit on your way to or from Warnemünde beach, as it’s just across the street from the Holbeinplatz S-Bahn station. 

Rostock Cultural History Museum 

The Cultural History Museum is very small, but admission is free. The museum explains the history of the city of Rostock and also has household objects, artwork, and other artifacts from the area on display. The museum is housed in an old convent, and you can access the church on site via the museum. (If you visit for no other reason, head in to get access to the church!). 

Behind the museum is the Klostergarten, which is a small green space with flower beds and a playground. It’s another good place to sit down on a sunny day and catch your breath. 

St. Nikolaikirche & St. Petrikirche 

The St. Nicholas Church (pictured above) was built in the 1200’s and is now used as a meeting hall. St. Peter’s Church is the tallest church in the area, and its tower was once a landmark fisherman used to navigate the waters near Rostock. 

Both churches were heavily destroyed during WWII and have only recently been rebuilt. To be honest, the inside of both churches isn’t that interesting (they’re pretty much bare inside). However, the walk from the Neuer Markt to the St. Nicholas Church and St. Peter’s Church is lovely and it gives you a glimpse into the “real” part of Rostock away from the Old Town area. 

Day Trip to Warnemünde 

It’s not a trip to Rostock without a beach day at Warnemünde! Warnemünde is a charming seaside town just 30 minutes from downtown Rostock. There’s a bustling shopping street there called the Alter Strom, and the beach itself is sandy (unlike many of the pebble beaches in the area). 

I visited Warnemünde on a chilly day and still enjoyed my time there. While you’re there, make sure to buy a Fischbrötchen (fish sandwich) from one of the boats anchored along the Alter Strom! 

read more: Your Day Trip Guide to Warnemünde 

Ready to Visit Rostock? 

Now that you know what to see in Rostock, Germany, I hope you’re feeling inspired to plan your travels! As I’ve said already, Rostock is a small city but I enjoyed my time there. If the weather is good, you can spend much of your time at the beach. Otherwise there’s plenty to do in the city center to fill your day!

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More Places to Visit in Northern Germany:

• 8 Cities in Northern Germany to Add to Your Bucket List
• 20+ Free Things to Do in Berlin, Germany
• What to Do & See in Hamburg’s Old Town
• The Top 10 Things to Do in Bremen
• All of my Germany recommendations!