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Cities on the Baltic Sea

1 - Several major cities in the countries around the Baltic Sea are located right on the coast:

• Gdansk and Świnoujście in Poland
• Klaipeda in Lithuania,
• Riga in Latvia,
• Tallinn, Estonia,
• St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad in Russia,
• in Finland, Helsinki and Turku,
• in Sweden: Stockholm, Norrköping and Malmö
• and Copenhagen in Denmark.

Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen are the capitals of their respective countries. 2 - Their location by the sea was very important to the development of these cities. Several major German cities are also located on the Baltic coast. Kiel is the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein. Today, about 247,000 people live in the city. Kiel was once an important naval port. Many shipyards were built there, where new ships were constructed. Today, the port is used mainly by ferries connecting Germany with Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Many cruises also start here. One of the city’s most famous landmarks is the 106-meter-high town hall tower, completed in 1911.

3 - About 217,000 people live in Lübeck. The city is connected to the Baltic Sea by the River Trave and the district of Travemünde. Lübeck is Germany's largest Baltic Sea port. The city has a long history as an important trading center in Northern Europe. In the past, it was the main city of the Hanseatic League. Its wealth is reflected in its many magnificent old buildings. Lübeck is also known as the "City of Seven Towers". These are the towers of five churches. The twin towers of St. Mary's Church are the tallest, at 125 meters. Many old buildings were built in the typical brick style, including Lübeck Town Hall and the famous Holsten Gate, which was once a city gate.

4 - Rostock, with a population of about 209,000, is the largest city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It lies on the River Warnow. Rostock’s old town is also characterized by its many old brick buildings. One example is St. Mary’s Church, with its 86-meter-high tower. Founded in 1419, the university is the oldest in the entire Baltic Sea region. About 13,000 young people study here.

5 - Stralsund is in the Western Pomerania region of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Here, the narrow Strelasund separates the island of Rügen from the mainland. Stralsund is sometimes called the “Gateway to the Island of Rügen”, as two bridges connect it to the island. The old Hanseatic city has many brick-built historic buildings. Around 60,000 people live in Stralsund.

6 - For centuries, the cities around the Baltic Sea have been connected by shipping and trade. Most once belonged to the Hanseatic League. Ships still sail between Baltic ports today. Along with Kiel, Lübeck, Rostock and Stralsund, Sassnitz, Greifswald, Wismar and Flensburg are port cities on Germany’s Baltic coast. The Baltic Sea and the North Sea are connected by the Kiel Canal.