The seaside resort of Travemünde sits at the meeting point of the Trave river and the Baltic. A holiday destination since the early 19th century, it offers the timeless pleasures of sun, sand and simple fare like fischbrötchen along broad beaches dotted with giant wicker chairs called strandkörbe. Watersports, including a July regatta, are also major draw. The riverfront Vorderreihe, lined with restaurants, cafes and boutiques, is lovely to stroll, as is the charming Old Town. To escape the bustle, bike or hike the conservation area around Brodtener Steilufer, or travel north to Fehmarn Island’s peaceful nature reserve. Just 20 kilometers up the river is Lubeck, former capital of the Hanseatic League. Behind an imposing red-brick gate discover an enchanting medieval Old Town. Sights here include Gothic churches, merchants’ mansions, a grand Rathaus, and the flagship store of Niederegger, the venerable confectioner renowned for its marzipan creations.
