Warnemunde-Rostock Cruise Port

Warnemünde is a seaside resort and district of Rostock, located on the Baltic Sea at the estuary of the Warnow river in northeastern Germany. It is the largest cruise homeport in Germany, serving roundtrip itineraries, and stands among the world's busiest cruise ports.

Founded around 1200 as a small fishing village, Warnemünde was purchased by the city of Rostock in 1323 to secure Rostock's access to the Baltic Sea. Not until the 19th century did it develop into an important seaside resort. The construction of a modern cruise line centre in 2005 cemented Warnemünde's place as Germany's primary cruise port.

Warnemünde itself is compact and easy to explore on foot. The town's sandy beaches are the broadest on the German Baltic Sea coast, stretching three kilometres in length. Along the Alte Strom, a canal lined with restaurants, pubs and traditional fishing boats, a fish market sells regional specialities. Edvard Munch, painter of The Scream, lived here from 1907 to 1908, and his former home now stands at Am Strom 53. The town's oldest navigational aid, the lighthouse built in 1897, stands 37 metres tall and offers views over the Baltic Sea and northern Rostock.

Because of weak currents and good sailing conditions, Warnemünde is a major sailing area in Germany, with the beach particularly suited to kitesurfing, windsurfing and diving. The annual Warnemünde Week sailing event each July draws international competitors.

A short train ride away lies Rostock, where you'll find the Hanseatic city's gabled houses, gothic churches and turreted buildings dating back to the 13th century. The city's walls, central Neuer Markt square and churches, the oldest of which (Petrikirche) dates to the 1350s, are worth exploring. Beyond the cities, Stralsund, a Hanseatic town also on Germany's Baltic coast, is a popular day trip, with its characterful Old Town of red-hued rooftops and countless gothic buildings that have earned UNESCO World Heritage Status.

The cruise terminal's location is one of its advantages. Among all German ports, Warnemünde has the best railway connection, with the station close by. Berlin is about two and a half hours away by train.