Hanseatic City of Greifswald

Motif and Inspiration for Caspar David Friedrich

Inspired by the beauty of the city's silhouette, the romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich, the most famous son of the university and Hanseatic city, often chose the brick buildings as motifs for his paintings.

The silhouette of Greifswald from the air and view of the church towers and old town by day.

Salty Breeze Paired with University Air

The university and Hanseatic city of Greifswald is always worth a visit. When strolling through the historic old town, the brick town houses, the oxblood-red town hall, parts of the medieval defense system and the brick churches are particularly striking. It is easy to see why the towers of the three distinctive churches are called Long Nicholas, Fat Marie and Little Jacob by the locals.

The cityscape is particularly characterized by the buildings of the University of Greifswald. One of the most magnificent and powerful buildings is the baroque main building of the university, which was built in 1750 by the Swedes who ruled here for almost 200 years. Founded as early as 1456 and thus the second oldest high teaching institution in northern Europe, it continues to provide a young, open intellectual climate in the city today.

Picturesque Greifswald

Maritime flair is spread by the many ships on display in Germany's largest museum harbor. Let yourself be inspired by more than 50 ships with detailed descriptions. A worthwhile museum for art lovers is the Pommersche Landesmuseum Greifswald. Here you will find, among other things, original works by the Greifswald-born artist Caspar David Friedrichs. In his honor, there are also exhibitions in his residence, today's Caspar David Friedrich Center. One of his popular Greifswald motifs is the romantic ruins of Eldena Monastery, which still magically attracts many people today.

A City with Sound

Greifswald offers a wide variety of musical events - whether young and dynamic or classical and elegant. Music festivals, such as the Eldena Jazz Evenings, Greifswalder Bachwoche, the fishing festival Gaffelrigg or the Nordic Sound already have a long tradition.

The Vacation Experts for the Hanseatic City of Greifswald

Hanseatic City of Greifswald in Moving Pictures

Impressions from Greifswald

Excursion Destinations

Sights and Leisure Tips

  1. New capuchin monkey enclosure with outdoor enclosure, © Birgit Schulz

    Greifswald Zoo

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  2. Chestnut avenue to Griebenow baroque palace with portal and courtyard of honor, © Barockschloß zu Griebenow e.V.

    Baroque castle Griebenow

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  3. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Town Hall

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  4. View of the Eldena mill with the art barn in the background., © Martin Weidemeier

    Eldena windmill

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  5. © Sven Fischer

    Church St. Jacobi Greifswald

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  6. Greifswald barrage

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  7. © Gudrun Koch

    Arboretum of the University of Greifswald

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  8. © Wally Pruss

    Sociocultural center St. Spiritus

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  9. Earth history: From dinosaurs to the last ice age, © Gudrun Koch

    Pomeranian State Museum

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  10. © Gudrun Koch

    Wiecker wooden bascule bridge

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  11. Side view of the church and cemetery, © TMV/Gohlke

    Village Church Groß Kiesow

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  12. © Gudrun Koch

    Catch tower Greifswald

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  13. Caspar David Friedrich Center, © Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., ©2021 Gudrun Koch

    Caspar David Friedrich Center

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  14. © Gudrun Koch

    Eldena monastery ruins

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  15. © TMV/Tiemann

    Ludwigsburg Palace

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  16. © GMG/ Wally Pruß

    Greifswald Information

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  17. Forestry office building in Greifswald-Eldena, © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Forestry office Jägerhof

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  18. © Förderverein Eldenaer Mühle

    VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  19. Exterior view of the church, © Tourismusverband Vorpommern e.V.

    Behrenhoff village church

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  20. © Förderverein Eldenaer Mühle

    VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  21. Theater Greifswald, © Peter van Heesen

    Theater and Stadthalle Greifswald

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  22. Greifswald museum shipyard

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  23. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Observatory

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  24. Park area, © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Landscape park

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  25. © Gudrun Koch

    Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald

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  26. © Gudrun Koch

    St. Mary's Church Greifswald

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  27. © Gudrun Koch

    Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg

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  28. The University of Greifswald with the Rubenow Monument., © Gudrun Koch

    University of Greifswald

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  29. Exterior view of the church, © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Parish Church Greifswald-Wiek

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  30. © Gudrun Koch

    St. Nikolai Cathedral Greifswald

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  31. Church with entrance portal, © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Village church Kemnitz

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  32. The Rubenow Monument is located on Rubenowplatz in front of the main building of the University of Greifswald., © Gudrun Koch

    Rubenow Monument

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Tour Tips for Exploring

On foot or by bike

  • © TMV/Tiemann

    Eastern Brick Circuit

    • Length: 305 km
    • Etappen: 5

    The brick churches in Rostock, Stralsund and Greifswald are considered the crowning glory of medieval architecture. In smaller harbor towns and in the hinterland, too, the red stones pile up to form imposing contemporary witnesses. In addition to a lot of history, cyclists enjoy unspoiled nature and swimming fun.

    Read more: "Eastern Brick Circuit"
  • Cycling on Fischland-Darß-Zingst, © TMV/Gänsicke

    Baltic Sea Cycle Route

    • Length: 690 km
    • Etappen: 15

    The part of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route which leads through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a beautiful trail in Northern Germany, which winds through idyllic scenery, Hanseatic towns, three islands and classic villages.

    Read more: "Baltic Sea Cycle Route"
  • Vacation times differently - pilgrimage migration in the Lassaner angle, © TMV/Foto@Andreas-Duerst.de

    Via Baltica

    • Length: 360 km
    • Etappen: 16

    In our hectic times, more and more people are looking for heavenly peace and divine inspiration. They find it in the liberating expanse of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

    Read more: "Via Baltica"
  • © TMV/Petermann

    Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail E9

    • Length: 400 km
    • Etappen: 14

    Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea – the Hiking Trail E9 connects the coasts of Europe. On the stretch between Travemünde and Ahlbeck, hikers can enjoy the diversity of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's coastal landscape.

    Read more: "Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail E9"
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    Event Tips

    Events, Exhibitions and Concerts

    1. © Universität Greifswald / Jan Meßerschmidt

      University in the town hall / Accessible without borders. Opening the common cultural heritage of the Pomerania region

      Read more: "University in the town hall / Accessible without borders. Opening the common cultural heritage of the Pomerania region"
    2. Fresh herring and many regional traders at the Vorpommern fish market., © G. Koch

      Maritime season opener 2023

      Read more: "Maritime season opener 2023"
    3. © ART+COM Studios

      Gallery of Romanticism

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    4. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Karl Mühlbach 2022

      Candle workshop

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    5. © GMG

      Greifswald New Year's Lights

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    6. © ©Jaclyn Locke

      Vernissage of the exhibition "Über Unter Wasser" by Marie Jeschke

      Read more: "Vernissage of the exhibition "Über Unter Wasser" by Marie Jeschke"
    7. © Karl Mühlbach, 2022 für Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V.

      Guided tour of the Caspar David Friedrich Center

      Read more: "Guided tour of the Caspar David Friedrich Center"
    8. © https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/programm/allgemeines/veranstaltungskalender/veranstaltung/n/orgelspielen-wie-geht-das-249221/

      Playing the organ - how does it work?

      Read more: "Playing the organ - how does it work?"
    9. © Stephan Stuetzner

      Daphne de Luxe - Species-appropriate

      Read more: "Daphne de Luxe - Species-appropriate"
    10. © Theater am Wandlitzsee

      Little Life - The Fishing Carpet Saga Part II

      Read more: "Little Life - The Fishing Carpet Saga Part II"
    11. © Theaterwerft

      Port of Marriage - A Cabaret Reckoning

      Read more: "Port of Marriage - A Cabaret Reckoning"
    12. © (c)affich-cine

      "Anna's Encounters" (1978) - film and lecture about loneliness and desire

      Read more: ""Anna's Encounters" (1978) - film and lecture about loneliness and desire"
    13. © Theaterwerft

      "Stories from Bollerup" by Siegfried Lenz

      Read more: ""Stories from Bollerup" by Siegfried Lenz"
    14. © https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/programm/allgemeines/veranstaltungskalender/veranstaltung/n/zeltwort-die-fluechtige-gegenwart-des-gedichts-249205/

      "Tent word". The fleeting presence of the poem

      Read more: ""Tent word". The fleeting presence of the poem"
    15. © Theaterwerft

      Poetry in bottles - You have to be able to say wine sometimes

      Read more: "Poetry in bottles - You have to be able to say wine sometimes"
    16. Guided tour of the exhibition: "Being forgetful. Living with dementia" with Raymond Jarchow

      Read more: "Guided tour of the exhibition: "Being forgetful. Living with dementia" with Raymond Jarchow"
    17. © Ostseezeitung

      Irish Coffee

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    18. © Theaterwerft / Peter van Heesen

      The pot-bellied pig

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    19. © Theaterwerft

      MS Triage

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    20. Long Night of Comedy Greifswald

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    21. © Landesmusikrat M-V

      State Youth Choir M-V - Spring 2026

      Read more: "State Youth Choir M-V - Spring 2026"
    22. © GMG

      4th Greifswald Circulum

      Read more: "4th Greifswald Circulum"
    23. © (c) Raymond Jarchow

      Being forgetful. Living with dementia

      Read more: "Being forgetful. Living with dementia"
    24. © Theaterwerft

      The melancholy duffel bag

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    25. © Theaterwerft

      Stundl by the Sea - The Freest Fishing Carpet Saga Part I

      Read more: "Stundl by the Sea - The Freest Fishing Carpet Saga Part I"
    26. © LesBummmsBoys

      LesBummmsBoys

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    27. © GUStAV / Lark M. Toda

      GUStAV regulars' table

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    28. Soap workshop

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    29. © Foto: C. Behrens

      Kay Ray Show

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    Accommodation in Greifswald

    9 results

    • Visit the Stettiner Hof directly on the Baltic Sea Cycle Route in Neuenkirchen near Greifswald, © Stettiner Hof

      Stettiner Hof

      • Theodor-Körner-Straße, 17498 Greifswald-Neuenkirchen

      Welcome to the Stettiner Hof! Enjoy your stay away from stress and city noises, directly at the gates of Greifswald. The charming atmosphere and regional cuisine will win you over. The hotel offers up to 21 comfortable rooms and 3 spacious suits. WIFI is free all around the house. We wish you nice days.

      Read more: "Stettiner Hof"
    • Double room, © Hotel Ostseeländer

      Hotel Ostseeländer

      • Gustav-Jahn-Str. 6, 17495 Züssow

      Hotel Ostseeländer is located in a beautiful park and has individually furnished rooms. Despite its quiet location, the ideal starting point for (almost) all activities. The cuisine is characterized by regionality and products from our own organic cultivation.

      Read more: "Hotel Ostseeländer"
    • DJH Youth Hostel Greifswald

      • Pestalozzistraße, 17489 Greifswald

      Welcome to our city hostel between the Islands of Usedom and Rügen. Here you can have it all: Culture, nature, history and sports - it's all on your doorstep.

      Read more: "DJH Youth Hostel Greifswald"
    • © VCH Hotel

      VCH Hotel

      • Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      VCH Hotel in Greifswald with 78 rooms including breakfast

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    • Hostel "Alter Heuboden", © Sabine Petters

      Hostel "Alter Heuboden" Jager

      • Jager, 18519 Sundhagen

      Lovingly designed hostel on the European long-distance hiking trail E9 and the Via Baltica, not far from the Baltic Sea coastal cycle path.

      Read more: "Hostel "Alter Heuboden" Jager"
    • © Hotel Kronprinz

      Hotel Kronprinz

      • Lange Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      Hotel Kronprinz in Greifswald offers 31 rooms in a central location

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    • © Mercure Hotel

      Mercure Hotel Greifswald

      • Am Gorzberg, 17489 Greifswald

      Look forward to relaxing days at the beautiful Baltic Sea!

      Read more: "Mercure Hotel Greifswald"
    • slube at the marina Greifswald

      • Salinenstraße, 17489 Greifswald

      Coastal feeling meets cool student city: With slubes you stay right in the heart of Greifswald at the marina overlooking the Ryck River. Directly between Rügen and Usedom, it is not far to the Baltic Sea beach and great windsurfing and sailing locations.

      Read more: "slube at the marina Greifswald"
    • © Jack & Richie‘s

      Jack & Richie's

      • An der Mühle, 17493 Greifswald

      Welcome to Greifswald's Jack & Richie's, located directly at the listed Wiecker wooden bascule bridge and the nearby marina.

      Read more: "Jack & Richie's"

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