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. Theater Greifswald, © Peter van Heesen

    Theater and Stadthalle Greifswald

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  2. © Sven Fischer

    Church St. Jacobi Greifswald

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  3. Greifswald barrage

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  4. Eldena windmill

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  5. © Gudrun Koch

    St. Mary's Church Greifswald

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  6. Rubenow Monument

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  7. Village Church Groß Kiesow

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  8. © Gudrun Koch

    Pomeranian State Museum

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  9. Greifswald Information

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  10. © Gudrun Koch

    Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg

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  11. Forestry office Jägerhof

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  12. Greifswald Zoo

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

    University of Greifswald

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  14. © TMV/Tiemann

    Ludwigsburg Palace

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  15. Greifswald museum shipyard

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  16. © Barockschloß zu Griebenow e.V.

    Baroque castle Griebenow

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  17. Parish Church Greifswald-Wiek

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  18. VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  19. St. Nikolai Cathedral Greifswald

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  20. © Gudrun Koch

    Wiecker wooden bascule bridge

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  21. Arboretum of the University of Greifswald

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

    Behrenhoff village church

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  23. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Town Hall

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  24. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Village church Kemnitz

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  25. Socio-cultural center St. Spiritus

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

    Caspar David Friedrich Center

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  27. © Gudrun Koch

    Catch tower Greifswald

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  28. VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  29. © Gudrun Koch

    Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald

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  30. Landscape park

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  31. Greifswald Observatory

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  32. Eldena monastery ruins

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Tour Tips for Exploring

On foot or by bike

  • 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"
  • © 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"
  • © 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. CDFZ_kontemporär: Guided tour through the current exhibition

      Read more: "CDFZ_kontemporär: Guided tour through the current exhibition"
    2. © (c) Hermanshoftheater

      H.C. Andersen "The Ugly Duckling" Puppet Theater- Hermannshof Theater (Wümme)

      Read more: "H.C. Andersen "The Ugly Duckling" Puppet Theater- Hermannshof Theater (Wümme)"
    3. Berit Glanz "Under a wide sky"

      Read more: "Berit Glanz "Under a wide sky""
    4. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Karl Mühlbach 2022

      Candle workshop

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    5. ImagineBar

      Read more: "ImagineBar"
    6. "Scissors, words, paper - Hans Christian Andersen, the wanderer between fantasy and reality"

      Read more: ""Scissors, words, paper - Hans Christian Andersen, the wanderer between fantasy and reality""
    7. © Greifswald Marketing GmbH

      Greifswald Kite Festival

      Read more: "Greifswald Kite Festival"
    8. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V.

      Friedrich Andreoni: This all sounds

      Read more: "Friedrich Andreoni: This all sounds"
    9. © Theaterwerft/ KI

      Ox and donkey

      Read more: "Ox and donkey"
    10. © Theaterwerft

      Family theater SNUUT presents: Eisbjörn and the lighthouse keeper after Max Kaplan

      Read more: "Family theater SNUUT presents: Eisbjörn and the lighthouse keeper after Max Kaplan"
    11. © t.o.b.

      Piero

      Read more: "Piero"
    12. Silhouette artist and poet Johanna Beckmann (1868-1941 - Burg Stargard/Berlin)

      Read more: "Silhouette artist and poet Johanna Beckmann (1868-1941 - Burg Stargard/Berlin)"
    13. Way of St. James - setting off and being expected

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    14. FALKENBERG

      Read more: "FALKENBERG"
    15. © GMG/Wally Pruß

      Greifswald Old Town Tour

      Read more: "Greifswald Old Town Tour"
    16. © Annika Krueger

      MAKE A MOVE - HOL MICH AB-Tour 2025 Straze/Greifswald 1.11.25

      Read more: "MAKE A MOVE - HOL MICH AB-Tour 2025 Straze/Greifswald 1.11.25"
    17. SINGASONG

      Read more: "SINGASONG"
    18. Kay Ray Show

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    19. Fair flowers - With flowers for human rights

      Read more: "Fair flowers - With flowers for human rights"
    20. Vacation workshops at the CDF Center

      Read more: "Vacation workshops at the CDF Center"
    21. Big Adonia musical: "MOSE - Rescued and liberated"

      Read more: "Big Adonia musical: "MOSE - Rescued and liberated""
    22. © Lange Nacht der Comedy

      Long Night of Comedy Greifswald

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

      Guided tour along the Caspar David Friedrich picture trail

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    24. Play "Tell me where you stand..."

      Read more: "Play "Tell me where you stand...""
    25. © Kunst heute

      All memory is present - exhibition of the art association Art7

      Read more: "All memory is present - exhibition of the art association Art7"
    26. © GMG / T. Behnke

      Caspar David Friedrich - Anniversary tour

      Read more: "Caspar David Friedrich - Anniversary tour"
    27. Watercolor course

      Read more: "Watercolor course"
    28. The pot-bellied pig

      Read more: "The pot-bellied pig"
    29. © Kunstverein Rügen e.v. / Knut Hartwich

      BINGO

      Read more: "BINGO"
    30. © Schnuppe Figurentheater

      "Two robbers have pigs"

      Read more: ""Two robbers have pigs""
    31. Port of Marriage - A Cabaret Reckoning

      Read more: "Port of Marriage - A Cabaret Reckoning"
    32. © Joanna Wizmur

      Duxius

      Read more: "Duxius"
    33. © Kunstverein Rügen e.v. / Matthias Dettmann

      ART ROUTE GREIFSWALD

      Read more: "ART ROUTE GREIFSWALD"
    34. [broːm]

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    35. The perfect secret

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    36. Drink & Draw

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    37. Dancing

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    38. © Theaterwerft

      Mary finds Plesio - The discovery of the dinosaurs

      Read more: "Mary finds Plesio - The discovery of the dinosaurs"
    39. Screen printing

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    40. © 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"
    41. Don't make a fuss! Home game music is good for you!

      Read more: "Don't make a fuss! Home game music is good for you!"
    42. © Ostseezeitung

      Irish Coffee

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    43. Culinary city tour

      Read more: "Culinary city tour"
    44. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Karl Mühlbach 2023

      Children's tour through the Caspar David Friedrich Center

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    45. © (c) Kat Menschik

      "After the storks. Hans Christian Andersen as a traveler"

      Read more: ""After the storks. Hans Christian Andersen as a traveler""
    46. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Sophie Müller 2024

      Vacation workshops at the CDF Center

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    47. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Sophie Müller 2024

      Soap workshop

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    48. GUStAV regulars' table

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    49. Eli Beneš reads from "Imperceptible loss of loneliness"

      Read more: "Eli Beneš reads from "Imperceptible loss of loneliness""
    50. Groove Night

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    51. © Wally Pruß

      Night watchman tour in Greifswald

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    52. Painting and drawing course

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    Greifswald Hotels

    7 results

    • 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"
    • VCH Hotel

      • Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      VCH Hotel in Greifswald with 78 rooms including breakfast

      Read more: "VCH Hotel"
    • Hotel Kronprinz

      • Lange Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      Hotel Kronprinz in Greifswald offers 31 rooms in a central location

      Read more: "Hotel Kronprinz"
    • © 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"
    • 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"
    • 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"

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