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. © Wally Pruss

    Sociocultural center St. Spiritus

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  2. Eldena monastery ruins

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  3. © Förderverein Eldenaer Mühle

    VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  4. © Gudrun Koch

    Rubenow Monument

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  5. © Förderverein Eldenaer Mühle

    VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  6. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Landscape park

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  7. © Birgit Schulz

    Greifswald Zoo

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  8. © Gudrun Koch

    Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald

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

    Caspar David Friedrich Center

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  10. St. Nikolai Cathedral Greifswald

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  11. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Forestry office Jägerhof

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  12. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Town Hall

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  13. Theater Greifswald, © Peter van Heesen

    Theater and Stadthalle Greifswald

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  14. © Wally Pruß

    Greifswald Information

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  15. Pomeranian State Museum

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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. © Gudrun Koch

    Arboretum of the University of Greifswald

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

    Behrenhoff village church

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  20. © TMV/Tiemann

    Ludwigsburg Palace

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  21. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Observatory

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  22. © Sven Fischer

    Church St. Jacobi Greifswald

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  23. © Gudrun Koch

    Catch tower Greifswald

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  24. © Gudrun Koch

    Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg

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

    Village Church Groß Kiesow

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  26. © Gudrun Koch

    St. Mary's Church Greifswald

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

    Eldena windmill

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  28. © Gudrun Koch

    Wiecker wooden bascule bridge

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  29. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Village church Kemnitz

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  30. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald barrage

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  31. University of Greifswald

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  32. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald museum shipyard

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Tour Tips for Exploring

On foot or by bike

  • © TMV/Tiemann

    Eastern Brick Circuit

    • 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

    • 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. © Landesmusikrat M-V

      State Youth Choir M-V - Spring 2026

      Read more: "State Youth Choir M-V - Spring 2026"
    2. © Greifswalder Universitäts- Studentischer Autor:innen Verein

      GUStAV freezes

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    3. © (c) Pautzigers Puppenbühne

      Pautzinger's puppet stage "Kasper seeks the miracle flower"

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    4. Fresh herring and many regional traders at the Vorpommern fish market., © G. Koch

      Maritime season opener 2023

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    5. © Jenny Thalheim

      Watercolor course

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    6. © (c) Ullstein Verlag

      "Germany, let's talk" - book launch with Katrin Göring-Eckardt

      Read more: ""Germany, let's talk" - book launch with Katrin Göring-Eckardt"
    7. MUTABOR

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    8. Green Milk Project

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    9. U 20 Poetry Slam

      Read more: "U 20 Poetry Slam"
    10. © Schnuppe Figurentheater

      Children's theater "The mole and his friends"

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    11. © (c)Bernd Brundert

      "Poetry songs" concert with Ulf Deutscher. Poetry by Heine, Dylan, Rilke, Ringelnatz, Claudius...

      Read more: ""Poetry songs" concert with Ulf Deutscher. Poetry by Heine, Dylan, Rilke, Ringelnatz, Claudius..."
    12. © Theaterwerft

      "Stories from Bollerup" by Siegfried Lenz

      Read more: ""Stories from Bollerup" by Siegfried Lenz"
    13. © Wally Pruss

      ARTUR

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    14. © Wally Pruß

      Painting and drawing course

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    15. © (c) Buchcover (c) Jasper J. Maurer | www.jasperjmaurer.com/Piper Verlag

      Res Sigusch and her new novel "Unfounded Fears" 2026

      Read more: "Res Sigusch and her new novel "Unfounded Fears" 2026"
    16. © Stephan Stuetzner

      Daphne de Luxe - Species-appropriate

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    17. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Karl Mühlbach 2023

      Children's tour through the Caspar David Friedrich Center

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

      CDFZ_kontemporär: Guided tour through the current exhibition

      Read more: "CDFZ_kontemporär: Guided tour through the current exhibition"
    19. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Karl Mühlbach 2022

      Werner Busch: William Turner and John Constable - a comparison of the English landscape painters

      Read more: "Werner Busch: William Turner and John Constable - a comparison of the English landscape painters"
    20. © 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"
    21. Musical get-together

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    22. 11th Long Night of Comedy

      Read more: "11th Long Night of Comedy"
    23. © GMG

      4th Greifswald Circulum

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    24. © Wende/Simon

      Vernissage: MAL-DRUCK DRUCK-MAL

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    25. Watercolor course

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    26. Screen printing workshop as part of the Day of Printmaking 2026

      Read more: "Screen printing workshop as part of the Day of Printmaking 2026"
    27. Julius Fischer

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    28. © (c) Stiftung Buchkunst

      "The Most Beautiful German Books 2025" by the Stiftung Buchkunst

      Read more: ""The Most Beautiful German Books 2025" by the Stiftung Buchkunst"
    29. Gallery of Romanticism

      Read more: "Gallery of Romanticism"
    30. © DonLon

      DoNLon - adventure pop from Greifswald and Halle

      Read more: "DoNLon - adventure pop from Greifswald and Halle"
    31. © Theater am Wandlitzsee

      Little Life - The Fishing Carpet Saga Part II

      Read more: "Little Life - The Fishing Carpet Saga Part II"
    32. Chortippus

      Read more: "Chortippus"
    33. Kudders, Peachnuts and DIAS

      Read more: "Kudders, Peachnuts and DIAS"
    34. © Theaterwerft

      Port of Marriage - A Cabaret Reckoning

      Read more: "Port of Marriage - A Cabaret Reckoning"
    35. © Amt für Bildung, Kultur & Sport Greifswald / (c) Philipp Schroeder (Lensescape.org)

      ELDENA JAZZ EVENINGS GREIFSWALD

      Read more: "ELDENA JAZZ EVENINGS GREIFSWALD"
    36. Children's theater "The little scaredy-cat"

      Read more: "Children's theater "The little scaredy-cat""
    37. © (c) Verleih

      "Doctor Strange or How I Learned to Love the Bomb" Stanley Kubrick

      Read more: ""Doctor Strange or How I Learned to Love the Bomb" Stanley Kubrick"
    38. © Theaterwerft

      MS Triage

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

      Guided tour along the Caspar David Friedrich picture trail

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    40. © Lange Nacht der Comedy

      Long Night of Comedy Greifswald

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    41. SOLD OUT!!! SINGASONG - the sing-along evening

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

      Vacation workshops at the CDF Center

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    43. © Theaterwerft

      The melancholy duffel bag

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    44. © Universitäts- und Hansestadt Greifswald

      9th Eldena Monastery Market

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    45. © GUStAV / Lark M. Toda

      GUStAV regulars' table

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    46. © © Eric Kemnitz

      Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival: THOMANERCHOR Leipzig

      Read more: "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival: THOMANERCHOR Leipzig"
    47. © Theaterwerft / Peter van Heesen

      The pot-bellied pig

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    48. © Wally Pruß

      Painting and drawing course

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

      Soap workshop

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    50. © (c) Pautzingers Puppenbühne

      Pautzinger's puppet stage "Kasper seeks the miracle flower"

      Read more: "Pautzinger's puppet stage "Kasper seeks the miracle flower""
    51. "A day without women" - documentary on the women's strike in Iceland

      Read more: ""A day without women" - documentary on the women's strike in Iceland"
    52. © 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"
    53. © 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"
    54. Dancing

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    Accommodation in Greifswald

    9 results

    • 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"
    • © 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"
    • 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"
    • © Hotel Kronprinz

      Hotel Kronprinz

      • Lange Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      Hotel Kronprinz in Greifswald offers 31 rooms in a central location

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

      VCH Hotel

      • Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      VCH Hotel in Greifswald with 78 rooms including breakfast

      Read more: "VCH Hotel"
    • 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"
    • © 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"
    • © Mercure Hotel

      Mercure Hotel Greifswald

      • Am Gorzberg, 17489 Greifswald

      Look forward to relaxing days at the beautiful Baltic Sea!

      Read more: "Mercure Hotel Greifswald"

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