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

    Baroque castle Griebenow

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  2. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald museum shipyard

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  3. © Gudrun Koch

    Eldena monastery ruins

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  4. © Gudrun Koch

    St. Nikolai Cathedral Greifswald

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  5. © TMV/Gohlke

    Village Church Groß Kiesow

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  6. Greifswald Information

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  7. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Village church Kemnitz

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  8. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald barrage

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  9. © Wally Pruss

    Sociocultural center St. Spiritus

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  10. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Landscape park

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  11. © Tourismusverband Vorpommern e.V.

    Behrenhoff village church

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  12. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Forestry office Jägerhof

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  13. © Gudrun Koch

    Caspar-David-Friedrich-Bildweg

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  14. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Observatory

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  15. © Gudrun Koch

    Wiecker wooden bascule bridge

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  16. © Gudrun Koch

    St. Mary's Church Greifswald

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  17. © Förderverein Eldenaer Mühle

    VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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

    University of Greifswald

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  19. © Gudrun Koch

    Catch tower Greifswald

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  20. © Förderverein Eldenaer Mühle

    VIA MOLINA Baltic Sea Route Vorpommern

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  21. © Sabrina Wittkopf-Schade

    Parish Church Greifswald-Wiek

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  22. © Peter van Heesen

    Theater and Stadthalle Greifswald

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  23. © TMV/Tiemann

    Ludwigsburg Palace

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  24. © Gudrun Koch

    Rubenow Monument

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  25. © Martin Weidemeier

    Eldena windmill

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  26. © Gudrun Koch

    Greifswald Town Hall

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  27. © Gudrun Koch

    Arboretum of the University of Greifswald

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  28. © Sven Fischer

    Church St. Jacobi Greifswald

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  29. © Gudrun Koch

    Marketplace of the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald

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  30. © Gudrun Koch

    Pomeranian State Museum

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

    Caspar David Friedrich Center

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

    Greifswald Zoo

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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"
  • 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"
  • 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. © Schnuppe Figurentheater

      "The Christmas Goose Auguste"

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    2. © Theaterwerft/ KI

      Ox and donkey

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    3. © Wally Pruß

      Night watchman tour in Greifswald

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    4. © Jakob Weber

      12th German-Polish speech: Border without barriers - opportunities and potential for good neighborly relations

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    5. © St. Spiritus

      Advent market at St. Spiritus

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    6. © Musikschule Greifswald

      Advent concert by the Greifswald Music School

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    7. © 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

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    8. © LesBummmsBoys

      LesBummmsBoys

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    9. © Karl Mühlbach, 2022 für Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V.

      Guided tour of the Caspar David Friedrich Center

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    10. © Bildnachweis: Brygida Helbig © Kamila Parandowska, Filharmonia © Urząd Miasta Szczecin

      "Szczecin. One city. Many stories"

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    11. © art cube

      Exhibition for the Greifswald Art Auction

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    12. © Universität Greifswald / Jan Meßerschmidt

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

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    13. Candle workshop

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    14. © art cube

      Vernissage of the exhibition for the "Greifswald Art Auction"

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    15. © https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/programm/allgemeines/veranstaltungskalender/veranstaltung/n/der-osten-konstruktion-oder-realitaet-deutsch-polnische-perspektiven-249171/

      The East - Construction or Reality? German-Polish perspectives

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    16. © Foto: C. Behrens

      Kay Ray Show

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    17. © Bridge Markland

      Bridge Markland: jug in the box

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    18. © Jenny Thalheim

      Watercolor course

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    19. © (c) Raymond Jarchow

      Being forgetful. Living with dementia- Exhibition- Vernissage

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    20. © pixabay

      Musical get-together

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    21. Culinary city tour

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    22. © St. Spiritus

      Greifswald Art Auction - Painting, Photography, Ceramics, Object

      Read more: "Greifswald Art Auction - Painting, Photography, Ceramics, Object"
    23. Drink & Draw

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    24. © Sofiia Miroshnyk

      Ukrainian Advent program

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    25. © Boogie Trap

      Boogie Trap

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    26. © Dear Robin

      Dear Robin

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

      CDFZ_kontemporär: Guided tour through the current exhibition

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    28. © GUStAV / Lark M. Toda

      GUStAV regulars' table

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    29. © Queen Anne’s Revenge

      Closing evening with Same Suki & Zonic Zound Zystem

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    30. © Boddenfolk

      Dancing

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    31. © Late Night Singers

      Advent concert by the choirs of St. Spiritus

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    32. © (c) Raymond Jarchow

      Being forgetful. Living with dementia

      Read more: "Being forgetful. Living with dementia"
    33. © https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/programm/allgemeines/veranstaltungskalender/veranstaltung/n/orgelspielen-wie-geht-das-249221/

      Playing the organ - how does it work?

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    34. © Stephan Stuetzner

      Daphne de Luxe - Species-appropriate

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    35. © Boddenfolk

      Dancing

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    36. © https://www.wiko-greifswald.de/programm/allgemeines/veranstaltungskalender/veranstaltung/n/innenperspektiven-und-selbstdarstellung-in-der-lyrik-hartmanns-von-aue-249167/

      Inner perspectives and self-representation in the poetry of Hartmann von Aue

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    37. © Universität Greifswald / Jan Meßerschmidt

      University in the town hall / Propellers and twisted question marks - what logos tell us about cars and banks

      Read more: "University in the town hall / Propellers and twisted question marks - what logos tell us about cars and banks"
    38. © Pixabay

      Musical get-together

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    39. © Marek Fiałek

      Romantic spirituality as a commonality between the paintings of C.D. Friedrich and the prose of Stefan Chwin"

      Read more: "Romantic spirituality as a commonality between the paintings of C.D. Friedrich and the prose of Stefan Chwin""
    40. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V., Foto: Sophie Müller 2024

      Soap workshop

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    41. © ©Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V.

      Lukas Maksay: What Do We Do When We Get Lost In The Forest?

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    42. © Lange Nacht der Comedy

      Long Night of Comedy Greifswald

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    43. © (c) Haymon Verlag

      Julia Pustet reads "Everything is really bad"

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    Greifswald Hotels

    7 results

    • © 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"
    • © VCH Hotel

      VCH Hotel

      • Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      VCH Hotel in Greifswald with 78 rooms including breakfast

      Read more: "VCH Hotel"
    • © Hotel Kronprinz

      Hotel Kronprinz

      • Lange Straße, 17489 Greifswald

      Hotel Kronprinz in Greifswald offers 31 rooms in a central location

      Read more: "Hotel Kronprinz"
    • © Mercure Hotel

      Mercure Hotel Greifswald

      • Am Gorzberg, 17489 Greifswald

      Look forward to relaxing days at the beautiful Baltic Sea!

      Read more: "Mercure Hotel 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"
    • 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"

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