Laboe - The Perfect Holiday Escape in the Baltic
From farming village to fishing village to tourist resort, that's the path Laboe folowed to get where it is today. Though it caters to numerous foreign and German tourists it still manages to keep alive its roots. To those who come here for the sea and the scenery Laboe is a breath of fresh air
General Info
10 km northwest of Kiel, the capital of the Schleswig-Holstein German state lies Laboe. It’s also situated by the shores of the Baltic Sea and like many other cities in the region (Kiel, Lubeck, Flensburg) it has a strong maritime and Yacht Charter tradition.
Though it started out life as a farmer’s settlement in 1226, in time the importance of a harbor in the region became evident to the locals and by the beginning of the 18th century, Leboe harbor was handling much of the commercial trade of the neighboring towns as well as a part of the military traffic. Later on, in the 20s, Kiel’s rapid commercial development led to Leboe becoming more of a Yacht Charter tourist attraction, with many health resort facilities being built.
Travel & Arrival
Though very well connected with the other towns in the region, Laboe isn’t big enough to have its own airport. Instead Yacht Charter visitors have to take arrive using the airport in Kiel which handles just internal flights, or the airport in Hamburg which is 108 km due south.
However, arriving in a car is far easier, as the Laboe is just 20 km from Kiel via motorway 7. There is also the option of the 215 motorway, but in order to get into town you have to leave the motorway and take the 502 road.
A train ride from Kiel or a bus are definitely an option as the journey takes about 45 minutes and there are numerous runs being made every day, thus catering to the Yacht Charter community.
Linking Kiel to Laboe is also a ferry line which leaves from the Central Station in the state’s capital and is considered by many (not just the Yacht Charter enthusiasts) to be one of the most attractive ways to get into Laboe, exploring the Baltic German coast.
Avant & Apres Sail
The landscape here, though coastal, has many types of relief, even sand dunes, though most Yacht Charter experts wouldn’t think of Germany or the Baltic shores as a place where you find dunes. Also, the town enjoys long stretches of beach that border the sea.
Also, one of the most populated places in town, especially on summer nights, is the promenade. Here, young and old alike will take the time to relax and take in the scenery as the sun sets over the Baltic.
There is even a central park with a theater where during summer plays and concerts are held for the Yacht Charter crowds. The locals put on folk-dance shows and costume shows here as a way to promote the region’s culture and tradition.
But one of the most well-known sights of the region is the the 72-meter tower monument Naval Memorial, which was built to honor the fallen sailors in World War I and later the ones from World War II. There is also a U-995 submarine at the location which seems to be a hit with Yacht Charter groups.
Accommodation comes in all forms and sizes here, from guest houses to luxurious hotels and even camping sites for those Yacht Charter adventurers who want to rough it. You’ll find that the people here are very welcoming and always happy to receive guests.
When the night comes, so do the thrill-seeking Yacht Charter tourists. They do have a lot of clubs here, though not the ones you’re thinking of right now. The night scene here is rather quiet, not as glitzy or as loud as in the cities on the French or Italian Riviera, but still, you can have a pleasant night out should you want to.
The clubs that Laboe has plenty of are sports clubs and sailing or yachting. Close to 40 such clubs that are mostly sports-related can be found in Laboe and make up for a wonderful way to spend the time – from soccer and handball to gymnastics and table tennis, the people here have it all.
Events & Actions
Being so close to Kiel, Laboe benefits from that huge sailing event Kiel Week. Tourists in Laboe will definitely go check out the festivities in the Kiel bay. Some other local events include weekly flea markets, the cod days (the biggest cod fishing event in Northern Germany), the May fires (how the locals greet the spring) and the Harbor Day in July when hoards of Yacht Charter people show up.
In addition, there are numerous regattas throughout the year to celebrate the people’s love for boats. Anything from classic boats to modern speed boats can be seen in the waters around Laboe harbor, much to the delight of the Yacht Charter visitors.