This red-brick port town on Germany's Baltic coast has a UNESCO-protected old town with Gothic churches, Renaissance buildings, and a historic waterworks dating to 1602.
Walk through Wismar's medieval Market Square, where a 12-sided Renaissance well house from 1602 rises between merchant houses with stepped gables. Inside St. Nikolai Church, 37-meter-high brick vaults tower above you, while at the harbor, fishing boats dock next to the 15th-century Grube waterway. You can climb the remaining tower of St. Marien Church for views across the red-tiled roofs, or join a summer boat trip to explore the Baltic coast.
Exploring the Market Square
The Market Square spans 10,000 square meters, making it one of northern Germany's largest medieval squares. At its center, the Wasserkunst well house from 1602 displays intricate Renaissance copper work and once supplied drinking water to residents until 1897. Look for the Alter Schwede, a red brick building from 1380 with its characteristic stepped gable. The restaurant inside serves North German specialties. The buildings around the square combine North German brick architecture with Swedish-era additions, including decorated doorways and window frames from the 17th century.
Gothic Brick Churches
Three main churches shape Wismar's skyline: St. Nikolai, St. Marien, and St. Georgen. In St. Nikolai Church, you can see the detailed star vaults and tall windows typical of North German brick Gothic architecture. While only the 80-meter tower remains of St. Marien Church after World War II damage, you can climb it for city views. St. Georgen Church hosts weekly concerts from May to September, where you can experience classical music under restored Gothic vaults.
Maritime History and Harbor
The harbor basin maintains its medieval layout, with water depths suitable for historical trading vessels. You can walk along the quay where Hanseatic merchants once loaded their ships. The Grube waterway, built in the 1200s, still flows through the old town. At the modern shipyards, you might see large cargo ships and cruise vessels under construction. Boat trips run daily from April to October, taking you past the old harbor walls and along the coast.
Museums and Culture
The Schabbell Museum occupies a 16th-century merchant's house. Its exhibits include trading records from the 1400s, artifacts from Swedish rule (1648-1803), and photographs showing Wismar's reconstruction after 1945. During the August Schwedenfest, the Market Square fills with craft stalls and food vendors selling Swedish specialties. Local musicians perform on multiple stages throughout the four-day festival.
Modern Life and Education
At Hochschule Wismar, 8,500 students study across 50 programs in engineering, business, and design. The university campus includes both historical buildings and modern laboratories. Students gather at cafes along Lübsche Straße and in the renovated warehouse buildings near the harbor. The city's economy combines education with industry - the Nordic Yards employ 2,000 people in shipbuilding, while several food processing plants operate in the outskirts.
Getting Around
You can easily walk across the old town in 20 minutes. Rental bikes are available at the train station and several shops near the Market Square. Trains run every hour to Hamburg (2.5 hours) and Berlin (3 hours). Local buses connect to nearby beaches and villages. From the harbor, you can join fishing trips or sailing excursions to nearby islands.
