Kühlungsborn: Baltic Sea, Molli and Town Forest
Accommodation in Kühlungsborn
Kühlungsborn lies on the coast of Mecklenburg Bay, roughly halfway between the Hanseatic cities of Rostock and Wismar. The town combines its Baltic Sea location with a historic narrow-gauge railway, distinctive buildings and options for a range of interests. When looking for a hotel in Kühlungsborn, you can consider whether rail travel, nature, local history or your own activities should be the focus of your trip.
Molli and getting around the town
The Molli connects Kühlungsborn and Bad Doberan on the rare 900-millimetre gauge. It runs 365 days a year; for your specific plans, it is advisable to check the current timetable. Kühlungsborn Ost station is also a starting point for a walk along Strandstraße, which leads directly to the pier.
The distinctive red-brick station building in Kühlungsborn Ost houses GLEIS 2 – Das Mollirestaurant. There, modern cuisine meets the nostalgic atmosphere of a steam railway. Guests can get information about their holiday year-round at the Tourist Information Office in Haus des Gastes, Ostseeallee 19.
Town forest and townscape
The 133-hectare town forest lies between the two town centres of Kühlungsborn West and Kühlungsborn Ost. The names recall the former place names: West was called Arendsee, and Ost was called Brunshaupten. History is also evident on the façades: an ornamental tradition from the 19th century shapes Kühlungsborn’s architecture.
St. John’s Church, around 800 years old, is one of the town’s oldest buildings. Another link to more recent history stands right on the beach promenade: the BT11-type border tower of the 6th Border Company. It has a museum. These places add different chapters of local history to the story of the coast and the railway.
Pier, harbour and routes
The pier in Kühlungsborn Ost is 240 metres long and is one of the most distinctive structures on the Baltic Sea coast. Kühlungsborn Ost station provides a clear landmark for a walk along Strandstraße to the pier. This lets you combine a visit to one of the town’s landmarks with a walk through Kühlungsborn Ost.
Built in 2004, the marina gives recreational boaters and fishers direct access to the Baltic Sea and has space for more than 400 boats. Those who prefer to get around on foot or by bike will find numerous hiking trails and guided tours in the town. The European long-distance cycle route E9 also passes through Kühlungsborn. The two options serve different purposes: the E9 is a cycle route, while the local hiking trails and guided tours focus on walking.
Classes and other activities
Laetitia pottery studio offers traditional pottery classes for adults and children. An amber course teaches participants how to hand-sand natural amber and make items such as necklaces, key rings or worry stones. Another workshop explores materials washed ashore by the sea: driftwood, stones, sea glass, shells, amber and feathers can be turned into works of art; washed-up rubbish can also be reused.
For Baltic Sea enthusiasts, there is an underwater nature trail. Those looking for a different kind of activity will find seven courses at the Kühlungsborn adventure climbing forest. The range therefore extends from craft classes to activities focused on nature and exercise, without requiring a single all-in-one programme.
A look at the surrounding area
Between Kühlungsborn and Kägsdorf lies the unspoilt Riedensee, one of the last coastal lagoons of its kind on the southern Baltic Sea. It offers a different perspective on the coastal landscape. Together with the town forest, it shows that nature in Kühlungsborn is not limited to the immediate Baltic Sea shoreline.
Discover more destinations: Warnemünde, Bad Doberan, Amt Neubukow-Salzhaff, Amt Bützow-Land, Satow, Neubukow, Amt Laage, Kessin.
Go to the overview of the wider area: Rostock.
