Travemünde Week

Head to the seaside this summer and enjoy both a world-class sailing regatta on the water with live music and free activities on land. What better way to make the most of the summer weather?

Travemünde Week

Travemünde Week is an example of what can happen when a whole town turns out for an event. The regatta has been held here in various formats since 1889, and the land programme has slowly evolved to really make it a full week of celebration and fun.

The German Baltic Sea coast is often unfairly overlooked as a holiday spot by those outside of Germany, but with sandy beaches, great summer weather and the amazing things they can do with fresh fish, it's not surprising that German people themselves know there are few better places to spend a sunny July week. 

Travemünde festival

The entire centre of town becomes a sort of open-air market, food hall and music venue for Travemünde Week, with different areas dedicated to different vibes or themes. The top end of town, furthest from the sailing, is usually where the markets are, so you can browse the handicrafts and local products in relative peace and quiet.

The closer you get to the harbour and the esplanade, the more events are packed in. There are several music stages, with each leaning towards one genre or another - rock and pop here, jazz and flamenco music there - so you can find the one that suits you best.

There's a square given over entirely to dancing, so if you want to salsa, foxtrot or disco dance, Travemünde has you covered. For the kids, the Brügmanngarten is turned into a dream playground, with carousels, bouncy castles, trampolines and loads more. 

While there is food everywhere, the promenade is the place to head if you want to have all of the options. A lot of local specialities will be present, but also tasty treats from around the world.

As the sun goes down, the beach terraces and club areas come into their own, with cocktails, DJs and dancing on the sand.

Video credit: Youtube / Lübeck und Travemünde

Travemünde regatta

The regatta is a major fixture on the international sailing calendar, and many events will hold their European or International finals here. Because of this, the event draws many of the best sailors in the world to Travemünde, and the racing is always high-quality and exciting!

Day trips are organised on escort boats, so you can follow the race from the water. For those who prefer dry land, the harbour is visible from almost all areas of town, so you can keep an eye on the action while enjoying your Labskaus. There is also an area in town where all the action is displayed on the big screen, so you can feel up close and personal with the contestants without having to get wet!

In 2024, there are over 20 different races taking place, including:

World Championships

July 22-27: International Canoe
July 23-26: Flying Junior

Grand Prix

July 20-23: Kites

European Cup

July 22-27: Javelin

There are also Inclusion Classes, for sailors with a disability to compete in, and there are also races for amateurs to try their hand. Over 1.300 contestants are expected to take part!

Video credit: Youtube / Travemünder Woche

Getting to Travemünde Week

Travemünde is in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, up on the Baltic coast. The train station is in the centre of town, and it's well connected to the hub station of Hamburg, just 90 minutes away, so arriving by public transport is recommended.

You can find out more about what is happening each day on the Travemünde Week website.