NEUR

The seaside resort of Travemünde sits at the meeting point of the Trave river and the Baltic. A holiday destination since the early 19^th century, it offers the timeless pleasures of sun, sand and simple fare like fischbrötchen along broad beaches dotted with giant wicker chairs called strandkörbe. Watersports, including a July regatta, are also major draw. The riverfront Vorderreihe, lined with restaurants, cafes and boutiques, is lovely to stroll, as is the charming Old Town.

Stunning scenery, quintessential charm and great art define the small town of Kragerø on Norway’s southern coast boasts outsized appeal. Surrounded by freshwater lakes and a spectacular archipelago of more than 490 islands and skerries, it is a destination for boating, fishing, canoeing and swimming as well as cycling. Once an important seafaring community, Kragerø preserves that heritage in its inner harbor area, where the marina, promenades and piers, along with outdoor concerts and waterfront dining, create a lively ambience.

The busiest artificial waterway in the world, Kiel Canal was opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1895. It runs a length of 61 miles from the locks in Kiel Holtenau to the locks in Brunsbüttel. Some 43,000 commercial ships and 20,00 private yachts pass this way between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea yearly. The volume and diversity of the shipping is extraordinary, with masts flying flags from around the world. The canal passes under numerous bridges, including the Levensau High Bridge dating from 1893.