For the history enthusiast, one of the best things to see in the north-most German state of Schleswig-Holstein is the German U-boat. The Naval Memorial at Laboe, just outside Kiel, is one of Germanys most unique attractions in the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein, rising from the seashore like the stern of a huge Viking ship. A constant Kiel attraction is the German submarine U-995, located at the beach at Laboe on the east side of the fjord.

Kiel was also a main port for Germanys terrifying U-boats in WWI, and a small U-boat museum is located here, which contains one of the real U995s. Schleswig is the oldest city in the region and has a small museum that documents its earliest inhabitants, the Vikings.

Hanseatic charm in Lubeck

That Lubeck’s holy trinity of must-see sights--the cathedral, palace, and the Viking past--spread out across the wider region serves only to underscore that Schleswig is a city best appreciated in its own time. The town is known for its Gothic architecture, marzipan treats, gabled city houses and fascinating history, which relates to the days of German trade and the Hanseatic League. The catch is that Lubeck is grouped together in a single island on the southern tip of the long, thin Ratzeburger See.

Lubeck, the largest city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, was once a bustling trade port, and is one of Europe’s most preserved medieval cities. Older harbour towns include Lubeck, where part of the Old Town of the Middle Ages has been preserved. Certainly, Lubeck has as rich a story as any arc penned by the native son, Thomas Mann.

Although often overlooked in favour of the more well-known German cities, Lubeck is one of the most beautiful and charming places to visit in the north-most German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Once you have checked the cultural heavyweights Hamburg and Lubeck, then (and leaving out industrial port Kiel) the peninsula is pure vacationland. Cities like Flensburg, Husum, Schleswig, Kiel (the state capital), and even Lubeck, exude laid-back, small-town charm. Flensburg is the northernmost city in Germany, and because it is located so close to Denmark, it has a mixture of German and Danish cultures that is reflected in its architecture and cuisine.

Danish influence in Flensburg

Flensburg, the northernmost city in Germany, is right on the Danish border. Flensburg is home to Germanys national driver and vehicle registration, meaning all details about road offences are stored there. Germanys northernmost state is made up of historically significant trading centres, gorgeous sandy beaches, dramatic landscapes, islands, and charming cities -- making it an all-purpose destination.

The beaches and islands of Northern Germany are attracting spa and wellness enthusiasts, as well as water sports enthusiasts. You would not normally think Germany has any beaches, but Sylt, the tiny island off the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein, is known for its miles of unspoiled beaches. While this gorgeous island is located on Germanys west coast, Fehmarn Island is located on its eastern shore, in the Baltic Sea, halfway between Germany and Denmark.

Another island worth visiting is the red sandstone island of Helgoland, well out to sea.

Although exotic-sounding, Schleswig-Holstein is one of the least visited regions of Germany, it offers gorgeous rolling hills, medieval towns, isolated beaches, fishing villages, and reminders of the Viking past. Schleswig sits on the edge of marshland and a lakescape, making it an ideal starting point for both boating and cycling trips.

The Holsten Gate

If you are planning to make a photo-stop at Lubeck’s iconic Holsten Gate, you might as well take a detour into Lubeck’s historic centre for a museum of the city’s history -- to find out more about the iconic Gothic brickwork of Lubeck, for instance. This medieval castle-turned-renaissance-fortress-turned-baroque-castle is located on a tiny island that is now known as Schleswig Museum Island.

Considered to be one of the most important Renaissance palaces of Northern Germany, Glucksburg Palace looks back at several tumultuous chapters in European history, and during its times served as the residence for the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein, and Dania’s Kings, all of whom left their marks.

Do not miss the marzipan

Made of almond paste and sugar, and then shaped into loaves, fruits, pigs, or covered with chocolate, you will see marzipan everywhere around Lubeck. Be sure to sample some of the Lubeck Marzipan when in the city of Schleswig, because historically, this is the best...and for particularly hardcore enthusiasts, the Niederegger Marzipan Museum is an excellent place to find out more about this special treat.

In Germanys northernmost state, Schleswig-Holstein, Danish-German heritage is a product of centuries of territorial disputes, fluid borders, and miscegenation between the two nations--you might call Schleswig-Holstein southern Scandinavia. The Baltic Sea coast is one of the most-visited parts of Germany, but since most visitors are German, you feel like you are discovering Germanys best-kept secret. With your own transportation, you can spend an enjoyable week completing the loop from Lubeck, navigating through a string of tiny towns that straddle coasts and countryside; places such as cultured backwater Eutin, dropdown content amid the clumpy Moraine hills of Holsteinische Schweiz (Holsteins Switzerland), or former Viking stronghold Schleswig dropdown content, laid-back, enchanting, and home to a sensational art museum, which checks all the boxes.