Greifswald in Germany is a charming and beautiful city, full of sights and Swedish history. We arrived in the city by sailboat, strolled along the river Ryck, had dinner at a fish restaurant in a boat and went on a guided city walk among all the beautiful historical buildings.
Table of contents
Greifswald in Germany
Greifswald is a city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, located on the Baltic Sea coast. Around 60 000 people live in the city today, many of whom work either at the university or in the city's large shipyards. We came here with sailing boat from Krummin - a sailing trip with strong winds! We travelled along the river Ryck all the way up to the Greifswald Maritime Museum in Dänische Wiek, a bay in the shallow Greifswalder Bodden.
Swedish history in Greifswald
Greifswald belonged to Sweden, as part of Swedish Pomerania, from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 until 1815, when Prussia took over the area for a large sum of money. In other words, there is a lot of Swedish history here.

Square in Greifswald
The town square is charming with several beautiful and historic buildings. These include the red town hall and some buildings with impressive brick facades.



Churches in Greifswald
Today Greifswald is home to around 60 000 people, but in the Middle Ages there were probably only around 3000 inhabitants. Nevertheless, three large churches were built for the population. In the city, you can still see the 13th century St Mary's Church, the 14th century Church of St Nicolai and the Church of St Joseph. The churches were originally Catholic and still retain their Catholic names, although they became Protestant during the Reformation.


Pomeranian National Museum
Greifswald is home to the Pommersches Landesmuseum. This museum tells about the entire historical region of Pomerania. Unfortunately, we did not have time to look in here, but our guide thought that the museum is well worth a visit.

University of Greifswald
Greifswald is a university town with around 10 000 students. You can study medicine, for example, but also humanities and languages. For example, you can study Swedish, Danish ... and even Faroese!

More attractions in Greifswald
Walking around the city, you will see many beautiful houses and decorative facades from different periods of history. The beautiful red facade in the picture below is located on a street that is otherwise considered "Scandinavian design".


Guided city walk in Greifswald
If you have time and opportunity, it is interesting to go on a guided city walk. We walked around with a knowledgeable guide who, among other things, told us a lot about the period when Greifswald belonged to Sweden. If you do not go with a guide, there are also several information signs around the city, and on several of these the information is also in Swedish.

The harbour on the river Ryck
You should also go down to the river Ryck, which runs through the city and is connected to the Baltic Sea. There are lots of beautiful old wooden boats of all kinds, as well as several boat restaurants and places where you can buy "fischbrötchen", i.e. bread with herring or salmon.

Fish restaurant on a boat
We had dinner in one of the boat restaurants, called the Pomerania and as you can see in the picture below. We got a round table at the back of the boat, fantastically cosy! Also good service and good food, so we can recommend this place. The restaurant mainly serves fish, but also has some other dishes on the menu. We chose cod and pike perch and were very satisfied.




Cosy Greifswald in Germany
All in all, Greifswald is a very nice and charming little town. If you come by boat, there is a central guest harbour with a modern service house, and if you come by motorhome, there is a central parking area along the river (Marienstrasse 10) and a campsite a little further away (Dänischen Wiek). We highly recommend a visit to this small, cosy town!


Video from the trip

Travelling by motorhome in Germany - all you need to know
What is it like travelling by motorhome in Germany? We have travelled many times by motorhome...
Regenstein Castle in Blankenburg - and sandstone caves
Regenstein Castle in Blankenburg is a historic ruined castle in the German Harz region. Here you can...
Things to do in Bayreuth, Bavaria - our top 11 tips
What to see and do in Bayreuth, Bavaria? This beautiful and special German city...
Facts about Germany - 30 things you (might) not have known
Facts about Germany and Germany is the second largest country in Europe with 82 per cent of the...
From Kiel to Gothenburg - best ferry between Sweden and Germany
Then it was time to take the ferry from Kiel to Gothenburg, after two months of motorhome travelling in...
Things to do in Magdeburg - 12 tips for the Ottostadt in Germany
What to do in Magdeburg, Germany? This city, sometimes referred to as the 'Ottostadt', has a...
Miniatur Wunderland - the largest model railway in the world
Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg showcases the world's largest model railway. Prepare yourself for floor after floor of...
Castle Favorite in Rastatt - exclusive German summer palace
Castle Favorite in Rastatt is an exclusive 18th century summer palace in western Germany. Also...
Bauhaus 100 years - the story of a German design school
Bauhaus is 100 years old this year, but it's not the DIY store's birthday. No, we...
Ingolstadt, Germany - a visit to a Swedish blogger
Ingolstadt is a city in the state of Bavaria in Germany. We travelled here to meet Linnea,...
The boat lift in Niederfinow - with a lifting height of 36 metres
The boat lift in Niederfinow in the German Oder-Havel Canal is a fascinating piece of lifting equipment, which lifts boats as much as 36...
Nude baths in Germany - Friedrichsbad in Baden Baden
Nude swimming in Germany? Yes, why not? Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden is a traditional bath with a long history of...
Sailing in Germany - from Krummin to Greifswald
Sailing in Germany can be anything from soaking up the sun on deck to...
Passion play in Oberammergau - tradition from 1633
The Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, is a five-hour long and powerful dramatisation of Jesus' suffering,...
Residence in Würzburg - stunning German baroque palace
The Residence in Würzburg is a stunning baroque palace, and is considered one of the finest examples of...
Things to do in Dresden - 18 sights and experiences
What to do in Dresden, Germany? This historic city offers magnificent sights in the centre of...
Trier in the Moselle Valley - Germany's oldest city
Trier is Germany's oldest city, located in the Moselle Valley (Rhineland-Palatinate), near the border with Luxembourg. This...
Things to do in Baden-Baden - 16 tips for an ancient German spa town
What to do in Baden-Baden, Germany? This town is an ancient and beautiful spa...
Rastatt Castle in Germany - 18th century baroque castle
Rastatt Castle is a mighty German baroque castle from the early 18th century. Once upon a time it was built...
German food - 25 German dishes and delicacies
German food - what is it really? We list 25 German dishes and delicacies, and tell you...
Germany welcomes motorhomes (and Sweden imposes a ban)
During this trip we spent almost two months in Germany with our motorhome. As...
Bastei in Saxon Switzerland - dramatic nature in Germany
Writer: Helena Bergström Bastei in Saxon Switzerland is a stunning mountainous area in Germany with a beautiful...
Saxon Switzerland - day trip from the Czech Republic to Germany
Saxon Switzerland is a mountainous area and national park in Germany with stunning and dramatic scenery. The natural area...
6 picturesque towns in Germany - along holiday routes
If you like picturesque cities, Germany is the place for you. In Germany there are plenty of...
Oranienburg, Germany - and Oranienburg Castle
We have travelled by motorhome to Oranienburg and Oranienburg Castle, just north of Berlin. Here...
Bad Segeberg - Karl May Spiele and bat cave
Bad Segeberg inland, where we travelled to visit the "Karl May Spiele" ...
Eagle's Nest - Hitler's 50th birthday present among the mountains
We have visited the Eagle's Nest, or Kehlsteinhaus as the house is actually called in German. This extremely high...
Active holiday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - 8 things to do
Did you know that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, located on the German Baltic Sea coast, offers plenty of opportunities for...
Camping and Moselle wines in Traben-Trarbach, Germany
Traben-Trarbach in Germany's Moselle Valley is beautiful and has world-famous Moselle wines. This is a cosy...
Things to do in Dessau - 14 tips for the Bauhaus city
What to do in Dessau, Germany? Dessau is best known for the Bauhaus (and...

Ama de casa says:
But what a beautiful and cosy city! The buildings are just soooo delicious!
Sweden should have kept that city! 😉 😀
15 August 2019 - 10:02
Helena says:
Really super cosy! Yes, haha, but lucky that you can visit even if it's no longer part of Sweden 😉.
15 August 2019 - 11:21
Anna / boihusbil.se says:
Maybe a visit there when we pass by! So far only come to Denmark 🙂
17 August 2019 - 21:01
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
How many city gems are there along the Baltic Sea coast?
Greifswald seems to be one of the most cosy! ?
15 August 2019 - 10:20
Helena says:
Right? We really liked Greifswald, very nice!
15 August 2019 - 11:25
Lena in Wales says:
Nice city and interesting history. This whole part of Germany is full of Swedish history, which is interesting.
It has been several years since I was last there.
Nice to have a walk through the city again, a lot of familiarity.
15 August 2019 - 13:12
BP says:
A very nice little town (by German standards that is). The buildings are very beautiful and extremely well maintained. A bit surprising that a city with only 60,000 inhabitants has 10,000 students. Impressive.
15 August 2019 - 21:07
Daniela | Discovering The Planet says:
Love the colours and the houses :). Germany is really underrated.
17 August 2019 - 20:19
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
Oh what a cute city with nice houses. It's also nice that it once belonged to Sweden.
15 August 2019 - 21:44
Lena - good for the soul says:
Well, yes, but the houses to the left of the red one actually look like they could belong in Scandinavia. It seems to be a charming little town there.
Hug Lena
16 August 2019 - 9:51