Warnemünde (Rostock)

Warnemünde is a seaside resort at the mouth of the Warnow River, about 15 kilometres from the city of Rostock. The lighthouse and the wide, sandy beach are the first things you see from the ship. The Alte Strom, an old canal lined with fishing boats and restaurants, runs through the centre of the village. Smoked fish, bought directly from the boats and eaten on a bench by the water, is the local tradition. Rostock, reachable by S-Bahn in about 20 minutes, has a large Gothic brick church (St. Mary's) and a university dating from 1419. Berlin is about three hours by train, and organised day trips run from the port. The beach in Warnemünde is wide and sandy, and in summer it fills up with Strandkörbe, the hooded wicker beach chairs typical of the German Baltic coast. German is the language. The euro is the currency.