Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [660]
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Regional artist Christian Wetzel’s four charming metal pig statuettes grace the Schweinsbrücke between the church and the museum.
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Activities
Fritz Reuter ( 05254-808 500; www.ms-fritz-reuter.de, in German) organises wreck dives along the Baltic coast.
The huge water park, Wonnemar ( 327 623; www.wonnemar.de, in German; Bürgermeister-Haupt-Strasse 38; day ticket adult/child/concession/family €10.50/9.50/8.50/31; 10am-9pm May-Sep, 10am-8pm Oct-Apr), has lots of fun water slides as well as pools, tennis, bowling, badminton, a wellness centre and four restaurants.
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Tours
BOAT TOURS
Clermont Reederei ( 224 646; www.reederei-clermont.de, in German) operates hour-long harbour cruises five times daily from May to September, leaving from the Alter Hafen (adult/child €8/4). It also runs boats to Poel Island up to four times daily (adult one-way/return €8/14, bicycle €2/3), which despite its close proximity to Wismar has the atmosphere of a remote fishing community.
Various other companies run tours on historic ships during summer; contact the harbour ( 389 082; www.alterhafenwismar.de, in German) for details.
MINIBUS TOURS
High-roofed minibuses (adult/child under 12yr €8.50/4.30; 10am-4.30pm) with panoramic glass windows circumnavigate the city’s sights over 40 minutes. The vans depart half-hourly from outside the tourist office, which sells tickets. Commentary is in German, but the tourist office can provide an English-language audioguide and leaflet (Click here).
WALKING TOURS
From Easter to October there are two-hour walking tours of the city (in German) leaving the tourist office at 10.30am (adult/concession €4/3) plus 2pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
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Festivals & Events
Annual events include Wismar’s Hafenfest (Harbour Festival) in mid-June, featuring old and new sailing ships and steamers, music and food, and a free street theatre festival in July/August. Wismar also holds a Schwedenfest on the third weekend of August, commemorating the end of Swedish rule in 1903.
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Sleeping
Private rooms starting from €20 are bookable through the tourist office.
DJH hostel ( 326 80; www.wismar.jugendherberge.de; Juri-Gagarin-Ring 30a; dm incl breakfast & linen under/over 26yr €20.50/25.10; ) Wismar’s hostel is in a pretty, old brick building 15 minutes’ walk west of town, not far from the Wonnemar. The Schwedenstein (Swedish Stone) next door is another reminder of Swedish hegemony.
Pension Chez Fasan ( 213 425; www.pension-chez-fasan.de, in German; Bademutterstrasse 20a; s without bathroom €21, s/d with bathroom €24/45, breakfast €5; ) The 25 simple but perfectly comfortable rooms in these three linked houses, just one block north of the Markt, are fantastic value. Call ahead to make sure someone’s around to let you in.
Hotel Reuterhaus ( 222 30; www.hotel-reuterhaus.de, in German; Am Markt 19; s €50-70, d €80-110 incl breakfast) Right on the Markt overlooking the Wasserkunst, this historic family-run establishment has modernised (if fairly prosaic) rooms and a good restaurant (mains €8 to €20).
Bio Hotel Reingard ( 284 972; www.reingard.de, in German; Weberstrasse 18; s €58-62, d €86-88 incl breakfast; ) Wismar’s most charming place to stay is this boutique hotel with its handful of artistic rooms, leafy little garden and gourmet bio (organic) restaurant (menus from €30 for two people; by arrangement). There’s even a small adjoining museum containing the owner’s 300,000-strong collection of buttons and vintage belt buckles.
Steigenberger Hotel Stadt Hamburg ( 2390; www.wismar.steigenberger.de; Am Markt 24; s €83-88, d €97-113; ) Abstract sculptures decorate the lobby, restaurant and wellness centre of Wismar’s swishest hotel. Rooms are fresh, streamlined