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Eckernförde Town Harbour lies at the very head of Eckernförde Bay on the Baltic coast of Schleswig-Holstein, between the old town, the spa beach and the Borby district. Here you'll find how to reach your starting point, where to park and shop, what weather to expect, which sailing destinations are nearby and what skippers should bear in mind regarding the bridge and the restricted areas in the bay.
The essentials at a glance
- Eckernförde is on the Kiel–Flensburg railway line. From Kiel Hauptbahnhof a train runs approximately every half-hour; the journey takes 26 to 31 minutes.
- The nearest major airport is Hamburg, around 95 kilometres as the crow flies. From there you travel via Kiel.
- Guest berths are available on the floating pontoons in the outer harbour. The old town, shops and beach are within walking distance from there.
- If you arrive by train from Flensburg, you change on foot at Lindaunis Schlei bridge. According to current plans, trains will run through again from August 2027.
Where is Eckernförde Town Harbour?
The town harbour is right in the centre at the inner end of Eckernförde Bay. It extends like a funnel from the bay inland; on the old town side runs the Schiffbrücke road with the old town and pedestrian zone behind it. To the south lies the beach promenade along the spa beach.
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More InformationA bridge with an opening section, the Holzbrücke, divides the town harbour into two parts. In the outer harbour are the floating pontoons with 137 berths for visitors and annual berth holders. In the inner harbour beyond the bridge there are around 130 additional berths, mainly for smaller boats belonging to annual berth holders; fishing boats and traditional sailing vessels also moor there at the quay wall. The harbour is accessible all year round.
Further berths are provided by Segelclub Eckernförde, which has its own harbour for around 300 boats and also offers guest berths. On the bay there is also the Eckernförde naval base with the 1st Submarine Squadron.
Getting to the trip start at Eckernförde city harbour
From Hamburg Airport to Eckernförde
The nearest major airport is Hamburg, roughly 95 kilometres south of Eckernförde as the crow flies. The easiest route is to travel to Kiel first: the Kielius airport bus runs daily from the airport via Neumünster to Kiel, up to 19 times a day.
By train, take the S1 S-Bahn line, which runs every ten minutes from the airport to Hamburg Central Station in around 25 minutes, and change there for a train to Kiel. From the airport to Kiel Central Station takes at least 1 hour 39 minutes. From Kiel, continue by regional train to Eckernförde.
By car, train or bus
By car from Kiel, take the B 76 towards Flensburg to Eckernförde. From Hamburg, take the A 7 towards Flensburg as far as the Rendsburg/Büdelsdorf exit, then the B 203 to Eckernförde.
Two train lines alternate between Kiel and Eckernförde: the RE72 regional express takes around 26 minutes from Kiel Central Station, the RB73 regional train around 31 minutes. Together they run roughly every half hour. From the station to the floating pontoons is around 800 metres as the crow flies – you walk it.
From Flensburg, the RE72 runs roughly hourly and currently takes around 1 hour 14 minutes. The reason is the rebuilding of the Lindaunis bridge over the Schlei: as things stand (October 2026), trains from both directions only run as far as the bridge. You walk across a temporary footbridge, around 350 metres, and board the connecting train on the other side. Between 10:00 and 18:00, the temporary bridge is closed every hour from 25 to 55 minutes past the hour because it opens for shipping. According to current plans, trains will run through there again from August 2027 onwards.
The city bus runs within Eckernförde itself. With a valid Ostseecard you travel free all year round. Regional buses link Eckernförde with Rendsburg among other places. Current timetables can be found on the Nahverkehrsverbund NAH.SH.
Parking
In the town centre there is a multi-storey car park on Noorstraße, which also has charging points for electric cars. At the station, parking at the Am Exer car park is limited to two hours maximum, so it's no use for the duration of a sailing trip.
Showers and sanitary facilities
Showers and toilets are available at the city harbour, plus a laundry. Dogs are not allowed in the washrooms.
Shopping for the trip
The pedestrianised shopping area begins right behind the Schiffbrücke. A REWE supermarket is on Sauersgang in the town centre.
Fresh fish can be bought at the harbour: there are still working fishermen there, and nearby you'll find a fish market and traditional smokehouses. The weekly market also takes place very close to the harbour.
Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services
The nearest hospital with an A&E department is the Schön Klinik Eckernförde at Schleswiger Straße 114.
- 112: Ambulance service, emergency doctor and fire brigade
- 110: Police
- 116 117: out-of-hours medical service
- 0800 00 22833: pharmacy emergency service, from mobiles 22 8 33
- At sea: Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) in Bremen on VHF channel 16 or by DSC on channel 70, call sign "Bremen Rescue", by telephone 24 hours on +49 421 53687-0
Eckernförde city harbour at a glance
The outer harbour is around 5 metres deep, the inner harbour around 3 metres. The floating pontoons in the outer harbour have electricity and water connections.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Position (approximate) | 54° 28,4′ N, 009° 50,5′ E |
| Address | Schiffbrücke, 24340 Eckernförde |
| Berths in outer harbour | 137 on floating pontoons, for visitor and permanent berths, electricity and water |
| Berths in inner harbour | around 130, mainly permanent berths for smaller boats |
| Water depth | Outer harbour around 5 m, inner harbour around 3 m |
| Bridge to inner harbour | Wooden bridge with opening section, passage width around 11.50 m, closed clearance around 3 m high |
| Operator | Floating pontoons in outer harbour: im-jaich; inner harbour and bridge: Harbour Operations of the Stadtwerke |
| Harbourmaster's office | Tel. 04351 720211 |
| Visitor berthing fees from 2027 | €18 per day up to 8 m, €22 up to 10 m, €26 up to 12 m, €2 for each additional metre |
Guest prices apply from 1 January 2027 and include VAT (as of October 2026). The full price list is on the town harbour page.
Near the harbour there is a fuel station, a crane, a slipway and a boat and engine workshop, as well as a playground and the beach.
What is the weather like in Eckernförde for sailing?
In the western Baltic Sea the wind usually comes from the west and south-west. In summer it blows more lightly on average and more frequently from the north-west; in autumn and winter it freshens more often and veers more strongly to south-west. For the coast the Deutscher Wetterdienst issues a wind warning from force 6 and a gale warning from force 8.
Tides play hardly any role. The wind is more significant: strong easterly winds can raise the water level in the town harbour by up to 1.5 metres. Strong south-westerly winds, on the other hand, lower it.
In late spring, when warm air moves over the still-cold water, sea fog forms and visibility can drop suddenly.
Which sailing destinations are near Eckernförde?
From Eckernförde Bay you can reach Kiel Bay in a few hours. Damp, the Schlei and Kiel Fjord are day passages; the Danish islands of Als and Ærø can be reached in a long day.
Distances are rounded nautical miles over water on the usual course from the town harbour; for precise planning, refer to the nautical chart.
- Damp: around 12 nm, past the north side of the bay
- Strande: around 14 nm, on the western shore of the Kiel outer fjord
- Laboe: around 16 nm, on the eastern shore of Kiel Fjord
- Schleimünde: around 17 nm, entrance to the Schlei
- Kiel-Holtenau: around 18 nm, at the mouth of the Kiel Canal
- Sønderborg on Als: around 35 nm
- Marstal on Ærø: around 34 nm
For a week's cruise, consider a circuit via Als and Ærø through the Danish island world, or a passage into the Schlei and on to Kiel. Read more about the harbour on the eastern shore of Kiel Fjord in the Laboe Marina, and about the canal entrance in the article on Tiessenkai in Kiel-Holtenau.
What can you do on a harbour day in Eckernförde?
The old town, beach promenade and most sights are close to the harbour. You don't need a car for a day off.
Old town and museum
Behind the harbour begins the old town with narrow streets, cafés and fish rolls from the cutters. Museum Eckernförde is housed in the historic town hall from the 15th century at Rathausmarkt. Among other things, it displays the history of fishing and smoking. Eckernförde is the home of Kieler Sprotten. Further destinations for a walk include the Siemsen grain silo, the round silo, the old lighthouse and a sweet factory.
Ostsee Info-Center at the beach
At the Seesteg on the beach, aquariums show life in the Baltic Sea from shallow to deep water. In a tunnel you walk virtually over the seabed of Eckernförde Bay; in the touch pool you may handle animals and plants. The centre is open daily and is a good choice for a rainy day.
Beach and promenade
Around four kilometres of sandy beach stretch along the town; the promenade begins right at the harbour. In bad weather, the seawater wave pool offers an alternative.
Windebyer Noor
West of the town centre lies the Windebyer Noor. A walk along the shore is a peaceful contrast to the bustle at the harbour.
For skippers: berthing and sea conditions in Eckernförde
As a visiting boat, you berth at the floating pontoons in the outer harbour of Eckernförde town harbour. You can reach the harbourmaster on 04351 720211.
Registration and Berthing
The floating pontoons have electricity and water connections. On arrival, you present your ship's papers to the harbour authority, as required by the harbour regulations. The harbour authority is staffed Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 9.30 and Saturday from 8 to 9; outside these hours you can reach the harbourmaster on mobile at 0170 8536944.
Bridge to inner harbour
To enter the inner harbour, the bridge must open. When closed it is only about 3 metres high; the passage is about 11.50 metres wide. Mondays to Fridays it opens free of charge after registration with the harbour authority:
- from 1 April to 30 September from 07:30 to 11:00 and from 15:30 to 19:00
- from 1 October to 31 March from 08:00 to 10:00 and from 15:00 to 16:00
Outside these times each opening costs €56.30 per vessel. To request a bridge opening, register with the harbour office on 04351 720211.
Harbour rules for visiting yachts
Night-time quiet hours apply in the harbour from 22:00 to 06:00. Dogs are allowed in the harbour as long as they do not disturb other guests.
Approach
A leading light guides you into the harbour by day and night. In the harbour area two green buoys mark the northern limit of the fairway; outside these it quickly becomes shallow. Stay in the channel. After persistent easterly winds the water level is noticeably higher than normal, and the clearance under the closed bridge becomes correspondingly lower.
Prohibited areas and torpedo firing range in the bay
In Eckernförde Bay lie the military prohibited areas Eckernförde-Nord and Eckernförde-Süd. You may not enter these areas with a boat. In addition there is the warning area Torpedoschießbahn Eckernförde-Süd, where anchoring and fishing are strictly prohibited. When firing takes place you must leave the area immediately. The signals are shown by patrol vessels and a signal mast at the torpedo firing station: by day three black shapes in a vertical line — two cones point down at the top, a ball below them — by night three lights in a vertical line, two white over one green. The exact boundaries are set out in the federal prohibited and warning areas regulation in its annex. Check them against the current chart before departure.
Which sea area forecast applies to Eckernförde?
The sea weather forecast of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) for the North Sea and Baltic Sea applies, together with the DWD coastal warnings for the section Flensburg to Fehmarn.
For Eckernförde and Kiel Bay the relevant sea area is Westliche Ostsee; for trips to Denmark also Belte und Sund. Read the current forecast on the DWD sea weather page or in the WarnWetter app; at sea you receive it via VHF coastal radio, NAVTEX and radio.
Trips from Eckernförde on Törnfinder
In October 2026, there are 11 sailing trips on Törnfinder in the next twelve months with departure or destination at Stadthafen Eckernförde. Most start in July, August and September, typically lasting 8 days.
All current offers are in the trip overview. An overview of the whole sailing area is on the Sailing in the Baltic Sea, trips to the islands of the Danish South Sea Islands can be found under cabin charter in Denmark.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Kiel Hauptbahnhof to Eckernförde?
By regional train in 26 to 31 minutes; RE72 and RB73 run together about every half-hour. From Eckernförde station it is about 800 metres as the crow flies on foot to the pontoons.
How do I get from Hamburg Airport to Eckernförde?
By the Kielius airport bus or by S-Bahn and train to Kiel, then onwards by regional train. By car drive via the A 7 to Rendsburg/Büdelsdorf and then via the B 203.
Where do I park at trip start in Eckernförde?
In the multi-storey car park on Noorstraße in the town centre. The car park at the station is limited to two hours.
Are there showers in Stadthafen Eckernförde?
Yes, showers and toilets are available at the harbour, plus a launderette.
When does the bridge to the inner harbour in Eckernförde open?
Mondays to Fridays in fixed time windows free of charge after registration, in summer from 07:30 to 11:00 and from 15:30 to 19:00. Outside these times an opening costs €56.30.
May I sail anywhere in Eckernförde Bay?
No, you may not enter the military prohibited areas Eckernförde-Nord and Eckernförde-Süd. You must leave the torpedo firing range Eckernförde-Süd as soon as firing signals are shown.
