Schönberger Strand: Coast and Museum Railway

Schönberger Strand brings together several themes for holiday planning: the fine sandy Baltic coast, maritime activities and the history of the museum railways. Depending on whether you focus more on the beach, coastal cycling or railway and engineering history, different aspects of the destination come to the fore.

Beach and waterfront

The fine sandy beach section in the Schönberger Strand district is subject to a spa tax and is freely accessible at all times. Free access and the spa tax apply alongside one another; access does not waive the tax. You can rent beach chairs on the beach and on the dyke from the Tourist Service Ostseebad Schönberg between May and September. The season applies to beach chair rentals, not access to the beach section.

The waterfront also features a water sports school, the 260-metre-long Schönberg Pier and a bathing island with a slide between groynes 37 and 38. Excursion trips around the Kiel Lighthouse depart from the pier. The facilities therefore differ in character: the pier is a permanent landmark on the water and a departure point for trips, while the bathing island adds a slide to the waterfront offerings.

Coastal cycle route

Along this coastal section of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route, the route from Kalifornien via Brasilien to Schönberger Strand runs directly along the beach between dunes and the dyke. If you plan to ride this stretch, check the conditions locally.

Museum railway and station

The museum railway between Schönberger Strand and Schönberg (Holstein) is the extension of the Kiel–Schönberg light railway, which opened on 18 June 1914; the light railway had already been in operation since 1897. Thus, 1914 refers to the extension to Schönberger Strand, not to the start of the entire light railway.

The Schönberger Strand museum station building was constructed in 1914 to a design by architect Fr. Theede. The interior has largely been preserved in its original form, especially the ticket hall with its ticket window. The building’s construction therefore falls in the same year as the extension’s opening; the preserved interior layout adds an architectural feature to the history of the line.

The Schönberger Strand museum railways include a collection of more than 30 tram vehicles from northern Germany. The museum tram at the station runs on its own tracks and is available for passengers to ride. The collection and the ride appeal to different interests: you can explore the vehicles or take a ride on the museum tram. Check seasonal departure times before travelling.

Nawimenta at the museum station

At the museum station, Nawimenta offers eleven hands-on science stations for children aged five and up; this age information is a useful point of reference when planning a trip with children.

Planning with dates and times

It is useful to distinguish clearly between the time periods: May to September applies to beach chair rentals, while you should check the museum tram’s seasonal departures before planning a ride. The years 1897 and 1914, by contrast, provide historical context for the light railway and are not relevant to planning a current departure.

Discover more destinations: Wisch, Barsbek, Passade, Lutterbek, Krummbek, Bendfeld, Pülsen, Laboe.

Go to the main travel overview: Probstei.