Laboe Naval Memorial

The Laboe Naval Memorial (Marine-Ehrenmal Laboe) is a memorial to sailors of all nations lost at sea and, with its 72-meter (236-foot) brick tower, the landmark of the Kiel Fjord. From the viewing platform you look out over the Baltic Sea, the fjord and the seaside resort of Laboe, while a real World War II submarine, U 995, rests on the beach right in front. It is one of the most memorable things to do around Kiel and an easy half-day trip.

Where it is and how to get there

Laboe sits on the eastern shore of the Kiel Fjord in Schleswig-Holstein, a short trip north of Kiel, the state capital. Kiel itself is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Hamburg by regional train, covered by the Deutschlandticket. From Kiel Hauptbahnhof, local KVG buses reach Laboe in about 25 to 35 minutes. From mid-March through the summer, the nicer option is the SFK fjord ferry from the main station to the Laboe pier, a scenic ride of about one hour. Drivers follow the B 76 and B 502 to Brodersdorf and then the signs to Laboe; there is a parking lot at the memorial.

History of the memorial

The foundation stone was laid on August 8, 1927. The jury favored the expressionist design of architect Gustav August Munzer, which was built in simplified form. The tower itself went up in about 101 days and stood by 1929, but the economic crisis halted work, and the complex was not completed until 1936.

After World War II, the German Navy League (Deutscher Marinebund) received the site back from the Allies in 1954 and rededicated it to include the former enemies of both world wars. Since 1996 it has been a memorial to everyone lost at sea, regardless of nationality, and a reminder of the value of peaceful seafaring.

What to see

• Viewing platform: climb 341 steps or take one of two elevators to the parapet, 85 meters (279 feet) above the Baltic.
• Hall of Honor: holds a memorial book listing 63,686 German naval personnel missing in World War II, which visitors may consult.
• Historical Hall: exhibits on maritime and naval history, plus historic naval flags.
• U 995: a Type VII C submarine commissioned in 1943 at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, later used by the Norwegian Navy, and on display on the beach since 1972. Walking through its cramped interior is unforgettable; about 250,000 people do so each year.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, a combined ticket for the memorial and U 995 costs €14 for adults and €10 for ages 6 to 17; a family combo ticket is €38. Single tickets are €9 for the memorial and €8 for the submarine. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from April 1 to October 31 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 1 to March 31, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs. Allow about two hours.

A restoration of the tower, budgeted at about €5.6 million, began in fall 2025, and parts of the exhibition have been cleared, so expect scaffolding or closed sections and check before you go.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. The combination of a moving memorial, a walk-through U-boat and sweeping Baltic views is unique in Germany. Afterwards, relax on Laboe's flat, sandy beach, which slopes gently into the water and is good for kids, then take the ferry back to Kiel's waterfront.