Minibus Hire Across Germany

Coaches at Kiel's Cruise Quays

Kiel is a Baltic cruise port about an hour from Hamburg Airport. Most coach work here is a transfer: ship to airport, ship to Hamburg, or a long day out.

Ostseekai, Ostuferhafen or Norwegenkai

Three quays take cruise ships. Ostseekai (berths 27 and 28) is the central one; Kiel Hauptbahnhof is 1.6 km away. Norwegenkai (berths 21 and 22) faces the station across the Hörnbrücke footbridge. Ostuferhafen sits across the Förde on its eastern shore, roughly 8 km from the centre.

Ostuferhafen to Ostseekai is about 9 km, some 16 minutes. Plan from the quay on the documents, not from the town centre. On the road, the 'Fähre' signs lead to the terminals.

Mercedes-Benz 59-seat coach, exterior
Mercedes-Benz 59-seat coach, exterior

No coach parking at the quays

Kiel publishes no coach parking at its cruise terminals. The city's tourism site sends coach companies to a commercial lorry and coach park in Edisonstraße (Wellsee business park, south Kiel), 9 km and a quarter of an hour from Ostseekai.

So the coach sets down, leaves and comes back. Agree the pickup time and the exact stopping place with the operator before the day, and allow for the drive in from Wellsee.

Ship to coach: what to plan

  • Kiel's cruise port serves the Hamburg region: Rathausmarkt in Hamburg is about 99 km by road from Ostseekai (about 1 h 15 min in light traffic).
  • Berlin is about 357 km by road from Ostseekai (about 3 h 45 min by car in light traffic; longer by coach), so a Berlin trip from Kiel is a long day.
  • Ostseekai is about 1.6 km from Kiel Hauptbahnhof, 10 to 15 minutes on foot; the 'Seegarten Ostseekai' stop is served by city buses 41, 42, 61 and 62.
  • The Ostuferhafen is far from the city centre: buses 11 and X60 run from the main station to the 'Grenzstraße' stop, and taxis wait at the main station.
  • Ostuferhafen to Ostseekai is about 9 km by road (about 16 min in light traffic).
  • By road, follow the signs 'Fähre' to reach the terminals.
  • Kiel Hauptbahnhof has direct regional trains (RE7 and RE70) to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.
  • Kiel's official tourism site directs bus companies to a commercial truck and bus park on Edisonstraße, in the Wellsee business park in the south of the city (about 9 km by road from Ostseekai, about 15 min), for parking while they wait; no coach parking is published at the terminals.
  • Lübeck is about 81 km by road from Ostseekai (about 1 h 10 min in light traffic).

Airports for this port

Distances that shape the day

Hamburg Airport is about 91 km away, around an hour in light traffic. Central Hamburg (Rathausmarkt) is 99 km, or about an hour and a quarter. Lübeck is about 81 km, around 1 h 10 min. These are car times. A loaded coach is slower, and the roads into Hamburg are busy at peak hours.

Berlin is about 357 km away: about 3 h 45 min by car, longer by coach. Under EU rules a driver drives at most 9 hours a day, extended to 10 on two days a week, and stops for 45 minutes after four and a half hours. Kiel to Berlin and back is a very long day, and the operator checks it against those limits before confirming.

Questions organisers ask

Is the train an option to Hamburg?

Yes. RE7 and RE70 run direct from Kiel Hauptbahnhof to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof. For a group with suitcases, a coach from the quay saves the walk to the station and the change in Hamburg.

How do passengers reach Ostuferhafen without a coach?

Buses 11 and X60 run from the main station to the 'Grenzstraße' stop, and taxis wait at the station.

What do you need to quote a Kiel transfer?

The quay, the date, the ship's arrival or sailing time, the number of passengers and cases, and the destination. For an airport run, add the flight times.

Cities

Vehicles with a driver