This is my cute "Souterrain" or basement apartment in a stunning Gründerzeit/Wilhelminian style villa, located in the most beautiful part of Kiel.
The space
The apartment is technically in the basement although on the same level with the garden and flooded with light.
There is one double bedroom, one study/office with a comfortable double sofa bed and a living room. And, of course, a kitchen and a bathroom.
Guest access
The apartment is not accessible to wheelchair users unfortunately due to 5 steps leading down to the souterrain part of the building.
You will have access to the whole apartment and also the garden (which is shared with some of the other flats in the building).
Notes
Please note that you have to walk through the study to get to the main bedroom. Make sure you're all comfortable with each other!
There's a tennis court just across the street, it's not part of the property but if you're a keen tennis player this might be interesting.
A bit randomly, there is a hair salon located right next to my apartment but it is by appointment only and the owner only opens it twice a week.
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Weekend
Adventure
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Relaxing
City
Beach
Water
Cycling
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets welcome
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Dog free
Carpet free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
Click on availability periods to see exchange types and descriptions.
Neighbourhood
Düsternbrook, the area my home is in, is probably one of the most beautiful and popular areas of Kiel. This is not only due to the immediate proximity to the Kiel Fjord and the many green and forest areas, but also to the incredibly beautiful villas that are lined up here.
Within walking distance you can reach Kiel's waterfront, the "Kiellinie". Whether it's beautiful sunshine or turbulent water in stormy weather, there's always something to see right on the fjord with a view of sailing boats, ferries and cruise ships. The promenade leads past boathouses, yacht clubs, the Olympic harbor, bathing areas, restaurants and cafés as well as the state parliament and the water police to the naval base.
The ferry boats to the "Ostufer" (=East Coast) depart from there too which is always a great adventure. You can catch great sunsets from over there.
Walking into the opposite direction, a very special corner that invites you to browse and shop is the "Holtenauer Straße". Here you'll find souvenir shops, fashion retail, bakeries and market shops, as well as cafés and restaurants. The resulting colorful hustle and bustle invites you to take a stroll through the street. If you need a break in between, you will always find an opportunity to spend it with a proper curry wurst, a fresh coffee or a delicious piece of cake.
You're asking, is Kiel worth a visit? It depends, is the answer.
The geographical location of the city is very nice. Kiel is right on the Baltic Sea and takes full advantage of its coastal location. On the one hand with beautiful promenades, e.g. the Kiellinie or the Hörn, on the other hand with beaches, e.g. in Falckenstein (how many big German cities actually have their own bathing beach?).
As soon as you arrive in Kiel, you will be greeted by a modern and at the same time historic train station, which is located directly on the water. Especially in summer, there are numerous beautiful squares and parks (Schrevenpark, Kleiner Kiel, Schlossgarten, Reventlouwiese, Krusenkoppel, Blücherplatz, old and new Botanical Garden, Werftpark) and of course some sights (Historic City Hall with Venetian Tower, Landtag, Nikolaikirche, Kloster, Geomar, Olympiahafen, Petrusviertel, Gorch Fock, Kiel Canal).
Another of Kiel's great strengths is its surrounding countryside. Various places with beaches and sights can be reached in a few minutes. Laboe with its naval memorial, Eckernförde and Plön are just a few examples.
Culturally, Kiel is mainly characterized by the university culture. The CAU Kiel has almost 30,000 students, which is very impressive for a city with about 250,000 inhabitants. Accordingly, Kiel has various museums (Kunsthalle, Botanical Garden, Geomar), theaters (Opera, Schauspielhaus), cinemas (Metro, Studio), cultural centers (Räucherei, Alte Meierei, Pumpe, hansa48), and clubs (Luna, MAX, BenBriggs, etc.) aimed at young people (including concerts, etc.). In addition, there is of course the Kieler Woche in June, the "biggest Volksfest in Northern Europe". In terms of sports, in addition to sailing, a visit to a game of THW Kiel (one of the best handball teams in Europe!) or Holstein Kiel (after all, now First Bundesliga!) are recommended.
It is absolutely true that Kiel has only a few historic buildings due to the heavy destruction in WWII and if you are absolutely looking for a city with a classic old town, Kiel is not the best address, but that does not mean that Kiel is not a beautiful city. It's just a bit different.
In my humble but bold view, Kiel is one of the best cities in the world.
Getting to my home
The nearest airport is Hamburg. From there it's less than one hours' drive to my home. You can also catch the airport bus "Kielius". If you get here by train, Kiel central station is your stop.
If you arrive by car, on street parking is free but it can be tricky to find a spot, especially later in the day.
Nearest airport
The nearest airport is Hamburg. From there it's less than one hours' drive to my home. You can also catch the airport bus "Kielius" wich will cost you around 23€ one way, cash payment only on the bus, or buy online beforehand: https://kielius-onlinebuchung.de/
Getting around
Kiel is not very big so you can walk almost everywhere. Relentless roadworks make driving not the most fun.
There are also many things to hire such as bikes (30 minutes for free), scooters, etc., we also have Uber.
This member has not yet received any home feedback.
Sara was a lovely guest! We actually stayed on the island during her visit so we were lucky enough to welcome and farewell her in person! We really enjoyed meeting & chatting with her as we got along right away. Overall the exchange communication had been great too and we are happy to hear that she enjoyed her Binissalem stay!
I am so happy to have had the chance to host Sara's first visit to Israel. Sara was easy to communicate with and treated my home like her own. Thanks for watering my plants Sara!
It was a pleasure to host Sara in our home. Communication was clear and easy throughout the exchange. We regret that we did not get to meet Sara. We have not been back to our home since her checkout, but we have every confidence she left things in good order.
Nadine and Frank have a beautiful home with lots of thoughtful decor throughout the place. It is their primary home but it really felt like a comfortable holiday home, in a very good way. The guest room has an en suite as well as plenty of space for your clothes in the wardrobe. They also provided me with beach towels, shower essentials and suncream! The guest room faces the street and because it's right in the centre it can get a little noisy outside - if you're a light sleeper like me best to bring some earplugs.
Binissalem is a pretty and quaint town with lots of lovely restaurants and shops. You'll feel like you're actually in Spain rather than the tourist traps along the coast. The central location on the island is convenient as you are within day trip distance of the whole island.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Nadine and Frank as well as their daughter in person when they welcomed me to their home. They are a lovely and friendly bunch of people whom I could imagine being friends with in another life.
Thank you for a wonderful stay!
I had a truly wonderful stay at Lior's amazing apartment. The location is fantastic, many shops and restaurants right on the doorstep and the beach is just a short walk away too. The apartment has everything you need and was decorated 100% to my taste. I instantly felt at home when I arrived. I could not have asked for a better base during my time in Israel and highly recommend to everyone considering it.
Member elected not to leave feedback for this exchange.
Irene and family were wonderful guests. While we never got to meet, communication was spot on, and they even dealt with a leak in my roof that occured during torrential rain pour (or classic Scottish weather). I have not been back to my home yet but I have no doubt that everything was left in a great state.
Highly recommend exchanging with Irene.
Gwen and her family were great guests and left the place tidy. They even washed the sheets and towels which was greatly appreciated. I also enjoyed the home made chocolate they left me.
Kristin and her family stayed with me for a non reciprocal exchange (although I think their home also looks fabulous!). Communication was always spot on and concise.
The flat was left in a great state. Highly recommended as exchange partners!
Lovely home with private garden and swimming pool (however do note that the pool maintenance guys turn up unannounced on a Friday morning). The house has everything that you need and more. Judith and Tim were super responsive and helpful during my stay.
Recommend use of car as beach is quite far away.
Beware that there are some barking dogs nearby which would affect a light sleeper.
Bianca and Eli left my home spotless and I wonder if they have even stayed at all!!
Would definitely welcome both back at any point.
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