Stralsund is an old Hanseatic town on Germany's Baltic coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back more than 750 years. It sits on the Strelasund strait, connected to Rügen — Germany's largest island — by a bridge, making it an ideal base for exploring both the island and the surrounding coastline. It is also the departure point for ferries to Hiddensee, the beautiful car-free island to the west.
The most beautiful view of the old town is from the harbour. The skyline of the Town Hall and the red-brick Gothic churches — St. Nikolai, St. Marien — is striking, and the harbour is still the best starting point for a walk through the Alter Markt and the old town. The Ozeaneum, a modern aquarium on the harbour, is one of the best in northern Germany. The German Maritime Museum, housed in a beautiful Gothic monastery, is the most visited museum in the state.