Travemünder Woche

137 Years of Sailing Tradition

The Travemünder Woche was founded in 1889, making it one of the oldest sailing regatta events in Europe. The venue is Travemünde, the district of Lübeck on the Baltic Sea, in the district of Hansestadt Lübeck in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Travemünde beach, the promenade, the Passat harbor with the historic four-masted barque Passat, and the mouth of the Trave into the Baltic Sea form a unique backdrop for this major maritime event.

World-Class Regattas on the Baltic Sea

The sporting heart of the Travemünder Woche are the international regattas on the Bay of Lübeck and the Trave. Olympic boat classes, international championships, class cups, and match race events – the week attracts the "Who is Who of international sailing." The Trave Races are a special invention: short, dramatically contested races directly in front of the beach promenade, with expert commentary for spectators on the shore.

Folk Festival and Amusement Mile

While the professionals battle it out on the water, a folk festival atmosphere prevails on the beach and promenade:

• Amusement mile with rides, market stalls, food stands
• Concerts on several stages along the promenade
• Gastronomy with Baltic Sea specialties, street food, cafés
• Volksbank Rotspon Cup – a show regatta where the Mayor of Lübeck competes against a challenger from politics or business
• Family Day on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, with children's programs and activities

Harbor Atmosphere and Passat

The historic four-masted barque Passat, Travemünde's landmark, is accessible during the week. The Passat harbor and the mouth of the Trave transform into a promenade with ships, historic yachts, and sailing clubs. For those who want to combine the Hanseatic flair with the Baltic Sea, this is authentic Travemünde – harbor, salt, and sport in one event.

A Festival with Identity

Unlike pure sailing regatta events or pure city festivals, the Travemünder Woche combines both worlds in a way that is almost unique in Germany (comparable only to the Kieler Woche in the state of Schleswig-Holstein itself). The international sailing elite meets hundreds of thousands of day-trippers – the combination of top-class sport and folk festival makes the week the social summer event of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck.