Schwerin overtakes Rostock: rise in the city brand ranking in 2025!

Schwerin overtakes Rostock: rise in the city brand ranking in 2025!

The state capital Schwerin is causing excitement in the region: According to the Nordkurier, Schwerin has overtaken the Hanseatic city of Rostock in the Brandmeyer City Brand Monitor 2025. This means a rise to 20th place among the 49 largest cities in Germany and the state capital itself.

Schwerin was able to improve by four places compared to the 2020 survey, while Rostock rose one place in this ranking and is now in 21st place. Schwerin's rise is strongly linked to the efforts following the awarding of the UNESCO World Heritage title in the summer of 2024, which has noticeably boosted the city's marketing.

New marketing strategies and fresh design

A central point of the advertising measures is Schwerin's newly designed brand identity. Since the beginning of September, the city has been impressing with a uniform logo in a modern design to enhance the cityscape and attract more guests. The city council plans to further expand the marketing of the world heritage site, as the decision on new steps in this direction was only made at the end of September.

In the “I find it likeable all around” category, Schwerin ranks 14th among major German cities. This positive perception also seems to be reflected in the latest marketing strategies. The measures have already had an impact and should continue to help Schwerin make a name for itself in the state and beyond.

Rostock in comparison and top rankings nationwide

The city brand ranking is dominated by Hamburg, followed by Freiburg im Breisgau and Munich. Schwerin and Rostock form the midfield, while Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg take the last places. Such rankings are certainly important because they influence citizens' perception and pride in their city.

As the Dotzon studies show, the digital presence of cities is becoming increasingly important. The use of digital city brands contributes significantly to visibility and competitiveness. An optimal digital presence not only reflects the progress of a city, but also helps to strengthen dialogue with citizens. European metropolises in particular have established themselves as pioneers here.

In the context of digital city brands, Schwerin and Rostock can learn and grow, especially in terms of how they can use their digital identities to address and attract even more people. The challenge now will be to make sustainable use of the progress made and the newly gained awareness of your own brand.

And the question remains whether Schwerin will continue to climb or whether Rostock will hit back with new measures. The coming months certainly have exciting developments in store, and the two cities will not stand still in the competition for the best impression and the most attractive brand.