Greifswald: Closing shops – is the city in danger of becoming a ghost town?

Greifswald: Closing shops – is the city in danger of becoming a ghost town?

In the last few weeks, the Hanseatic city of Greifswald on the Baltic Sea has been making a name for itself - but not in a positive sense. The city is increasingly losing business and is increasingly perceived as a “ghost town” by its residents and visitors. Loud Mercury Recently, three businesses had to close, including a wine merchant that had offered fine wines for three years and a patisserie that only opened its doors at the end of 2023. The reasons are as varied as they are worrying: a lack of customer flow means that the time-honored cityscape is fading a little more.

What is particularly noticeable are the closures in areas that are of great interest to Baltic Sea holidaymakers, which puts the city under further pressure in the current season. Criticism on social media is growing; many users describe the city center as empty and uninviting. Travel comparisons with other cities show that Anklam and Stralsund are currently ahead: cheaper parking fees and a more lively city center make these places more attractive for tourists. In Greifswald, however, high parking fees deter many visitors.

Tourism despite setbacks

Despite these worrying developments, there were up to 310,000 overnight stays in Greifswald in 2024, which is a record. This pleasing figure is largely due to the anniversary year of the famous painter Caspar David Friedrich, which attracted many culture enthusiasts to the city. But the future looks uncertain: Greifswald Marketing GmbH expects tourism numbers to decline in 2025.

In a broader context, Schleswig-Holstein remains one of the most popular holiday regions in Germany, according to information from Baltic Sea Schleswig-Holstein emerges. In 2024, arrivals increased by 1.4% and overnight stays increased by 0.4%. The positive trend of recent years continues, although many believe Greifswald is falling behind in this regard, while Holstein Switzerland shines with an increase in overnight stays of 3.8%.

So what will become of Greifswald? It is clear that measures must be taken to make the city more attractive for tourists and locals again. The current developments are putting the community to the test and it remains to be seen whether Greifswald can regain its charming reputation as a lively holiday destination on the Baltic Sea.

For travelers who want to visit Greifswald, the city with its culture and art scene remains a worthwhile destination, as it already is Mirror mean, and offers many opportunities to enjoy the Baltic Sea sky above your head.