Schleswig-Holstein's winter tourism is booming: overnight stays on record!

Schleswig-Holstein's winter tourism is booming: overnight stays on record!

Schleswig-Holstein is also very popular with tourists in winter. The coastal region attracts numerous visitors and sends the number of overnight stays on a positive journey. Last year, almost one in seven vacations took place between November and February. December in particular has established itself as a small high season, especially due to the festive Christmas markets in cities such as Kiel and Lübeck, which primarily attract day-trippers.
Economics Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU) was able to present encouraging figures and explained that the number of overnight stays regularly increases in the winter months. Overnight stays in Schleswig-Holstein rose to almost 5.8 million in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 15.5 percent compared to 2022. This development cannot be overlooked, especially since sterilization in these months is above pre-pandemic levels.

Winter togetherness in December

In December 2023, 465,000 guests arrived in larger accommodation facilities and campsites in Schleswig-Holstein, which corresponds to an increase of 12.6 percent compared to the previous year. Over the entire December period, accommodation providers recorded a total of 1,529,000 overnight stays, which represents an increase of 8.6 percent. These figures make it clear that the north has become an attractive destination for winter vacationers who travel not only because of the beautiful coasts, but also the diverse indoor offerings such as thermal baths and museums. The number of visitors is increasing significantly and the number of open accommodations also reflects this: 2,812 accommodation facilities with 225,000 guest beds were available.
Increased demand in the off-season is particularly encouraged by city tourism, cultural events and conferences, as shown in the current report by Statistik-Nord.

Diversity for visitors

The popular winter destinations in Schleswig-Holstein include the North Frisian islands of Sylt and Föhr as well as St. Peter-Ording on the North Sea and Lübeck on the Baltic Sea coast. The colorful mix of beach hikes, cultural events and relaxation in classic thermal baths appeals to a wide audience. In addition, winter interest is shifting significantly towards weather-independent offers, which is stabilizing sales in the region.
The goal is clear: the even distribution of the number of guests throughout the year should mitigate seasonal peaks and slumps, which is an advantage for all players in the tourism sector, as the Borkener Zeitung highlights in its report.

Overall, Schleswig-Holstein is an up-and-coming destination for winter tourism. With a good hand in planning and promotion, the region could continue to benefit from the seasonal rush in the future and do profitable business even in winter.