Editing Kiel (section)

===Main sights===
[[File:Geistkaempfer Barlach Kiel.jpg|thumb|left|''Geistkämpfer'' in front of the [[St. Nikolai, Kiel|Nikolaikirche]], by [[Ernst Barlach]]]]
The oldest building in the city is the 13th century ''[[St. Nikolai, Kiel|Church of St. Nicholas]]'', which has a sculpture by [[Ernst Barlach]] in front of it called ''Geistkämpfer''.

Kiel is [[Schleswig-Holstein]]'s largest city, and therefore Kiel's shopping district is a major attraction, and will see further improvement and renovation efforts in the upcoming years. Kiel's Holstenstraße (Holsten Street) is one of the longest shopping streets in Germany. The [[Seat of local government|Rathaus]] (Town Hall), which was built in 1911, has an operating [[paternoster lift]] and the design of its tower was based on one in [[Venice]]. The square in front of it is bordered by a lake and the [[Opernhaus Kiel]] (Kiel Opera House). There are also a number of lakes and parks in the city centre, such as Schrevenpark. There are two [[botanical garden]]s, the [[Old Botanical Garden, Kiel|Old Botanical Garden]] and the [[Botanischer Garten der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel]] (or New Botanical Garden).

As Kiel is situated near the sea, the beaches to the north of Kiel, such as [[Strande]], Kiel-[[Schilksee]], [[Möltenort]] and [[Laboe]], are also popular places to visit in spring and summer.

[[Kiel Week]], also known in English as the Kiel Regatta, is the largest sailing event in the world and takes place every year in the last full week in June. Many thousands of boats and ships of all kinds and eras take part in the parade. Kiel Week is also a festival, ''[[Volksfest]]'' and fair as well as a maritime event. There are a number of yachting and sailing clubs in picturesque settings.

Kiel also features a number of museums, including zoological, geological, historical, fine art, industrial and military museums. Notable is the Stadt- und Schifffahrtsmuseum Warleberger Hof (City and Maritime Museum), which belongs to the association ''[[Museen am Meer]]''. In addition to preserving architecture from the 16th century and historic rooms with painted stucco ceilings, it displays urban and cultural exhibits of the 19th and 20th centuries.<ref name="Stadtmuseum">[http://www.kiel.de/kultur/museen/stadtmuseum.php "Kieler Stadtmuseum Warleberger Hof"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826155847/http://www.kiel.de/kultur/museen/stadtmuseum.php |date=2009-08-26 }}, City of Kiel webpage, in German</ref> Particularly intriguing is the history of the carnival in Kiel.<ref name="Stadtmuseum"/> 

The [[Kiel Maritime Museum|Schifffahrtsmuseum]] is in the former fish market building in the harbour.<ref name="j672">{{cite web | title=Kieler Schifffahrtsmuseum Fischhalle | website=Geschichte & Konzept | url=https://www.kiel.de/de/kultur_freizeit/museum/_schifffahrtsmuseum_fischhalle_geschichte_und_konzept.php | language=de | access-date=2025-02-06}}</ref>

Laboe is home to the [[Laboe Naval Memorial]] and the [[Second World War]] submarine {{GS|U-995||2}}, which are both popular tourist sites.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

<gallery>
File:Willy Lucas - Die Holstenstraße in Kiel 1917.jpg|Holstenstraße Kiel 1917, by [[Willy Lucas]]
File:Ubena von Bremen Kiel2007.jpg|Historic ships at [[Kiel Week]]
File:Alter Botanischer Garten Kiel Pavillon.jpg|Old Botanical Garden, Kiel
File:U995 Laboe.jpg|U995 Laboe
File:Warleberger Hof Wappen Kiel2008.jpg|Warleberger Hof
File:Kiel Holtenau Leuchtturm.jpg|Lighthouse in Kiel-Holtenau
File:Opernhaus Kiel msu2017-9209.jpg|Opera House
File:Kiel Wasserturm.jpg|Water tower in Kiel-Ravensberg
</gallery>