Leisure Time

Rostock offers many opportunities to enjoy your free time. In addition to the obvious location factors of beach and sea, there is a great variety of cultural and sporting activities on offer. We would like to give you a little insight and inspiration here.

Activities in the periphery of the University of Rostock and Rostock University of Music and Drama

In the periphery of the University of Rostock and Rostock University of Music and Drama (Hochschule für Musik und Theater; hmt for short) there are various groups who pursue common interests. The institutions themselves also offer events worth seeing and hearing and promote art, culture and sport with various offers.

 

Hochschulsport

Hochschulsport

The “Hochschulsport” is used by universities to promote sport in their area. Members of the University of Rostock, Rostock University of Music and Drama and the Hochschule Wismar have a wide sports variety available to them, both during semester periods and also when there are no lectures.

Registration is online and starts approximately 3 weeks before the start of the semester or the start of the lecture-free period. The courses on offer will be published approximately one week earlier on the Hochschulsport website.

Our tip:
Experience shows that certain courses are very popular and are often fully booked within a few minutes. Decide on your desired courses before the start of registration, update the selection of courses on screen at the start of registration and have the following information to hand for signing up:

  • your address
  • your email address
  • your matriculation number (as a student), or your office telephone number (as an employee).

You will receive a confirmation email after making a successful booking. You will then need to transfer the course fee within a couple of days.
Waiting lists are created for fully-booked sport courses. This means it may still be possible to join the course should spaces become vacant.

Note:
You should not confuse Hochschulsport with the Hochschulsportgemeinschaft Universität Rostock e.V. (HSG) . From 1949 to 1990, it was the sports association for the university, responsible for organising sports activities for members of the  university. These days, the HSG Uni Rostock is a separate association.  Due to the historical relationship, among other things, many members of the university are still active in the club and take part in the wide range of sports on offer. There is also cooperation with the Hochschulsport.

Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock

Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock

The Rostock University of Music and Drama (Hochschule für Musik und Theater; hmt for short) is one of 24 music universities in Germany. Around 500 students are trained here in music, drama and theatre. In over 300 performances per year, the students and teachers present their work to the critical public. For an overview of events and information on purchasing tickets, please click on the following link:

Our tips:

  • The hmt is housed in a listed former monastery complex. The building and the atmosphere there are worth a visit alone.
     
  • During the semester, students from the hmt Student Council (Stura) organise the Kulturcafé (Culture Cafe) – generally every last Thursday in the month in the hmt canteen at 8 p.m. There are drinks and an Open Stage. Everyone is invited to present something or join in the fun.

Collections and Art Treasures at the University of Rostock

The University of Rostock has various scientific collections, some of which are open to the public, some which need prior registration for viewing. The collections portal provides an overview of the collections, and relevant information:

Kulturticket

The Kulturticket allows Rostock students to visit cultural institutions and their events free of charge by presenting their student ID.

Studentenct Clubs

Rostock's nightlife is characterised by various clubs, some of which have their origins in the university. Two of them are still located on the grounds and in buildings of the university. A selection:

Kabarett ROhrSTOCK e.V.

The cabaret was founded in 1970 by members of the University of Rostock and, even today, has not lost its student flair. It invites you both to try and participate as well as being part of the audience during public performances.

Culture Workshop of the Studierendenwerk

The cultural workshop is a service offered by the Studierendenwerk in which you can try out your creative skills under professional guidance. The offer includes, for example:

  • creating, glazing and firing of ceramics,
  • learning how to draw faces and people properly,
  • becoming familiar with creative problems and learning to apply techniques,
  • portrait drawing, experimental work, portfolio training, professional guidance in nature studies

Further information is available under Culture on the Studierendenwerk webpage:

Lokale ERASMUS Initiative Rostock e. V.

The Local ERASMUS Initiative (LEI) is a group of students with experience abroad who support international students in Rostock. It works closely with the Rostock International House (RIH) and thus also with the International Welcome Center. The target group is especially the guest students, i.e. those who come to Rostock for one or two semesters. However, all interested parties are welcome to attend many of the events, such as the weekly get-together ("Stammtisch") during the semester.

Music

There are various music groups in the environment of the University and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater (hmt). On this page you will find an overview:

Activities and Excursions in Rostock

The Tourist Centre Rostock and Warnemünde provides a very good overview of the wide range of leisure activities in Rostock on its website. On locations in Rostock’s city centre and in Warnemünde, staff provide information and advice on site, give tips and, if necessary, assist with booking the events on offer.

Highlights in the Rostock Events Calendar are

A good overview of the sights and leisure options is also provided by the website

We would also like to give you a small selection of leisure activities and excursion destinations in Rostock with the following compilation:

Sport

On the page of the Stadtsportbund (city sports association) you will find an overview of all Sport Clubs in Rostock.

On the page of the Tourist Centre you will find a variety of bookable sports offers in the category Activities - Sports & Games - to watch or become active yourself.

Swimming

In addition to the Baltic Sea and rivers and lakes in the vicinity, Rostock has three swimming pools:

Running

  • The company PRO EVENT organises public running events in Rostock. One of the largest events is the Rostock City Run, which generally takes place in May. Here you can see an overview of all running events.
     
  • Over the last weekend in July, or the first weekend in August, the "hella night marathon" takes place over varying distances.

Watch sport

Peter-Weiss-Haus

The Peter-Weiss-Haus is an educational and cultural institution in the Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt (KTV). It is home to various associations and offers spaces for cultural, social, political and educational work for different age and interest groups. The diversity of the institution is reflected in numerous events in the Peter-Weiss-Haus. With the Café Marat (from autumn to spring) and the Freigarten (in summer), there are two gastronomic facilities that also invite people to come together and linger with their special atmosphere and occasional events.

Volkstheater

The city of Rostock has its own theatre, the Volkstheater. The main venue is in Doberaner Strasse 134/135 in the district of Kröpeliner-Tor-Vorstadt (KTV). In addition, there are other, smaller venues such as the Kleine Komödie in Warnemünde.
The Volkstheater offers a changing programme of plays, dance, theatre, and music for different target and age groups.

Literaturhaus Rostock e. V.

The Literaturhaus Rostock endeavours to revive Rostock's literary landscape. It organises various events and offers a forum for all literature enthusiasts.

Kulturhafen Rostock

Going by the name “Kulturhafen Rostock”, the organisations located in the city harbour area, the Circus Fantasia, M.A.U. Club and Compagnie de Comédie, have joined forces to arrange a wide-ranging cultural programme during summer.

Kunsthalle Rostock

The Kunsthalle Rostock accommodates the largest exhibition of contemporary art in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The exhibitions, featuring works by national and international artists, change on a regular basis. Emphasis is placed on young artists and works from the Scandinavian and Baltic regions.

Our tip:
In March, under the heading of “Rostock Kreativ”, the gallery exhibits works by amateur artists from the region (Example 2019). Entry is free and everyone is invited to submit their own work. Drop by and join in!

Rostock Cultural History Museum

The museum is located in the historic Monastery Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz, immediately behind the main building of the University. It houses a comprehensive collection of art and cultural history, and is one of the most important sites for the documentation of bourgeois cultural history in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

IGA Park

The IGA Park was created for the International Horticultural Show in 2003. It is a landscape and recreation park, surrounded by nature and is ideal for taking a stroll and lingering, as well as for regular events such as concerts.

Rostock Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is a scientific body of the University of Rostock. Its purpose is to provide research and teaching, as well as to conserve rare plant species. The Botanical Garden is open to the public at specific times as both a source of information and a green oasis.

Activities and excursions in the Rostock area

Seaside resort Warnemünde

This former fishing village has been part of Rostock since 1323. Warnemünde is one of the most popular destinations for a day out on the Baltic coast and is visited by both locals and tourists, particular in the summer months. One of the reasons for this, apart from the beach, is the arrival of about 200 cruise ships and the associated events.

Karls Erlebnis-Dorf

Karls Erlebnisdorf (adventure village) is a popular spot for days out, particularly for families, in the vicinity of Rostock. It is a mixture of farm shops, glass-making workshops, restaurants and fairground rides. The adventure village is open throughout the year and offers changing attractions. Many of the events are free.

Ghost Forest

The Ghost Forest (“Gespensterwald”) is located about 20 km north-west of Rostock near Nienhagen. It gets its name from the growth habit of the beech trees in this part of the forest. The wind off the Baltic Sea sculpts snake-like twists in the trunks and branches.

Vogelpark Marlow

The Vogelpark Marlow is located about 30 km east of Rostock. It houses a wide variety of different bird species, and other animal groups, in extensive park grounds. There are also lots of playgrounds for children. The park is a popular destination for a family day out.

Rostock Heath

Rostock Heath is a forest and heath area north-east of Rostock. It extends along the Baltic Sea from Markgrafenheide to Graal-Müritz. The area offers lots of tracks for cycling and hiking or for a good, long walk.

Eselhof Schlage e. V.

The Eselhof (donkey farm) is a mixture of leisure and recreation park, educational centre and events venue. In addition to the donkeys, there are goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits, doves, etc., a total of around 240 animals. The donkey farm stands out thanks to the design of the grounds, the projects on offer for sustainable interaction with nature, as well as playgrounds and places to linger.

Sailing on the Warnow

Feel free to contact us if you are looking for specific leisure activities, have wishes about what the International Welcome Center could organise or if you would like to organise something for yourself and others.

From A to B in and around Rostock

In our section Travel and Transport you will find information on how to get around Rostock and the surrounding area.

- Inspiration 1 -

33 excursion tips for Rostock and the surrounding area

... were compiled by the Norddeutsche Neueste Nachrichten (NNN) in August 2020 in this article.

- Inspiration 2 -

The 7 most beautiful places in Rostock to enjoy the sun

... have been compiled in this collection by the student magazine StudentsStudents in April 2019.