St Peter’s Church, Lübeck

St Peter's Church, Lübeck tickets: which one to buy

Saint Peter's Church, the Petrikirche, stands on a small hill in the old town of Lübeck, Germany, near the Holstentor gate and the Market Square, and it is known for its tower viewing platform, reached by a lift, which gives one of the best views of Lübeck's old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its seven church spires, the Trave river and the Holstentor. The church itself is no longer a parish church but a venue for exhibitions, concerts, markets and events, and entry to the church is free when open;

the lift to the tower is ticketed. Walking tours of Lübeck combine the church with the Holstentor, the Town Hall, Saint Mary's Church, the Buddenbrook House and the European Hansemuseum. The lift makes the view accessible to everyone. Lübeck is famous for its marzipan, sold in shops near the Town Hall. The lift ticket is sold at the base of the tower inside the church.

Visiting St Peter's Church, Lübeck: what to see

The church was built in the thirteenth century in the Brick Gothic style and enlarged in the fifteenth century into a five-aisled hall church. It was badly damaged in the bombing raid of March 1942, which destroyed much of Lübeck's old town, and it was rebuilt in the following decades, but the interior was left plain and white, without its former furnishings. Today, the vast, empty hall is used for art exhibitions, theatre, concerts and markets, and it has a flexible, modern atmosphere. The tower, with a copper spire, rises about 108 metres, and the viewing platform is at about 50 metres.

From the platform, visitors can see the whole island of the old town surrounded by water, the salt warehouses beside the Holstentor, and on clear days the Baltic Sea at Travemünde. The church's bells hang in the tower. The viewing platform has panels identifying the church towers and landmarks of the city. The church's white interior can be transformed for events, with seating, stages or market stalls. A few memorials and fragments of the medieval church remain. The tower's copper spire was rebuilt after the war and is visible from far away. In winter, the church holds a Christmas crafts market with artisans from across Germany. Exhibitions of photography and contemporary art are held regularly.

St Peter's Church, Lübeck opening hours and the best time to go

The tower lift operates daily, with longer hours in summer and shorter hours in winter. The church is open during exhibitions and events. Lübeck is busiest in summer and during the Christmas season, when one of the church's highlights is the arts and crafts Christmas market held inside the church. Evening views from the tower in summer are beautiful, when the sun sets over the old town. Lübeck's weather can be windy. Allow about twenty minutes for the tower and the church, and combine the visit with the Holstentor and a marzipan café. The European Hansemuseum, about ten minutes' walk north, tells the story of the Hanseatic League in immersive rooms.