Through its eight centuries, this Hanseatic city has been the commercial and trading hub of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Rostocks old town has an impressive harbour, historic city walls and waterfront gabled houses. There is also as an interesting art gallery, several theatres and some quality museums. The Hanse Sail boating event attracts over a million visitors for three days in summer. Twenty kilometres north is the beach resort of Warnemünde.
