Linking the big Karstadt department store in the Vorstadt with the Nikolaikirche in the Altstadt, Holstenstraße is one of the oldest streets in the city.
The street was almost totally obliterated during the war, and during reconstruction in 1953-1957 it was closed off to road traffic, becoming the first pedestrian street in West Germany.
Holstenstraße has always been Kiel’s traditional shopping mile, and is lined with big international brands like Foot Locker, TK Maxx, Starbucks and at its upper end has a shopping centre hosting branches of C&A and the German department store Saturn.
