Sticking out to the east of Schleswig-Holstein is the Ostholstein District. Surrounded on three sides by the Baltic Sea, it has many harbors and sandy beaches. Inland, it sits on half of the Holsteinische Schweiz, the low forested mountains known as Holstein Switzerland.
Ostholstein District Map

Towns & Villages in the Ostholstein District
- Ahrensbök
- Altenkrempe
- Bad Schwartau
- Beschendorf
- Bosau
- Dahme
- Damlos
- Eutin
- Fehmarn
- Göhl
- Gremersdorf
- Grömitz
- Großenbrode
- Grube
- Harmsdorf
- Heiligenhafen
- Heringsdorf
- Kabelhorst
- Kasseedorf
- Kellenhusen (Ostsee)
- Lensahn
- Malente
- Manhagen
- Neukirchen (Oldenb.)
- Neustadt (Holstein)
- Oldenburg in Holstein
- Ratekau
- Riepsdorf
- Scharbeutz
- Schashagen
- Schönwalde a. Bung.
- Sierksdorf
- Stockelsdorf
- Süsel
- Timmendorfer Strand
- Wangels
The Island of Fehmarn protrudes even further out into the Baltic connected by a suspension bridge to the rest of the district. It spans so far into the waters that it is only 18km (11mi) from Denmark and can be easily reached by ferry. The area itself is a haven for migratory birds and attracts thousands of bird-watchers every year.
The capital of the Ostholstein District is Eutin, which has a rich Viking history. Nowadays it is also popular due to its Love Tree, the Bräutigamseiche, where people from all over the world send love letters to an unknown recipient — some of them even find their big love!
Besides that, the town still attracts and encourages culture, and has a great open air amphitheater performing both opera and orchestral music. It is also renowned for its links to Carl von Weber and performs his works regularly.