Car hire from the largest operator in Germany puts all districts of this unique and welcoming place in easy reach. This was - for centuries - an Independent City within Germany's kingdoms, and no visit is complete without admiring the Holstentor, the gigantic medieval gate which serves as the town's emblem - you may even see it on one of the two-Euro coins minted in Germany. Now a museum, it recounts the city's changes of fortune since the Middle Ages. Then tour the rest of the Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before admiring the distinctive brick-built architecture of the cathedral. Park nearby and head to Café Niederegger, the most famous local meeting place and the centre of Germany's international trade in marzipan. A short drive away, the district of Travemuende features miles of sandy beach, elegant promenades and maritime culture - a seaside resort of charm and style.