The city is best known as the birthplace of aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal. His life and work stations as well as the development of flying machines are shown in the Otto Lilienthal Museum in Anklam. On the Pferdemarkt near St. Mary's Church is also located a 16-meter high monument to Otto Lilienthal.

The Nikolai church, like the Church of St. Mary, is a three-aisled hall church in the style of brick architecture. Its construction began in the 14th century. It was completed at the end of the 15th century and completely destroyed in the last days of the war in 1945 to the perimeter. The reconstruction of the Nikolai church began in 1995. Today, it serves as a place for concerts, exhibitions and lectures. A visit to the theater Anklam is highly recommendable for culture enthusiasts. The Vorpommern Regional Theatre presents comedies and dramas, fairy tales and children's theater pieces. Other cultural highlights include the annually held Hansefest and the summer open-air theater "Die Peene brennt'.