Blue sea and white beach, picturesque cliffs, fishing boats with screeching seagulls, small islands with lighthouses and proud Hanseatic towns in red brick. Plus a quiet, beautiful hinterland with gently rolling, wide fields, avenues and ancient erratic blocks - and last but not least, the playful spa architecture in traditional summer resorts: The Baltic Sea coast meets all dreams of a holiday by the sea.
First orientation
Not all coasts are the same - each section of Germany's north-eastern waterline is different, marked by different geological origins and accompanied by contrasting historical circumstances. Between Flensburg and Lübeck lie fjords cutting deep into the land. The old seaside resorts are strung along the Mecklenburg coast like pearls on a necklace. On Rügen and in Western Pomerania, on the other hand, wild cliffs and dense forests dominate.
We have put together a list of the most important sights and experiences that you should not miss.
Your journey
The main route to the seaside resorts of Schleswig-Holstein is the A1, which leads from Hamburg via Lübeck past the seaside resorts of the Lübeck Bay and the Baltic Sea holiday region of Timmendorfer Strand to Puttgarden. From there you can get to your destination in all directions without any problems.
- By train: With all four long-distance train stations in Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck, Puttgarden, Oldenburg/Holstein, Schleswig and Flensburg, the region is well registered in the ICE network.
- By bus: You can reach almost every corner of the region with the approximately 800 nationwide routes operated by Autokraft and 50 other bus companies.
- By plane: The hub of the north is Hamburg Airport.
The most important arterial road in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the so-called "Baltic Sea Motorway" A20, which runs from Lübeck to Stettin in Poland.
- By train: Several times a day you can reach Rügen and the various towns on the Baltic Sea with Intercity trains. The Usedom-Express takes the route Berlin-Ahlbeck-Heringsdorf-Zinnowitz. The Fischland-Darß-Express takes you comfortably from Berlin to Warnemünde. You can choose your own stop, be it Wustrow, Ahrenshoop, Wieck, Prerow or Zingst.
- By plane: The nearest international airports are in Berlin and Hamburg.
The best time to travel
Between May and September is the main travel season for the coastal region. From Easter to the autumn holidays, all museums, swimming pools, hotels, guesthouses and campsites are open. In the bathing months of July and August, it is mainly the beaches that are frequented for cooling off and for sporting activities. Now you will see surfers and sailors cavorting on the water. Most accommodation is fully booked, so it's difficult to find a place to stay spontaneously.
As far as nature is concerned, spring and autumn offer the most beautiful moods. An excellent month for a Baltic Sea holiday is September. The water is still warm enough for swimming - at least for the hardy - and the main swing of guests has already left. The choice of beautiful holiday flats and holiday homes near the beach is correspondingly large.
A winter holiday is also becoming increasingly popular, especially because of tempting wellness and package deals. At this time of year, however, most opening hours are reduced. Now guests gather in the cosy guest rooms and chat over a warm grog.
On the road with the savings fox
- Chicken gods, thunderbolts, fossilised sea urchin remains or amber: the most beautiful souvenirs from the Baltic Sea cost nothing, but require a little effort, a keen eye and the necessary bit of luck.
- There is no compulsion to consume in the numerous open-air gardens. Here you can sit under the trees, enjoy the atmosphere or simply have a chat.
- The show garden on the island of Poel offers sensual pleasures. It's a truism that the most beautiful things cost nothing - but it's true: sniff and marvel at a total of 500 different plants.
- Stroll across the water: The days when piers were mere landing stages for ships are over. Today, the piers are promenades and attractions for anglers, bathers, photographers and strollers. Probably the most beautiful pier adorns the Baltic resort of Ahlbeck.
Enchanting domiciles in the sound of the sea - accommodation for every taste
The sun winks between the leaves of the old, tall trees, dew sparkles on the branches, birds chirp, the tides of the sea whisper softly: waking up like this immediately makes you happy.
You decide which accommodation is right for you, because there is a wide choice. It ranges from a room in a simple guesthouse to a luxurious holiday residence with comfortable wellness facilities. Some holidaymakers prefer a noble organic hotel with an exquisite gourmet restaurant. And still others enjoy their stay in manor houses and castles with historical flair. For family holidays, the cosy and well-equipped holiday flats near the beach score points. What could be better than digging your feet into the sand first thing in the morning and listening to the lapping of the waves? In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset atmosphere from the terrace of the holiday home. Although the range of holiday homes is abundant, you should book well in advance for the summer months.
Good to know: Your dog is also welcome. The entire Baltic Sea region offers designated dog beaches and many outdoor areas.
Tranquil fishing villages lining the coast - "Being here is wonderful".
Situated between Heiligendamm and Rerik, Kühlungsborn adorns the northernmost tip of Mecklenburg as an exclusive seaside resort.
Tip: The "Darß primeval forest" is not far away. Gnarled tree shapes, surf and wind have created a masterpiece of nature on the Darß.
Ahrenshoop is no less enchanting. The pretty village lies between the Baltic Sea and the Saaler Bodden and has always attracted artists. Sea birds call, the smell of the sea is in the air, the surf sings its lullaby.
Island dreams: Fehmarn, Rügen, Usedom and Hiddensee
Dunes, fine sand and beach chairs, that's what the Baltic Sea islands all have in common. And yet each island is unique in its own way.
Fehmarn: with almost 2200 hours of sunshine, Schleswig-Holstein's only island in the Baltic Sea shines like a "paradise on earth" almost all year round. Tip: Anyone on holiday in Heiligenhafen should definitely pay Fehmarn a visit.
More than chalk cliffs: hike Caspar David Friedrich's views on Rügen - they are breathtakingly beautiful. The magnificent sandy beach of Binz is just as inspiring. Later you can sail to the car-free paradise on Hiddensee.
Not to be underestimated: Holidaymakers throng Usedom's sunny coast. The imperial resorts are fully booked - Szczecin is within reach.
Ever-young and proud Hanseatic towns - beautiful and great at the same time
Kitesurfers meet at Schönberg on the Bay of Kiel. And if you don't dare trust yourself to the wind, take a stroll along the seashore.
Lübeck, the queen of the Hanseatic League, invites you to take a leisurely stroll through the alleys and passageways, while Travemünde stands out as the easternmost district with its fine sandy beach, fresh sea breezes and the view of "big boats".
Flensburg, Germany's northernmost city, is no less inspiring - it reveals surprising things. And that's not all: not far away, Glücksburg Castle beckons with a fabulous music festival, while speed surfers fulfil their surfing dreams in Pelzerhaken.
You'll be amazed! Wismar makes art out of water. The twelve-cornered fountain pavilion is a special gem in the picture-perfect old town.
Warnemünde lies at the intersection of important traffic arteries and is therefore also known as the gateway to the north. Ferries depart from here to Denmark, Sweden, Latvia and Finland. In Warnemünde, relaxation is close at hand.
When the summer sun is shining, you'll want to get out into the open air - around the cool fountains and open squares of the Hanseatic city of Rostock. The University Square is highly frequented. The students of the almost 600-year-old university bring joie de vivre, art and a lot of culture to the extensively restored Hanseatic city. If you walk through the streets with your eyes open, you will discover many charming things.
Medieval brick Gothic ennobles Stralsund. The university town of Greifswald, meanwhile, is known for its lively atmosphere.
Beautiful even when it rains: Stralsund beckons with a view of the colourful depths of the sea. In the maritime museum, colourful fish bring colour into the rainy grey. Still raining? Then have another coffee with a view of sharks and sea turtles.
Comeback for the summer resorts - cast off
Fancy traces of German writers in a rural Baltic Sea atmosphere, a typical shopping experience, art in museums and studios, cycling through beautiful landscapes for as short or long as you like, and splendidly laid-out gardens? Then you've come to the right place.
Fischland Darß-Zingst - a land as painted. Colourful thatched-roof houses, fishing boats and lots of unspoilt nature characterise this enchanting spot. Hugging trees and stumbling over roots almost goes without saying here.
Bathing and digging - the Baltic Sea is a paradise for children.
Families with children love the beach that gently merges into the Baltic Sea water, where it is not the tides that determine the bathing fun, but the holidaymakers themselves. But even beyond the carefree beach life, you can enjoy countless activities.
Fancy a trip to the Stone Age? In the Stone Age workshops at Cape Arkona you can learn how to light a fire without matches or a lighter, and much more. Others are drawn to Rostock Zoo, which offers many highlights. A trip to Hansa-Park is also worthwhile. The gigantic amusement park with rides for all ages is located directly by the sea.
Places of interest - top destinations at a glance
Sand accumulations, heathland, moor-like depressions, sparse dunes, bird islands, flints and fossils - the Baltic Sea region is a real natural paradise. Stay and enjoy:
- Schleswig Baltic Sea Region
- Holstein: Around the Bay of Lübeck
- Holstein Switzerland Nature Park
- Jasmund National Park
- Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park.
Where the scent of smoked eel and fried potatoes wafts through the air
The cuisine of the far north is a culinary triad of sweet, sour and salty. Especially popular: eel in aspic with fried potatoes. In general, the cuisine of the Baltic coast is characterised by fish, which you can get in all forms. Especially typical are the small smokehouses where you can enjoy freshly caught fish with a beech aroma.
In winter, you can't do without kale. Whether as a soup or as hearty kale with sausage: a true seaside person loves the vitamin-rich vegetable.
Of course, sea buckthorn should not be missing here either. The small, orange-coloured vitamin C bombs can be found in every conceivable form: Whether you choose sweets, tea or schnapps is up to you.