Rügen and Hiddensee

Nature as far as the eye can see. That's what you can see on Rügen and Hiddensee. With long sandy beaches and a diverse landscape, the two Baltic Sea islands invite you to visit. Rügen and Hiddensee are close to each other and offer tourists a lot of maritime flair. On this page you can find out more about the islands and get tour suggestions to explore the islands as best as possible. No matter what time of year you arrive: the coasts of Western Pomerania-Rügen are always worth a trip!

seaside resorts and chalk cliffs

The island of Rügen

It is the largest island and one of the most popular holiday regions in Germany. Rügen's 56 km of sandy beach invites over a million visitors every year to stroll, sunbathe, swim and relax.

The intact and diverse nature and the miles of fine sandy Baltic Sea beaches are unique. But the Mönchgut peninsula, the chalk cliffs to the north, varied cultural offerings and exquisite health and wellness offerings are also among the tourist highlights.

Large parts of the island are under special protection. These include the two national parks Jasmund in the northeast and the Vorpommern Boddenlandschaft in the west, as well as the Southeast Rügen biosphere reserve. Culture and history also characterize Rügen: castles, parks and manor houses bear witness to old nobility and new splendor. The Baltic Sea resorts with their spa architecture are just as famous as the residential town of Putbus with its white, classicist buildings. Theaters, events and museums promise cultural enjoyment at any time of day or year.

If you want to get more tips for excursions on the island of Rügen, click here to go directly to the website ruegen.de.

Two day trip tips to the island of Rügen

Tip 1: Bodden, seaside resorts and Baltic Sea beaches

The south coast, a classic of the island of Rügen. It lies directly between the Strelasund, the Kubitzer Bodden and the Greifswalder Bodden. With the beautiful Bodden bays and their reed belts, the Granitz forest area and the seaside resorts with their long Baltic Sea beaches and spa architecture, Rügen South is an attractive place to take a day trip.

The tour starts with the German train at Stralsund Central Station. A quarter of an hour later, you'll change trains in Bergen auf Rügen. From there, the regional train will take you to Lauterbach Mole after a short ride. To explore the south coast on a day trip, you can take a boat ride and the Rasender Roland narrow-gauge railway. The Weiße Flotte the Water & Steam combination ticket. You have a 50-minute layover in Lauterbach before transferring to the ferry. Why not use this time to visit a harbor café? After a relaxing coffee break, the White Fleet continues from Lauterbach harbor aboard the White Fleet. Along the Bodden coast with its sandy beaches and reed beds, you will discover the island of Vilm and the Mönchgut peninsula. Along the way, you will encounter seabirds and, with a bit of luck, even seals. During the cruise, you can enjoy a light refreshment in the on-board restaurant before disembarking the ferry. We recommend disembarking at the Bollwerk in Baabe, where you can stroll along Lake Sellin, which offers beautiful photo opportunities, during your one-hour stay. The path then takes you directly to the train station.

Once you arrive at the train station in Baabe, you can continue your tour with the Rasender Roland (Raging Roland), disembarking at the various stops along the seaside resorts. Our excursion recommendation is the Baltic Sea resort of Binz and the Granitz Hunting Lodge. You can reach the Baltic Sea resort via the route that runs around the Granitz Hunting Lodge. This route is particularly beautiful and varied, as it leads through green forests and along wide fields and meadows. On the journey to Binz, we recommend a stop at the Tempelberg and visit the Granitz Hunting Lodge. The narrow-gauge railway stops at the hunting lodge stop.

The Granitz Hunting Lodge, once the residence of Prince Malte zu Putbus, is today one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Rügen. In good weather, the 38-meter-high tower offers a magnificent view of the entire island. The average length of stay at the hunting lodge is two hours. For a lunch break, you can stop at the "Alte Brennerei" inn, located in the castle's rustic vaulted ceiling. This offers a varied selection of dishes. If you want to explore Binz after visiting the hunting lodge or return from Binz to Stralsund, you can hike to the Baltic Sea resort. The walk takes about 2 minutes. Of course, you can also travel to Binz on the Rasender Roland (Raging Roland), which travels to the resort at regular intervals.

The Baltic Sea resort Binz is particularly attractive for its magnificent seaside architecture and its long promenade. On the way from the small train station to the Ostseebad Binz train station, it is recommended to walk to the Müther Tower and experience its unique architecture. Continue along the beach promenade, where you will pass the pier, from where you will have a fantastic view of Binz and the expansive beach. Afterwards, you can continue strolling north along the beach promenade and end the evening in one of the many restaurants. Afterwards, take the latest train from Ostseebad Binz train station and head home. The route to the station is well signposted. You will arrive at Stralsund Central Station around 23 pm without having to change trains.

Tip 2: Chalk cliffs and beech forests

Another recommended destination is the port town of Sassnitz. From here you can take a direct trip to the Jasmund National Park and the chalk cliffs and experience the natural landscape up close.

In Sassnitz Mukran's city harbor and Europe's longest outer pier, which leads to the green and white lighthouse, can be visited. The beautiful old town also entices with its picturesque charm and invites you to explore. You can reach the harbor town every hour by German trainThe train travels from Stralsund main station to Sassnitz station and arrives there one hour later.

In Jasmund National Park there are Rügen’s White cliffs These stretch from Sassnitz to Lohme. If you want to visit the famous Königsstuhl, the three-hour hike from Sassnitz along the high shore path to the National Park Center Königsstuhl There you have a wonderful view of the Baltic Sea and can take part in experience exhibitions, guided tours and great offers. If you are arriving by car, start the hike from the car park on Stubbenkammerstraße and follow the signs for "Kreidefelsen". Then walk past the zoo to the hiking trail on the high bank and from there towards Königsstuhl. Continue past the Piratenschlucht, the Wissower Klinken and the Kollicker Ort, from where you reach Königsstuhl after about 7 km. If you have arrived by train, you have to take the Bus Take the bus (Line 18) to the Sassnitz-Wedding stop and follow the signs from there. From there, you can take the bus from the bus station (near the train station) to Sassnitz-Wedding. Of course, you can also take the bus directly to Königsstuhl (Line 23).

But it is not only the chalk cliffs that are among the natural treasures of the island of Rügen. The Jasmund National Park also contains the ancient beech forests, which are among the last of their kind in Europe. These can also be explored via the high shore path, which is well signposted for hikers. Those who prefer a guided hike can take part in tours led by archaeologist Dr. Katrin Staude or the National Park Center. You can return to Sassnitz by Bus from the Königsstuhl stop (line 23) and arrive at Hafenstraße. Afterwards, you can linger in the old town until the evening. The latest train to Stralsund leaves at 22.00 pm from the train station.

Sustainable tourist highlights

Rügen's beautiful sister

The island of Hiddensee

Hiddensee is a small, idyllic island that is a car-free zone and can only be reached by ferry or pleasure boat.

The Dornbusch lighthouse is one of the island's landmarks. But it's not just the lighthouse that attracts tourists. There is also the diverse and almost untouched landscape with its coastal dunes and cliffs to discover. The island is also part of the Vorpommern Boddenlandschaft National Park. There is also a lot to experience culturally. This includes theater evenings on the lake stage as well as concerts and readings in the Gerhart Hauptmann House.

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Excursion tips to the island of Hiddensee

Car-free access to the lighthouse

White Fleet You have the opportunity to visit the island of Hiddensee. From April to October, as well as between Christmas and New Year, the shipping company offers boat tours. You can depart directly from Stralsund and choose between three island ports on Hiddensee where you would like to disembark. These are Neuendorf, Vitte, and Kloster. From the port of Stralsund, the crossing takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. If you want to visit the Dornbusch lighthouse, the last stop is at the port in Kloster. The lighthouse is a 25-minute walk away. The Gerhart Hauptmann House in Kloster is also worth a visit. Alternatively, you can also take the Horse-drawn Carriage or the Inselbus Hiddensee transported, or Cycles lend.

Visitors can Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus Explore a permanent exhibition on the poet's life. Regular evening events, such as readings and song recitals, are offered in the summer. Furthermore, one-hour guided tours are offered seasonally and at fixed times.
During the winter months, museum visits are by appointment only. Please note that the ferry to Stralsund departs from the harbor in Kloster at around 14.30 pm.

The Dornbusch Lighthouse Dating from 1888, the gleaming white church is Hiddensee's landmark. It can be visited from May to October, weather permitting, from 10.30 am - 16.00 pm. Once you've climbed the 102 steps to the 20-meter-high viewing platform, you'll be treated to a unique view of the island of Hiddensee and the expansive Baltic Sea from approximately 90 meters above sea level.

*All times as of 2024. Subject to change.