Rügen: All destinations, advice & information for your holidays!
Rügen is an island beauty in the Baltic Sea. Germany's largest island boasts enchanting landscapes, romantic seaside resorts, and miles of sandy beaches. In the northeast, the dense beech forests in Jasmund National Park are even part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The famous chalk cliffs with the impressive Königsstuhl are also a sight to behold.
Table of contents
Rügen - The most beautiful cities
Sassnitz
Many holidaymakers choose accommodation in the fashionable spa district of Sassnitz. From here, you can head over the cliffs and the harbor bridge to the shore. There, a submarine, excursion boats, and stands with fish sandwiches await you. Furthermore, restaurants invite you to enjoy Nordic cuisine on Rügen. Additionally, Sassnitz is the main starting point for a hike or bike trip to the Jasmund National Park. Once there, you can admire the view from the chalk cliff Königsstuhl and wander through the fragrant, seemingly dark beech forests. These are protected by UNESCO and are considered particularly valuable.
Stralsund
The origins of the city, known today as the "Gateway to the Island of Rügen," date back to the Middle Ages. In the center, take a look at the St. Mary's Church from the 13th century and the even older St. Nicholas Church. The latter is located at the Old Market, which is considered the heart of Stralsund. The Stralsund beach is a popular attraction, especially in the warm summer months. Swim in the refreshing Baltic Sea or try windsurfing and other water sports. Highly recommended are also walks in the city forest by the Moorteich and visits to the zoo, which is located on the outskirts.
Putgarten
The extraordinary name Putgarten comes from the Slavic tribe Ranen, who called it Podgarde, which means "at the foot of the castle" in German. They referred to the Jaromarsburg, of which only a wall remains today. Although Putgarten is small, there are numerous sights to discover. You can learn interesting facts about the island's traditional crafts at the Rügenhof: A candle and jewelry workshop, a basket weaving shop, and an amber store are some highlights. You can experience a romantic atmosphere in the small wedding chapel, located on the way to the fishing village of Vitt with its thatched houses.
Sellin
Sellin, the Baltic Sea resort, impresses with its historical charm and attractive architecture. Wilhelmstraße is the highlight of Sellin. Lined with buildings in the spa style, it stretches up to the 30-meter-high cliff. From here, you can reach the beach promenade via a steep ladder or an elevator. Sellin is located east of the Granitz. In this extensive coastal high forest, there is the hunting lodge as well as the Black Lake, both popular excursion destinations. The Granitz is perfect for hikes or bike tours. A circular hike around Lake Sellin is also great, where the legendary Ritterstein, a glacial erratic, lies on its shore.
Putbus
In the east of Rügen, Putbus is a resort full of historical charm. The old residential town was once planned on the drawing board by Prince Wilhelm Malte of Putbus. Its heart is the Circus, a circular square lined with stately buildings and featuring an obelisk at its center. Nearby is the island's only theater. The idyllic castle garden of Putbus, curiously missing the castle, is wonderful for strolling. How and why it disappeared can be learned at the museum in the Old Forge. Alternatively, you can board the narrow-gauge steam train known as Rasender Roland and chug nostalgically through the beautiful Rügen landscape to Göhren.
Göhren
The 1.5-kilometer-long beach of Göhren has something for everyone. For animal lovers, there is a dedicated dog beach, and a section is reserved for non-smokers. At the sports beach, beach parties take place in the summer. Additionally, a colorful range of courses awaits you with yoga, stand-up paddling, beach soccer, and much more. Board the narrow-gauge railway Rasender Roland and discover the unique nature of Rügen on the route to Lauterbach. The charming spa square of Göhren is a popular meeting point. In the listed music pavilion, many concerts take place in the summer. Nearby, the 280-meter pier extends into the Baltic Sea.
Bergen auf Ruegen
Be enchanted by the historic half-timbered buildings in the center of Bergen auf Rügen. They mostly date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Families visit the city because of the breathtaking island toboggan run. It covers a distance of 700 meters and reaches speeds of more than 50 kilometers per hour. For culture fans, Bergen auf Rügen has a lot to offer: The Marienkirche is considered one of the most beautiful churches in northern Germany due to its artistic wall paintings. In the adjacent monastery courtyard, the city museum provides information about past days. A trip to the Ruggard is also worthwhile. On the hill stands the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Tower, which you can climb.
Insel Hiddensee
You can explore Hiddensee on foot or by bicycle – private car traffic is not allowed on the island. From Schaprode on Rügen, take the ferry to Hiddensee, where an untouched Baltic Sea paradise awaits you. Behind the sandy beaches stretch salt marshes and heath landscapes, as if from a picture book. A special feature of the island is the sea buckthorn, which grows everywhere here and is processed into various specialties. Take a trip to the Dornbusch lighthouse, which sits atop the Schluckwiecksberg in the north of the island. There are 102 steps leading to the viewing platform. At the top, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view.
Rügen - 5 most beautiful natural sights
Cape Arkona
The cliff at Cape Arkona is about 45 m high and partly consists of Rügen's famous chalk cliffs. A lighthouse from 1902 rises 35 m on this. You can reach the still-operating tower via stairs, which offers great views over the island. Right next to it stands the smaller Schinkel Tower, which is no longer in operation today. You can also climb this one. The third tower is a former marine navigation tower from 1927, where cultural events occasionally take place. You can walk from Cape Arkona to the tranquil fishing village of Vitt via a high shore hiking trail.
Hunting Lodge Granitz
The hunting lodge built by Johann Gottfried Steinmeyer between 1837 and 1846 is located in the Granitz Forest and offers visitors wide views from its central tower over Rügen to the Bay of Binz. Once the hunting lodge of the Putbus princely family, it was already a popular excursion destination in the 19th century. As a museum castle, the hunting lodge provides insights into the life of the princely family and the partially preserved historical inventory. In the tavern, you can enjoy hearty meals or coffee and cake on the sun terrace after the tour. The Granitz Hunting Lodge is accessible from Binz with the hunting lodge express.
Hiddensee Island
On the Schluckswiek in the north of the island of Hiddensee, the Dornbusch lighthouse rises. 102 steps lead to the observation platform, from which you can enjoy a magnificent view over the Baltic Sea. The island of Hiddensee is known for its famous guests. The writer Gerhart Hauptmann spent his summers here. Today, you can learn more about Hauptmann's life and work at the Gerhart Hauptmann Museum. The painter Oskar Kruse was also a fan of the island, his magnificent Art Nouveau villa Lietzenburg still serves as a retreat for artists. On extensive hikes along the coast and in the hinterland, you will encounter quaint fisherman's cottages and interesting sculptures.
Jasmund National Park
At the beginning of the 19th century, the painter Caspar David Friedrich was inspired to create his famous painting, in which he bathed the chalk cliffs of the island of Rügen in a gentle light. To this day, little has changed in terms of beauty here: the rocks of Stubbenkammer attract numerous visitors every year. The Wissower Klinken, however, were swallowed by the sea in 2005. Experience the beauty of Jasmund National Park on the paths that run along the coast and offer a beautiful view over the blue Baltic Sea. On the skywalk above the Königsstuhl, you float 118 meters above the chalk cliffs.
Rügen Geopark
The popular holiday resorts Lancken-Granitz, Sellin, Baabe, Mönchsgut, and Göhren are located in the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve. Hike through dense beech forests in the hinterland and observe the local wildlife. Dense reed belts grow around the shallow coastal waters of the Bodden, providing a perfect habitat for waterfowl. Gray and bean geese are some of them. If you want to learn more about the unique flora and fauna in your holiday region, visit the Granitzhaus. The former forestry and guesthouse is now an information center. Also interesting is the audio guide, which leads to 14 stations in the Zicker Mountains via smartphone.
Rügen - Climate
Lots of sunshine and a healthy stimulating climate make a vacation on Rügen an experience at any time of the year. Those who want to feast their eyes on yellow rapeseed fields and can do without hustle and bustle will find spring, with average temperatures of 16°C, the best time for island hikes and beach walks. In summer, it's bathing season. The Baltic Sea warms up to 22°C. The air temperature can climb above 30°C. You should still pack a warm sweater, as the weather is changeable and there is always a fresh breeze. After a friendly autumn follows a quiet winter with ice floes up to meters high on the beach in some places.
The following graph shows the average weather conditions for the country. Historical weather conditions may vary by region.