Dear Wandering Spirit,
While some of you might already know this place, Rügen island is probably unfamiliar to many others. At least for now! 🏝️
This island in the Baltic sea lies in the very North of Germany. It is connected to cities including Berlin, Rostock and even Hamburg. I spent a weekend here, and I enjoyed both walking and cycling tours.
Little Island With Great Choice
There are several different landscapes to discover for a place with less than 70.000 inhabitants! In summer, expect big crowds here as Rügen has become an incredibly famous German summer destination. 🌞
First tip: book your stay and even your activities far in advance. If you are looking for a place with wide sandy beaches, deep blue water, fresh air, and untouched nature, you can’t miss this natural paradise on Earth.
Wildlife lovers and sporty folks are spoilt for choice on Rügen island. 🏄 You can go cycling, horse riding, and hiking, or do water sports or yoga.
Idyllic nature on Rügen Island
Rügen has the smallest national park in Germany (the Jasmund park is only 30 square metres) with over 650.000 beech trees. What a green carpet to walk through!
Many paths are well signposted, and you can spend several hours wandering around these magic places. 🌳 Want a glimpse? Tip: search “Hexenwald Rügen” in your browser, and you will fall in love with this slice of Earth!
Not far away, you can admire the giant chalk coast too. You can reach some areas walking around the national park. Be careful, as it is slippery, and some parts can rupture into the sea. To take the most beautiful photos during your Rügen holiday, I recommend the ferry boat (3h, around 25 € / 27 $ p.p.).
Perfect Summer Holiday Spot
Thanks to the sea breeze, many places on Rügen are well known as “Kurbäder”, natural spas. Wherever you are staying, you will need to pay the daily spa tax (currently 2.80 € / 3 $), which includes public transportation to the nearby beaches.
There, you can attend yoga lessons and treat yourself with chalk facial masks. 
For those of you who intend to upgrade their stay, there are plenty of exclusive resorts and thermal areas to properly switch off.
What I absolutely loved about Rügen, is that there are options for any taste. There is no space for misunderstandings too thanks to the boards at the entrance of each beach: clothed, nudist, and pet friendly. 🐶 Also, the main towns and areas are accessible to anyone, which makes this island a perfect vacation spot for literally everyone.
Rügen's Highlights
Without further ado, I will list my Rügen highlights:
Binz Baltic Resort
“Ostseebad Binz” is one of the hot spots on Rügen island. The long, white beachfront and the promenade offer relaxing hours to tourists and locals strolling around this area.
The pier extending for 370 metres into the Baltic sea is an open-air exhibit, with photos of the former 560 metres long pier. It was destroyed by a storm tide in 1904.
You can spend an entire day in this place without getting bored. Street musicians playing in the background, stands and cafés with ice-cream 🍧 and delicious fish buns, delicate flowers along the streets create an overall summer atmosphere.
Sellin Baltic Resort
Exclusive resorts and a summer night movida on the main street make Sellin a trendy spot on Rügen island. The spa architecture here varies: classical styles, contemporary elements, and much of the “Jugendstil” of the last century can be found at many of these villas.
You can walk up the main street and then take the long stairs down to the beachside, where you’ll find lovely wicker beach chairs (in German “Strandkorb”). I believe the Sellin pier to be the most beautiful on the entire island, as it was reconstructed in the exact same style of the 30s. 🎠
At the end of the pier, the pressure-resistant Diving Gondola brings you 4 meters down the surface, where you can admire a true marine spectacle.
Sassnitz breakwater and lighthouse
The haven town of Sassnitz is famous for its old lighthouse (dated 1903) and the breakwater pier, which is the longest Europe-wide (1.4 km). From the beach promenade, you need to walk around 30 minutes to reach the lighthouse.
I strongly recommend this walk, as you will enjoy a unique panorama, with the relaxing sound of the waves crashing over the stones. 🌊 Also, you will admire the seagulls from a truly short distance. From Sassnitz, you can embark on the ferry to discover the chalk coast several times a day. Finally, do not miss the view from the hanging bridge too.
Natural Heritage Centre in Prora
Close to Binz, you can experience Rügen from the top. The wooden treetop walk is an attraction for children and adults, with great information on tree structures, tree varieties, water supplies and nests. 🦉
Discover this natural 1.2 km walk through the pristine beech forest and enjoy the panorama of the entire Rügen island from above. This is an experience you won’t forget, but be careful if you suffer from vertigo. I could manage to go up, but I could not manage to take all photos on my own as my head was dizzy!
Plan Your Visit to Rügen Island
How many days do you need to visit Rügen? You can have a taste of the main spots within a couple of days, just like I did, but you will regret not staying longer.
If you have at least one week, you can definitely have a Rügen 360 degrees experience. A crossroad between Germany, Poland, and Scandinavia, this is the perfect spot for multi-country travellers. ⛴ If you have enough time, take a speed boat to Ystad in Sweden (only 2.5 hours away).
What do you think of Rügen? Have you ever been there? Why not spend your next weekend summer trip on this great island? Check my north Germany travel journal here too.
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