Usedom Island – Vacation on the Baltic Sea

Endless long walks and carefree summer days—the fine sandy beaches of the sunny island Usedom provide the perfect backdrop.
But if you think Usedom is only about sun, beach, and the Baltic Sea, you'll be surprised by how much more this island and its idyllic hinterland have to offer.
We've captured all this for you in the following article, along with valuable tips and information about Usedom.

‍1. THE THREE IMPERIAL SPAS OF USEDOM

KAISERBAD AHLBECK

The Kaiserbad Ahlbeck is one of the most popular beach resorts on the Baltic Sea and is located right on the border with Poland.
This district is known for its luxurious beach villas, its expansive promenade, and fine white sand.
The promenade with its countless cafes, restaurants, and ice cream parlors is the ideal place for a leisurely stroll.
The walk along the pier offers a beautiful view of Usedom’s expansive beach. The pier is especially beautifully lit in the evening and well worth a visit.

In front of the pier, you'll find a small house where you can buy tickets for a boat trip on the "MS Adler" to various destinations in the area. More information is available at adler-schiffe.de.

If you're not interested in a boat trip but prefer a day at the beach, you can rent a beach chair for the entire day at most beach entrances in Ahlbeck.
Beach chairs can only be rented during the season and must be paid for in cash.

‍Our tip: The best view of the sea isn't from the beach or the pier but from the inland viewpoint at the old Bismarck tower in the middle of the forest.
You can only reach the observation platform by foot or by bike.

KAISERBAD HERINGSDORF

The Kaiserbad Heringsdorf is the largest of the three spas and boasts the longest pier in Germany.
As in Ahlbeck, here you'll find luxurious beach villas, an extensive promenade with many cafes, restaurants, and ice cream parlors, and the fine white sandy beach.

In front of the pier, there is also a small house where you can buy tickets for boat trips around Usedom and its surroundings.

The prices for boat trips and beach chairs are roughly the same in all three imperial spas, as some of the providers overlap.

A unique experience during our stay was the summer cinema directly on the beach in Heringsdorf. The screen is in the water, and the audience watches from the beach.
This cinema is only available during the summer months due to the weather.

KAISERBAD BANSIN

Bansin is the smallest and youngest of the three imperial spas but can easily hold its own against the other two.
Here, too, you'll find luxurious beach villas, plenty of cafes, restaurants, ice cream parlors, and the fine white sandy beach.
At the end of the village, the cliff of Langenberg with its beautiful beech forest begins.

Unlike Ahlbeck and Heringsdorf, Bansin's pier is rather unspectacular. It merely serves as a docking point for ships.

2. THE AMBER SPA KOSEROW

In addition to the three imperial spas of Heringsdorf, Ahlbeck, and Bansin, Usedom has four so-called amber spas. These towns are named for the presence of amber in the area.
Especially in autumn and winter, after stormy days and nights, you may be lucky enough to find the sparkling stones on the beach.

The amber spas are much less touristy than the well-known imperial spas, and in our opinion, this makes them definitely worth a visit.

In Koserow, you'll find the narrowest part of Usedom, where the village is bordered by the roaring sea on one side and the calm Achterwasser on the other.

Near the beach, you can admire the old salt huts of Koserow and be enticed by the wonderful smell of smoked fish.
You absolutely can’t leave Usedom without trying this delicious specialty: fish soup in a bread loaf and/or smoked fish in a roll.
You can find these and many other delicious dishes at the Koserower Salzhütte.

If you continue walking along the beach toward Kölpinsee, after a 30-minute walk through the forest, you'll reach the Streckelsberg viewpoint.
We took this route on a rainy day and can say that the walk and the view were well worth it.

3. ZINNOWITZ - NORTHERN USEDOM

Zinnowitz is a classic vacation spot in Usedom. The town mainly attracts families and active vacationers, as accommodation prices are much lower compared to the imperial spas.

The Baltic seaside resort has a promenade where you can take a leisurely stroll while enjoying the fresh Baltic breeze.
Zinnowitz is well-known for its 315-meter-long pier, at the end of which you'll find a diving gondola.
For a year-round fee of $8.50 for adults and $5.50 for children, you can enjoy a 30-minute dive into the underwater world of the Baltic Sea without getting wet.
On days with good visibility and a bit of luck, you may spot jellyfish, crabs, and other sea creatures.
On days with poor visibility, a film about the Baltic Sea's plants and animals is shown.More information can be found at Tauchgondel Zinnowitz.

If you prefer a day at the beach, Zinnowitz is also the perfect place. The wide beach with its fine white sand and numerous beach chairs is ideal for relaxation.
Beach chairs here cost between $9 and $10 per day.

If you'd rather explore the town, be sure to take a detour down the new Strandstraße, where you'll find numerous shops, bakeries, and ice cream parlors.
The tourist information center (Kurverwaltung) is also located here, where you can get all sorts of information about your stay.

4. USEDOM'S HINTERLAND

Usedom’s hinterland, or Achterland, gets its name from the Low German word "achtern", meaning "behind".
Although we had read a lot about Usedom’s hinterland before our trip, it wasn’t until we were there that we fully grasped just how vast the Achterland and the Achterwasser really are.
The Achterland is synonymous with untouched nature and tranquility, but it has even more to offer.

Here, you’ll find two historic windmills—the Dutch windmill in Benz and the post windmill in Pudagla.
The towns of Stolpe, Pudagla, and Mellenthin are known for their beautiful little castles, particularly the water castle in Mellenthin.

In and around the castle, you'll find waffle bakeries. We recommend the Gutshof bakery to the left of the castle, as the café inside the castle felt somewhat touristy and not as authentic. Prices in both spots are relatively high.

In the island’s interior, you can embark on a unique, all-day island safari by jeep that takes you to secluded spots off the beaten tourist path.
We didn’t have enough time to do this ourselves, but it’s at the top of our list for our next visit.

We also received a local tip during our trip: To escape the crowds at Usedom’s beaches, locals prefer to spend their summer days at Achterwasser, enjoying the quiet beaches and calm waters there.
Therefore, especially during the high season, we highly recommend spending a relaxing and peaceful day in the hinterland rather than at a busy and bustling beach.

5. THE POLISH NEIGHBORING CITY ŚWINOUJŚCIE

Depending on your mode of transportation, you can reach Poland’s most famous Baltic Sea city, Świnoujście, in just a few minutes.
Świnoujście shares the same beautiful fine white sandy beach as the beach resorts on the German side. Here, you can combine a beach holiday with a short city trip.
After our time there, we agreed: We’ll definitely be coming back.

You can find all the helpful information, useful tips, and general advice in our separate blog post, The Polish Baltic Sea – Travel Tips for Swinoujscie.

6. THE BEST TIME TO VISIT USEDOM

The island with Germany’s longest sandy beach is one of the country’s most popular travel destinations.If you plan to visit during school holidays, make sure to book early.
The high season in Usedom is from July to August, and the island gets very busy during this period. But even in the off-seasons, the island has its own charm.
Ultimately, the best time to visit the Baltic Sea depends on personal preference. We don’t mind walking along the beach in winter coats, hats, and scarves.
But if you prefer warm weather, plan your visit for the summer months from June to September.
We visited Usedom in late June and, except for two rainy days, enjoyed pleasant 25°C weather and a refreshing water temperature of 19°C.

7. CLOTHING AND WEATHER

Usedom is not called the "Sunshine Island" for nothing, and Zinnowitz is the sunniest place in Germany.
However, besides your swimwear, you should always pack rain gear as well, as the Baltic Sea is known for its changeable weather.
A day that starts with rain can easily end in brilliant sunshine.

Since the Baltic breeze can often turn into a strong wind, especially in the transitional seasons, a windproof jacket is also recommended.
On hot summer days, temperatures above 25°C feel pleasant thanks to the sea breeze.

8. HOW TO GET TO USEDOM

There are several ways to travel to Usedom:

• By Car: During peak season, in July and August, there can be significant traffic jams on the island and especially near the bridges.Y ou can reach Usedom by car via the A20 motorway along the Baltic coast. The island is connected to the mainland by two bridges. If you’re coming from Hamburg, it’s best to travel via the Peene Bridge in Wolgast.
  Coming from Berlin, you’ll reach Usedom via the drawbridge at Zecherin.
• By Train: The island is easily accessible by train from all regions of Germany. Trains run to Züssow, where you can transfer to the Usedomer Bäder Bahn (UBB) to continue your journey onto the island.
• By Plane: You can fly directly to Heringsdorf Airport in Usedom from several German cities (Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund) as well as from Switzerland and Austria.
  Flights are available from April to October.

9. HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION IN USEDOM

In the three Kaiserbäder (Imperial Spas), hotels are predominant.
However, if you’re looking for a holiday apartment, flat, or holiday home, you’ll find more options in the northern part of the island.
This area is particularly popular with families, as prices are often slightly more affordable than in the Kaiserbäder.
Booking is easy on platforms like booking.com or the Usedom Tourism website.

Tip for holiday apartments and houses: Before booking, be sure to check the amenities of your accommodation, especially regarding bedding, towels, dishwasher, and washing machine. You may need to bring your own towels and bedding. Also, you may need to bring or purchase items such as garbage bags, dish soap, sponges, and toilet paper.

10. TOURIST TAX IN USEDOM

Almost all holiday destinations on the Baltic Sea charge a tourist tax. During the high season, this is around $3 per person per day (high season April 1 - October 31) and $2.50 per person per day in the off-season (November 1 - March 31). Children are charged between $1.30 and $1.60 per day, depending on the season.

As an overnight guest, you’ll receive and pay for your tourist tax and guest card directly at your accommodation.
As a day visitor, you can pay the tourist tax at the local tourist information offices or at one of the tourist card vending machines along the promenade.

Keep your guest card with you at all times during your stay in Usedom, as you may be asked to show it. Checks are often conducted at beach entrances or on the piers.

11. WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FISH

For us, there’s nothing tastier than freshly prepared local fish—and you can find it right on the coastal towns of the island.
Our top spots for freshly prepared fish include:
– Uwe´s Fischerhütte in Ahlbeck
– Zum Smutje in Zinnowitz
– Fischkiste in Zinnowitz
– Salzhütte in Koserow
– Waterblick in Loddin
– Bauernstube in Mellenthin OT Morgenitz

12. CYCLING TOURS IN USEDOM

For short trips or day excursions, it’s always worth renting a bicycle.
At usedomrad.de you can reserve a bike online, pick it up at a station of your choice, start your tour, and drop it off later at any other location.

The daily rate for a standard bike is $12 per day. For three days or more, it costs $8 per day. Children’s trailers, tandems, and e-bikes are also available.

We did a cycling tour from Bansin to Świnoujście. The route follows the impressive promenade of the Kaiserbäder, past numerous seaside villas, over the German-Polish border, and onto the modern promenade of Świnoujście.
Our turnaround point was the Mühlenbake windmill at the town’s coastline. The route is mostly flat, not challenging, and there’s always a pleasant Baltic breeze.

13. MONEY-SAVING TIP FOR ACTIVE PEOPLE

The sports beach between the Ahlbeck and Heringsdorf piers, at the level of Grenzstraße, offers plenty of free fitness and sports courses if you have a guest card/KaiserbäderCard.
You can choose from beach gymnastics, beach workouts, qigong, boccia, indiaca, beach handball, and volleyball.
These activities are offered daily during the summer and, of course, only in good weather. For more information, visit Kaiserbäder auf Usedom.

14. MOBILITY TIP

The entire bus network of the Usedomer Bäderbahn is free to use with the KaiserbäderCard, which you receive with your guest card.
This allows you to easily travel back and forth between the Kaiserbäder of Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf, and Bansin.
Further details, as well as the current schedule and stops, can be found on the website of the Usedomer Bäderbahn.

To explore the coast of Usedom in a relaxed way, we recommend taking the Usedomer Bäderbahn. It runs from Świnoujście to Zinnowitz.
From there, the line splits, allowing you to either continue to Peenemünde or cross the Wolgast Bridge to the mainland towards Barth.
The train stops in all the small towns, and bicycles are allowed on board. For this reason, it’s often used for the return leg of a cycling tour. For more information, visit ubb-online.com.

15. USEDOM IN THE RAIN - WHAT TO DO?

• In Usedom, you can enjoy the water even in bad weather! The OstseeTherme in Ahlbeck or the Bernsteintherme in Zinnowitz offer fun for both adults and children.
• Visit the museums of Usedom. The island offers a variety of museums, such as the Historical-Technical Museum in Peenemünde, the DDR Museum in Dargen , or the Local History Museum in Zinnowitz.
• Check out Usedom’s various exhibitions, such as the Butterfly Farm in Trassenheide, the Tropical Zoo in Basin, or the Crazy Iron House in Zinnowitz.
• A visit to the Usedom Island Cheese Dairy is also worthwhile.
• Don’t miss the Usedom Sand Sculpture Exhibition!

USEFUL LINKS & RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GUIDES FOR YOU

• Find affordable rental cars at rentalcars.com‍
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• Discover the best accommodations‍

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