From the popular seaside resorts of Baltic coast to the ‘Bavarian Sea’, here are our top 10 best beaches in Germany, in glorious pictures…
1. Sylt
Germany ‘s northernmost island is fondly known as the ‘Queen of the North Sea’. While lovers of Lindisfarne or Heligoland may disagree, Sylt can claim the crown thanks to its beaches. There are nearly 40 km of fine sandy beaches along its west coast, so you should be able to find a spot for yourself. Wide Wenningstedt is best for families, while the white-sanded Samoa and Sansibar are tropical at least in name. End a day on the beach with watching the sunset from Rotes Kliff (red cliff) near Kampen.
2. Bay of Lübeck
Known more to historians than students of the sun, the Bay of Lübeck boasts more than one beautiful beach. There’s Timmendorfer, Scharbeutzer, Grömitzer (plus the dune beach at Dhame) and Pelzerhaken in the south, where you have the sun for the whole day. If you get bored of the beach, there are several lighthouses and the pier at Scharbeutz to explore, and break for an appropriately ocean-going lunch in the fishing village of Sierksdorf.
3. Usedom
The Pomeranian island of Usedom, shared between Germany and Poland, has a 45km-long coast with stunning sandy beaches trailing along small bays. Popular spots are the seaside resorts Drei Kaiserbäder, Bernsteinbäder and the Ostseebäder. Zempin is the smallest seaside resort in Usedom, more boutique than bucket and spade, where you’ll always find a quiet spot. Leisure opportunities on the island include horse riding, cycling and, when you need to relax again, thermal spas.
4. St. Peter-Ording
St. Peter-Ording in Schleswig-Holstein is known more for its healing quality sulphur springs than its beach, but a walk its 12-km long stretch is sure to do wonders for body and mind. The tide recedes a long, long way so you have to walk a while to get to the water if it’s out. It’s very popular amongst kite surfers as well as bathers but its size means it rarely gets busy.
5. Amrum
The island of Amrum is south of Sylt, with the Wadden Sea on its east side, and on its west, the Kniepsand, a 10km-wide sandbank. Amrum is known as the ‘Island of Freedom’ and on an early summer’s day you may well have a beach to yourself.
6. Hiddensee
The Baltic island of Hiddensee covers a mere 17 square kilometres. It is completely car-free, so you have to leave your vehicle behind at the harbour and continue on foot or horseback, or by bike or the ‘Bimmelbahn’ toy train. The west coast of the island is one long sandy beach, backed by sand dunes. The sections at Vitte, Kloster and Neuendorf are manned and cleaned regularly, which makes them popular. The gently-shelving beach next to Vitte is a family-favourite, but it also has a designated nudist area.
7. Juist
Juist is one of the seven inhabited East Frisian Islands which stretch across the north coast of Germany. Juist is 17km-long with an equally extensive white sandy beach, which is completely accessible and perfect for long walks. Driving is also not allowed on Juist; the transport is provided by a fleet of 100 horses.
8. Rügen
Germany’s biggest island, Rügen boasts around 60 km worth of beaches and several seaside resorts including Binz, the biggest. The chalk cliff (pictured) is an impressive sight, while atop the cliffs are the ancient beech forests of Jasmund National Park, which are a UNESCO world heritage site. The average 1800 hours of sun each year make Rügen the sunniest – and one of the hottest – places in Germany.
9. Rostock
With a good beach of fine sand, Warnemünder is the seaside resort part of Rostock in Germany’s north-east, situated where the River Warnow flows into the Baltic. Graal-Müritz is another resort, near Rostock, which draws the crowds not only to its beach but to its rhododendron festival held every spring.
10. Chiemsee
A beach doesn’t have to be by the sea. Germany has many lovely lakes, including Chiemsee, known as the ‘Bavarian Sea’, while another national favourite is Lake Constance (pictured). Both attract people to dip their toes in freshwater when the sun is high in the summer sky.
