From Pellworm to Poel: These German islands are still real insider tips

Vacation in Germany: From Pellworm to Poel: These German islands are still real insider tips

Those who love island vacations and fabulous natural landscapes will also find what they are looking for in Germany. We present five small islands in the North and Baltic Seas that are not yet well known and offer holidaymakers great nature experiences as well as peace and quiet and deceleration.

1. Poel: Small island paradise in the Wismar Bay

A real insider tip for all Baltic Sea holidaymakers is Poel. The almost 36 square kilometers large island is located in the Wismar Bay. It is connected to the mainland by a dam and about 20 minutes by car from the city of Wismar.

The sandy beaches in the tranquil bathing towns of Timmendorf, Schwarzer Busch and Gollwitz in the west and north of the island are particularly beautiful. The latter in particular has a long, gently sloping beach – ideal terrain for families with children.

The tourist center of the island is Timmendorf with its lighthouse, the pier and a promenade with restaurants and shops, where holiday guests like to stroll in the afternoons. Especially sunsets can be observed well from there. Tip: The flat island is particularly easy to explore by bike. The 23 kilometer long lighthouse path leads around the island and offers a wonderful view over the sea from most places.

2. Ummanz: Surfing or nature experiences on Rügen’s little sister

Everyone knows the island of Rügen. Much less well-known, however, is her little sister, who is to the west of it: Ummanz. It is only 20 square kilometers and is part of the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park.

It is accordingly contemplative and calm there. Wide fields, avenues, forests and farms surrounded by the sea characterize the landscape. The island can therefore be easily explored on hikes and bike rides.

In the west, however, there is a small hotspot for surfers: One of the largest shallow areas in Germany is located near Suhrendorf on the Schaproder Bodden, offering surfers, kite surfers and SUPers the best flat water conditions. The shallow water is ideal for beginners, but also for advanced, who can practice their maneuvers here.

Tip: Take a walk along the dike: From there you can enjoy the best view over the Bodden and the island of Hiddensee, which is only four kilometers away.

3. Hiddensee: dune landscape and horse-drawn carriages

Shaped like a seahorse, Hiddensee extends west of Rügen. The almost 17 kilometers and up to 4 kilometers wide island, like Ummanz, belongs to the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park and can only be reached by ferry – for example from Schaprode on Rügen. The nice thing is that there is no private car traffic on the island. If you want to get from A to B, you can walk, ride a bike, take the island bus or take a horse-drawn carriage back and forth.

During the GDR era, Hiddensee was a summer retreat for artists and intellectuals, who could develop more freely there than in the rest of the republic. Today the island with its 17 km long dune beach is a paradise for families and nature lovers.

Points of contact for tourists are the three places Neuendorf, Kloster and Vitte, which is also considered the secret capital. The ferries from Schaprode also dock here. Must-dos on Hiddensee include a visit to the Gerhart Hauptmann House, the playwright’s former summer residence in Kloster, and a trip to the Dornbusch lighthouse. It stands on the 70 meter high Schluckswiek Mountain in the very north of the island, from where vacationers can enjoy a wonderful view of the island landscape and the Baltic Sea.

4. Pellworm: Green island in the Wadden Sea

Pellworm lies flat and like a green carpet in the Schleswig-Hollsteinisches Wattenmeer National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of the color and the many sheep and cows that graze everywhere, the almost 37 square meter island is also called Little Ireland.

However, if you are looking for long sandy beaches, this is the wrong place. On Pellworm there are so-called green beaches, i.e. meadows on the dike, where you can swim in the North Sea at high tide. If the breeze is too stiff and the water too cold, guests can use the Pellewelle leisure pool, which is open all year round.

One of the most beautiful activities on Pellworm that no guest should miss is a mudflat hike. Twice a day, the ebb tides clear the sea floor, making guided tours possible. Tip: It is best to book a tour with Inselunikum Knud Knudsen. The postman leads guests safely through the mudflats to Süderoog, the only Hallig inhabited all year round. After a one-hour coffee break on this mini island, it’s back to Pellworm.

Book tip: “Föhr, Amrum, Pellworm, Nordstrand, Halligen” (advertisement)

5. Langeoog: endless beach and nature trails

White dune beaches, wild sea and colorful beach chairs – you can find all of this on Langeoog. The East Frisian island, which lies between Baltrum and Spiekeroog, awaits in the north with a 14 kilometer long natural beach with dunes up to 20 meters high.

The island’s landmark is the 18-meter-high, octagonal water tower in the northwest of the island, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century. From up there there is a beautiful view of the island and the North Sea.

Hikers can explore the island’s nature reserves on lovingly laid out nature trails. The “Osterhoog” educational trail leads to an observation platform in the east of the island, from which one can look over to Spiekeroog. The seals on the offshore sandbanks can also be observed with binoculars. The “Flinthörn” nature trail, on the other hand, leads to the southwest of the island to breeding and resting places for the water birds that live there. Tip: You should definitely take part in a guided mudflat hike here as well.

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