When you think of Germany, beaches are probably one of the last things that pop into your mind.
In fact, when you think of Germany, there isn’t much coastline at all, but that doesn’t mean that the country has no beaches.
It might surprise you to know that Germany actually has quite a few beaches that are extremely beautiful.
Though Germany’s coastline lies on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, this doesn’t mean that their beaches are any less amazing than some of the beaches you’d find on say the Mediterranean Sea. You just have to be willing to look.
From quiet, isolated beaches, all the way to nude beaches, there is something for everyone in this beautiful country.
In this article, we’ll be talking about some of the best beaches you can find on Germany’s coastline. So let’s take a look!
Rügen
Kicking off this list, we have Rügen beach. This beach is located on the island of Rügen, which is Germany’s largest island.
This beach is roughly a 3 hour’s drive from Berlin and it is definitely worth the drive.
From white-chalk cliffs to the incredible blue color of the Baltic Sea, there is no shortage of beaches for you to explore and relax on at Rügen.
All of the beaches are sandy and they stretch for 38 miles! There are plenty of seaside resorts you can visit, such as Binz and Sellin, which are dotted all over the coast.
Along with the beautiful beaches of Rügen, there are also plenty of hiking trails and biking trails that you can go on, loads of fantastic villages to venture around, and if you go at the right time of year, there is also the Störtebeker theatre festival to attend.
Rügen is a great place for you to visit if you want to feel like you’re on holiday!
Lubmin Beach, Griefswald
Lubmin Beach in Griefswald is actually pretty close to Rügen, and closer to Berlin by at least 10 minutes, but this beach is better suited for adults and those who prefer a safe haven to get an all-body tan.
Lubmin Beach is one of the most popular, and considered by many to be the best nudist beach in all of Germany.
“Freikörperkultur” which means “free body culture” is heavily embraced on the shores of Lumbin Beach, so if you’re comfortable in your skin or you just want to experience the thrill of being naked on the beach, this is the perfect place to have that experience.
Even if you’re not a fan of getting nude, Lubmin Beach is still a beautiful place that is worth checking out.
Along with the sandy beach itself, there are also lovely rugged cliffs nearby and spectacular pine forests which are perfect to explore.
Along with tanning on the beach, there are also lots of other activities you can participate in, such as horseback riding, hiking, and even fishing.
Wannsee Beach, Berlin
If you find yourself in the heart of Berlin and you don’t have time to travel to the coast, you might think that hanging out at the beach is going to be an impossible task, but you’d be wrong!
The Wannsee Lake is the biggest lake near Berlin and it is home to its own little beach that is perfect for anyone who wants the feeling of being at the beach without having to travel too far.
Wannsee Beach is especially popular on warmer days and weekends and is the perfect place to unwind and relax.
Aside from tanning, you can also ride on sailboats, as Wannsee Lake is a popular place for sailing and the sands of the beach are white, so you’ll really feel removed from the city if you check this beach out.
Usedom
Usedom is another beach that is located near the Baltic Sea and it is about a 3 hours drive from Berlin.
This beach is especially popular because of its mysterious and beautiful “singing sand”.
When the wind conditions are just right, the grains of sand of Usedom Beach rub together and they produce lots of strange but beautiful noises.
It really is a beautiful experience to behold and worth the drive just for the “singing sand” alone!
There are plenty of activities all around Usedom for you to participate in too.
From music festivals to lovely food, and even relaxing day spas, there is something for everyone all along these sun-drenched beaches.
Timmendorfer Beach, Niendorf
This beach is a bit further away than some of the other beaches listed.
It will take you roughly 4 hours to drive there, but we’ve included Timmendorfer Beach on this list because it’s a great beach for people who love sports.
Timmendorfer Beach is actually not that well known to anyone except the locals, but that doesn’t mean it’s a quiet beach by any stretch of the imagination.
The entire beach is beautifully sandy and it stretches for 6 km, and you will find all sorts of sports taking place all over the sand.
There is a sports club near the beach that holds regular beach soccer and volleyball matches, there’s even a full-on volleyball arena there!
Along with all the wonderful sports you’ll find on the beach, there are also lots of concerts that happen near the sea, and loads more attractions you can explore if you choose to check this beach out.
Timmendorfer Strand
You will find this beach a little bit outside of Hamburg and it is just under a 4-hour drive away from Berlin.
Timmendorfer Strand is located within the Bay of Lübeck and its sandy shores stretch for 6km.
This beach is extremely popular with the locals, but most tourists have never heard of it.
If you’re looking for a beach that is extremely beautiful and relatively quiet, then this is a great location to check out.
One of the most popular features of this beach is the wonderful pier that stretches out into the sea, giving you a better view of all the beach has to offer.
Timmendorfer Strand is also a popular spa destination for the locals, so if you’re looking for a place to wind down and destress, why not book yourself a spa day in one of the various locations here?
If you’re an avid bird watcher, then this is another reason you should visit Timmendorfer Strand.
There are over 1,300 exotic birds found all over and around the beach, so you will have no shortage of birds to look out for when you visit!
Westerland Beach, Sylt
Westerland Beach gets a mention on this list because it is what’s described as a “luxury beach”. This is the beach where all the rich go to relax and unwind!
There are over 40km of beautiful sandy beaches here and the water is a beautiful shade of blue.
The main caveat of this beach is that it’s a bit out of the way.
If you were to drive from Berlin, it would take you a whopping 8 hours to get there, so if you do want to check out this beach, it might be in your best interest to stop in Hamburg for a day before you head off to Westerland.
If you’re craving luxury though, the travel time is definitely worth it.
The atmosphere of Westerland Beach is incredible and you will feel incredibly high class when you arrive and relax there.
There are plenty of activities and pastimes for you to check out when you get there too and overall, Westerland beach is the perfect place to spend a few days unwinding on the beach.
If you head here in the summer, you will enjoy it even more!
So if you’re looking for a beach to spend your summer holidays at, the luxurious Westerland Beach is definitely a great beach to consider!
South Beach, Fehmarn
If you’re looking for a beach where you can also participate in a wide range of water sports, then you definitely need to check out South Beach.
It is around 4 and ½ hours away from Berlin, but you can stop off in loads of places along the way, including Schwerin and Lubeck, and if you don’t mind adding an extra 10 minutes to your journey, you can hang out in Hamburg for a night before you head to South Beach the next morning.
South Beach is located on Fehmarn Island, in the Baltic Sea and it is the perfect place to indulge in a whole load of water sports, including kitesurfing and windsurfing.
As you can imagine from these listed activities, South Beach is a bit windier than the other beaches on this list, but the wind is what makes this the perfect place for surfing.
If you’re looking for a beach that will satisfy your water sporting needs, then it’s definitely worth traveling to South Beach.
There are some activities for people who aren’t interested in the surf though. One of the other popular pastimes at this beach is bird watching.
On the west side of Fehmarn Island, there is the Wallnau Water Bird Reserve, which is home to a large variety of bird species that you can watch to your heart’s content.
The whole island is worth exploring if you find yourself there, so even if you’re not big into water sports, you can still enjoy your time here.
Ording Beach, St. Peter-Ording
If wellness and mindfulness are more your thing, then Ording Beach is the place for you.
Again, this beach is pretty far away from Berlin, it’s about a 5-hour drive away, but Hamburg is a great place to stop off for the night in between so the drive won’t be as long.
Ording Beach is home to some beautiful sulfur springs, and people swear by their healing properties.
Once you’ve experienced the springs for yourself, you will feel rejuvenated and revitalized and you’ll wonder why you never visited before!
The springs themselves have had a direct influence on the whole area because there are numerous day spas and wellness centers dotted all over this beautiful beach.
If you’re looking for somewhere to practice mindfulness and realign your body, mind, and spirit, then Ording Beach is definitely the beach that is best for you.
The beach itself is beautiful too. It had beautiful white sands and fantastic blue water.
Although this is a place that is more focused on wellness and mindfulness, Ording Beach also happens to be a fantastic surfing spot in Germany, so if you want to catch some waves, this is a great beach to do so.
Warnemünde Beach
If you’re looking for a beach that is family-friendly and a bit closer to Berlin, then
Warnemünde Beach is perfect for you. It will take you just under 3 hours to drive here from the city center and it is very close to the town of Rostock.
There are numerous hotels, restaurants, and parks in the area, so there is no shortage of things for you and your family to enjoy.
There is also a maria located within the beach, so if you fancy getting on a boat or having a go at sailing for yourself.
In fact, the whole outer district of the town that surrounds Warnemünde Beach is a major port town, so there is absolutely no shortage of boats in this area.
Another great thing about Warnemünde Beach is that the water stays quite shallow for quite a distance from the shore, so it’s safe for your children to play in and enjoy without having to watch them every single second.
You shouldn’t leave them unsupervised, however, so just bare that in mind when you visit this beach.
Warnemünde Beach is one of the easiest beaches to get to on this list, so you should definitely take up the opportunity to travel there, especially if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Berlin itself.
Hiddensee
This beautiful beach location is a fantastic little island found west of the island Rügen in the Baltic Sea.
The beauty of this wonderful little island is that it’s completely car-free, so you can enjoy the beaches and the scenery without the sound and smell of cars breaking your immersion.
There are plenty of things to do in Hiddensee, from visiting the small fishing town of Neuendorf to the pretty harbor of Dornbusch.
The beaches are beautiful and sandy and there is a picturesque lighthouse that you can visit while you’re here.
Hiddensee is definitely worth visiting if you want a nature-filled day out with your family and loved ones.
As the entire island is car-free, this does mean that you can’t bring your own car onto the island.
There are also no planes that will take you to the island.
The only means of getting to Hiddensee is to take a ferry from Schaprode, which isn’t too far from the island itself.
You can also get a train from Berlin to Hiddensee if you’d rather not bother driving to Schaprode.
Föhr
Föhr is an island that is found in the North Sea and it is about 6 to 7 hours away from Berlin by car, so it is another location on this list that is quite far away.
You do have the opportunity to stop off in Hamberg for a night or two though, which will definitely break up the travel time a bit.
Regardless of the travel time though, Föhr is another place on this list that is definitely worth visiting.
It is known for its diverse range of lush flora and is home to extremely beautiful gardens.
Föhr is also well known for its endorsement of thalassotherapy, which is a type of healing done through sea air and water, so if you’re looking to relax and rejuvenate, this is the place for you.
The landscape of Föhr is constantly changing as well, and this is thanks to the tides surrounding the island, so certain parts of the island and beaches will only be accessible from time to time, but this adds to the fun and beauty you will experience when you explore it!
Along with beautiful beaches, Föhr is also a part of the Schleswig-Holstein Wattenmeer National Park, so there is absolutely no shortage of nature for you to experience here.
You can also indulge in tennis, golf, wellness centers, and various events that are held throughout the year, so Föhr is the perfect place to visit when you’re looking for a place to enjoy a family holiday.
Conclusion
Though Germany isn’t known for its beaches and seaside resorts, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there! The beaches we’ve listed here are definitely the best you can experience if you do find yourself on Germany’s coast.
There’s something for everyone at all of these beach locations as well, so no one will get bored. Once you visit any of these beautiful beaches, you will wonder why you’ve never heard of them before!
If you get the chance, check out these wonderful beaches!