Rügen is one of the most popular travel destinations in this country and offers some of the most beautiful seaside resorts on the German Baltic Sea coast. The five most famous seaside resorts on Rügen are Baabe, Binz, Göhren, Sellin and Thiessow, in the southeast of Germany’s largest island. But the bustling port town of Sassnitz is also well worth a visit. Here, miles of sandy and pebble beaches are paired with stylish spa architecture and cosy beach chairs. In the vicinity of the seaside resorts, a varied nature invites you to go hiking and cycling. Numerous excursion options and attractions enrich your stay in one of the traditional seaside resorts on Rügen. For example, the narrow-gauge steam railway “Rasender Roland” connects some of the seaside resorts on Rügen with each other.

Binz

Binz is the most famous and at the same time most sophisticated seaside resort on Rügen. It has a kilometre-long white sandy beach and is the largest holiday resort on the entire island. In the centre of Binz stretches the spa square with the pier. Every year in September, the entertaining Seebrückenfest takes place here. In the summer months, there are open-air concerts on the Kurplatz almost every day. The striking Kurhaus, now an elegant hotel, is also enthroned there. The Granitz hunting lodge invites you to take an excursion in the area around Binz. From the extravagant central tower, the view sweeps far over the lovely landscape of Rügen. It is even the most visited castle in the entire state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

From Binz, holidaymakers can quickly reach Prora, known for the “Giant of Prora”, a 4.5-kilometre-long holiday resort for 20,000 people once built by the Nazis. In the meantime, the facility has been transformed into one of the most exciting renovation projects in Germany. The Rügen Oldtimer Museum is also worth a visit, where Europe’s largest steam locomotive can be admired.

Sellin

The pretty pier of Sellin can rightly be considered one of the most beautiful piers along the entire German Baltic Sea coast. The elegant bridge house was built in the style of spa architecture and now houses a restaurant. The first hotel in Sellin opened its doors as early as 1887. At the end of the pier, a diving gondola allows insights into the underwater world.

In Wilhelmstraße, several villas in the style of spa architecture are lined up. It ends at the up to 30-metre-high cliffs, from where it is only a stone’s throw to the pier, which can be reached via a wooden staircase or comfortably by lift. In the Amber Museum, the only one of its kind on Rügen, you can learn more about the “Gold of the Baltic Sea”.

Near Sellin, the wooded ridge of the Granitz stretches between the Baltic Sea and Lake Sellin. Numerous cycling and hiking routes lead through the area wooded by beech and sessile oaks.

Göhren

Göhren inspires guests with two long beaches. The relaxed resort and Kneipp spa has a spacious promenade with magnificent arcades, refreshing water features and interesting themed gardens. Around the spacious spa square and in the flower-lined spa garden, you can take a wonderful stroll. A pier is not missing in Göhren as well as in the other well-known seaside resorts on Rügen. The seaside resort is considered particularly family-friendly; Families with children can expect many great fun and games here, fine sandy and supervised beaches with many leisure activities for an entertaining beach holiday on the Baltic Sea beach. A beautiful mini golf course or, more precisely, an adventure golf course directly by the sea also contributes to this. In August, the Viking Beach Festival takes place in Göhren.

Baabe

The former fishing village of Baabe has a small historic village centre and, like the other seaside resorts, has a fine white sandy beach. In the village, traditional houses with thatched roofs and old villas in the style of spa architecture are mixed. Highlights during a stay in Baabe include a visit to the cabaret theatre “Lachmöwe”. Political satire and varied cuisine form a fruitful combination here. Classical concerts delight guests in the so-called “sounding church”, which has unique acoustics due to its construction.

Thiessow

Thiessow impresses above all with its cozy flair. Here, on the Mönchsgut peninsula, nature has formed many branching headlands and romantic bays. The Baltic Sea resort of Thiessow is also located on such a headland. The dreamy landscape between the Baltic Sea and the Greifswald Bodden has already enchanted many visitors. The sea nestles into the village from three sides. A cycle path connects Thiessow with the hinterland and the other seaside resorts on the island of Rügen. The location has the advantage for holidaymakers that they will find a wide range of water sports here even more than in the other seaside resorts.

Sassnitz

The bustling port town of Sassnitz and the second largest municipality on Rügen differs a little from the previously presented seaside resorts, but is no less inviting for swimming and strolling by the sea. Economically, everything here revolves around Rügen Fisch, the largest German producer of canned fish, and the port in nearby Mukran. Sassnitz also has a city harbour, which is connected to the city centre by a 270-metre-long pedestrian suspension bridge. Spa architecture also characterises the face of Sassnitz. At the gates of Sassnitz stretches the Jasmund National Park with the famous chalk cliffs of Rügen. In the Königsstuhl National Park Centre, which was opened in 2004, there is only a fantastic viewing platform, but also an interactive exhibition including a multivision cinema. Between Sassnitz and Binz stretches the wide bay of the Prorer Wiek with fantastic sandy beaches.

Nature, adventure, culture and culinary delights offer a suitable holiday experience for every holidaymaker in the seaside resorts on Rügen. This applies to families with children, but also to nature lovers and art lovers.

When you make a place your own, the tourist attractions become irrelevant and you focus on the experiences and the charming corners of that place. In this case, the phrase “it’s not the same to talk about it like living it” makes perfect sense, because no matter how much you learn about Ulm in travel texts, you have to have been there to see the daily life of the inhabitants of this special city and their charm on site to really have a say.

Ulm is located 95 km from Stuttgart and 120 km from Munich, so it is very possible to “escape” to Ulm, which is tranquil compared to the two big cities, when visiting the south of Germany. It is a city with a high quality of life that forces you to stop at every corner, which is why it is very popular with visitors and is always a pleasure to visit.

Since time is precious and the size of the city is manageable, here are a few tips for your visit to Ulm so that you can get the most out of your stay. One of its peculiarities is that the city belongs to two different federal states, whose border is defined by the Danube. On the one hand, Ulm belongs to the state of Baden-Württemberg and on the other hand, Neu-Ulm belongs to the state of Bavaria. The city is also known as the birthplace of Albert Einstein.

Ulmer Spatz

The symbol of the city is the sparrow, which can be found everywhere in the city. According to legend, it was a sparrow that helped complete the construction of the cathedral. A pillar had to be driven through the city gate, and there was no way to get it through. The builders at the time intended to build the bridge horizontally (over the entire width) and, of course, the beam did not fit through. They had to look at how a sparrow builds its nest to realize that it was best to turn the beam so that it fits lengthwise through the city gate.

Ulm Minster

The Ulm Cathedral rises into the sky with its 161.5-metre-high spire. After 768 spiral steps, you reach the observation deck, which is highly recommended not only for the physical exercise, but also for the magnificent view. It should be clarified that it is not really a cathedral and should be called a church, as it has never been the seat of a bishop. Gothic-style construction began in the 14th century and was completed in the 19th century. The city market takes place every Saturday morning on Münsterplatz. Important events such as the wine festival and the Christmas market also take place here. There is also the town hall, which was built in 1993. It is a beautiful white building about which opinions are divided. What is certain is that the square itself represents a contrast of styles.

Ulm Centre

The Münsterplatz is the center of the city. Opposite is Hirschstraße, a must if you want to go shopping or go to the train station. To the right are the pedestrian streets that are worth a walk, including Herrenkellergasse or, as I call it by many locals, the “most charming” Ulmer Straße, where you will find Bäckerei Zaiser, a traditional bakery that sells the Ulmer Zuckerbäcker, the typical sweet bread of the city.

Ulm Town Hall

With its Renaissance façade, frescoes and astronomical clock, it is particularly worth seeing. The town hall is located on the market square, how could it be otherwise. In the same square is the fish box, a fountain with three statues of warriors, which closes its spouts in winter because of the danger of frost. This Renaissance architecture contrasts with the modernity of the city library, a glass pyramid that is a pleasure to sit in on sunny days.

Fishermen’s Quarter

The fishermen’s quarter is a must-see in Ulm, which is located at the confluence of the Iller and Blau rivers on the Danube. If you’re short on time and only have one place to visit, just stroll through the narrow streets and let yourself be enchanted by the charm of this special neighborhood. It’s like diving into a fairy tale, with canals and houses that take you back to the Middle Ages. In addition to the charming promenade, the Hotel Schiefes Haus, a hotel with a completely crooked façade, is a destination worth seeing on your way through. Even better, you reserve a room there to admire it from the inside. However, don’t let the name fool you, this is not a neighborhood where fishermen used to live, but it is so called because the red tiles of the houses are reminiscent of the scales of a fish.

Butcher’s Tower

The slaughterhouse has a legend that is so curious that you should know it. Butchers were imprisoned there because they had stretched sausages with shavings. When the mayor entered the tower, the intimidated butchers gathered in a corner full of fear. Since they were too fat, the tower buckled under their weight. A good excuse to justify the fact that urgently needed renovations to the building were missed.

Medieval city walls

A walk along the medieval city wall, which runs from the fishermen’s quarter to Friedrichsau, is a welcome change. During the walk, a stop at the Eagle Bastion near the Rose Garden is a must. The Ulm tailor Albert Ludwig Berblinger wanted to fly from there in 1811. Berblinger had constructed wings from wood, ropes, herringbones, and silk (a replica of his wonderful device, which resembles a red-and-white striped butterfly, can be seen on the ceiling of the town hall). He is said to have flown successfully on other occasions, but on this day luck was not on his side, luck was not on his side and he crashed.

Located on the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, the state capital of Kiel welcomes its visitors with a mixture of maritime flair, vibrant city culture and the discreet but honest North German joie de vivre. The location of the city on the Kiel Fjord invites you to a variety of activities on land and water.

Kiel, the city of maritime traditions

Kiel is historically closely linked to seafaring. The German Baltic Sea coast was already considered an important port location in the European Middle Ages. Kiel received city rights in 1242 and developed into one of the most important trading centres on the Baltic Sea in the following centuries. Due to the infrastructural connections to the other parts of Germany or its predecessor states, the city became a center of shipbuilding. Famous sailing ships such as the “Sea Cloud”, but also warships and submarines were launched in Kiel.

The Maritime Museum bears witness to the maritime traditions of the city and the surrounding region. Visitors can look forward to miniaturized ship models, historical navigation devices, former uniforms of the German Navy and insights into the history of the legendary Kiel Week.

The Kiel Week – ten days dedicated to sailing

The Kiel Week is a world-famous sailing event and takes place annually in the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein. An average of three million visitors from all over the world attend the ten-day event, which has the character of a folk festival for the citizens of the city. The Kiel Week, which always ends on the last Sunday of June, offers a unique mixture of maritime traditions, top-class sport and a festive atmosphere. An extensive supporting programme on land guarantees entertainment and variety for every taste: live music on various stages, varied culinary delights and numerous hands-on activities for adults, children and young people ensure unforgettable experiences in Kiel.

The last day of the event ends with a 20-minute light show over the inner fjord, where visitors can marvel at a spectacular drone and laser show as well as a magnificent fireworks display.

The Kiel region – water sports, boat trips and idyllic beaches

The Kiel Fjord, an approximately 17-kilometre-long inlet of the Baltic Sea, is a paradise for nature lovers. Located between the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and Eckernförde, the region is a popular destination for tourists, sailors and water sports enthusiasts. The Kiel Fjord was formed due to glacial movements during the last ice age, which makes it geologically considered a young landscape. Thousands of years ago, the glacier tongues pushed deep into the mainland, leaving behind a channel that filled with seawater over time. The fjord reaches a depth of up to 40 meters and a maximum width of just under four kilometers.

Characteristic of the region are sandy beaches, steep banks and dense forests that stretch across the landscape of Schleswig-Holstein, which is characterized by gentle hills.
Hikers and cyclists enjoy a dense network of paths, while water sports enthusiasts get their money’s worth with sailing, surfing, kiting and stand-up paddling.
If you want to experience Kiel’s maritime traditions up close, take a boat trip across the fjord.

Sights in Kiel – from the show aquarium to the lively shopping street

Kiel is the city of the sea. Accordingly, the sea is at the centre of the sights that the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein offers.
In the show aquarium of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, visitors have the opportunity to marvel at the habitats of marine animals native to the Baltic Sea in more than 30 tanks. The Hörn Campus, which is one of the most impressive buildings in Kiel, is also dedicated to the sea: the architecture combines the elements of water and wind in the form of a building that is reminiscent of a glass sail.

If you want to use your visit to the city for shopping, it is best to go to Holstenstraße. This is located in the middle of the city centre not far from the Kiel Fjord and awaits tourists and locals with numerous specialist shops and department stores.

On the trail of Kiel’s history – a visit to the castle garden

With more than 1,500 plants, Kiel’s Palace Garden is a green oasis in the middle of the city. With its fountains, statues and a small lake, it invites you to walk and relax. A visit is an opportunity to learn more about the history of the castle garden and the city of Kiel.

The design of the garden, which was first laid out in 1558, reflects the culture of various European epochs: Originally laid out as a Renaissance garden during the reign of Duke Adolf I, it was subsequently considered one of the symbols of the magnificent Baroque period under his widowed wife Friederike Amalie. After the death of the regent, the garden fell into disrepair again before it was converted into an English landscape garden in the middle of the 19th century. After the Second World War, the castle garden fell into disrepair again and partly served as a parking lot. Since 2007, the gradual reconstruction has been carried out according to historical plans, so that the garden shines in its old glory today.

Kiel – where sea air meets tradition

Located on the Baltic Sea coast, the city combines the fascination of the sea with pride in its maritime traditions. Shipping, sailing and the culture associated with it characterize Kiel, while historical monuments and contemporary sights testify to the importance of the city.

Facts about Kiel

Geographical location

• Kiel stretches in a horseshoe shape around the natural harbour of Kiel Fjord, an important seaport on the Baltic Sea.
• The northernmost part of the city, Schilksee, is located directly on the open Baltic Sea.
• The watershed between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea runs through the city, which underlines its geographical and historical importance.

Economy and transport

• With a gross value added of over 11 billion euros (2021) and a diverse economic structure, Kiel is a dynamic business location.
• The Port of Kiel is a central hub for freight and ferry traffic, with over 1.4 million arrivals and departures in 2022.
• Kiel actively promotes cycling and has a well-developed network of public transport.

Culture and leisure

• The city offers a rich cultural program, including theater, music events, and a variety of museums.
• Kiel is known for the Kiel Week, the largest sailing event in the world and a folk festival that attracts millions of visitors every year.
• In terms of culinary delights, you can enjoy North German cuisine in Kiel, including fresh fish and seafood.

Nature and surroundings

• The scenic surroundings of Kiel, characterized by moraine hills and the proximity to Holstein Switzerland, offer numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.
• The Kiel Fjord and the surrounding beaches invite you to water sports and relaxing days by the sea.

Education and research

• Kiel is an important location for education and research with renowned universities and research institutions, which gives the city a young and dynamic flair.

In your article, you should enrich these facts with vivid descriptions and perhaps personal experiences to give readers a comprehensive picture of Kiel as an attractive travel destination.