Binz-Rugen Rugen Island Germany
Frequently Asked Questions
No, ships anchor offshore and tenders land passengers in the middle of the resort, at the foot of the Seebrücke pier. Going ashore therefore depends on sea conditions: in rough Baltic weather it can be delayed or cancelled.
The resort's pier, reaching 370 metres out over the water. Restored in its original Art Nouveau style, it serves both as the landing point and as a promenade, shared with anglers and strollers taking in the shoreline.
The seaside architecture the resort is known for: white facades, carved wooden verandas, turrets and loggias, inherited from the golden age of sea bathing between the late 19th century and the 1920s. Villa Salve is the finest example, and a museum in a period villa recreates the daily life of holidaymakers around 1900.
Yes. It is the longest stretch of sand on Rügen, a pale ribbon running for several kilometres, and the water stays shallow well out. The Strandkörbe, the hooded wicker beach chairs typical of the Baltic, dot the sand with their striped silhouettes.
In summer, yes, with lifeguarded bathing, surf schools and baskets of shrimp. But the Baltic stays cool even in July, and out of season swimming is not realistic. The promenade is still worth the trip then: the wind sculpts the dunes and the regulars walk briskly, well wrapped up.
A century-old beech forest covering the hills south of the resort. Marked trails lead to the Granitz hunting lodge, a hilltop castle whose central tower opens a wide view over the island and the sea. Strong walkers can reach it on foot, or take the historic steam railway from the town.
Not from the resort itself: Jasmund National Park lies further north and is visited on a half-day excursion. The white walls drop into a milky turquoise sea from the height of the Königsstuhl, 118 metres above the water. The clifftop paths through the World Heritage beech forest take some stamina.
A fossil resin the sea sometimes deposits on the sand after storms. In the morning, while mist still hangs over the Baltic, the promenade belongs to runners and amber hunters. It is a treasure hunt with no guarantees, but it makes a beach walk pass pleasantly.
The euro and German. Binz is a German resort visited mainly by German holidaymakers: English is understood in hotels and the main shops, less so in small kiosks. Bring cash for beach stands and fishmongers.
Smoked fish is the star in the streets behind the promenade, among the cafés, fishmongers and shops. It is the safest speciality of a call on the German Baltic coast, along with an ice cream eaten facing the waves.
