We love islands, and above all, we love the feeling of being surrounded by water. A small piece of land in the middle of the Baltic Sea… isn’t that a wonderful idea? The beautiful island of Hiddensee is located off the west coast of the island of Rügen and is often referred to as the “Pearl of the Baltic Sea.” Before our trip, we didn’t really know much about this island, except that it’s not particularly big and you’re not allowed to drive there.

What? No cars? Yes, exactly! And honestly, that was what we were looking forward to most. So we set off, took the ferry over to the island, and spent a magical weekend there in the best weather. Since then, the island has burrowed deep into our hearts. You can find out everything you can see and experience on the island of Hiddensee in today’s travel report. Enjoy browsing!

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• Holiday in Zinnowitz on the Baltic Sea
• Rügen Island and Jasmund National Park
• 20 great places in Germany
• The Mecklenburg Lake District

• Short break in Büsum on the North Sea
• Ahrenshoop on the Baltic Sea
• Tips for Rothenburg ob der Tauber
• Kühlungsborn on the Baltic Sea

• Other great places in Germany
• General information about the island of Hiddensee
• Arrival & Hiddensee ferry
• Accommodation on the island
• Getting from A to B
• Best time to visit Hiddensee
• Highlights & sights
• Conclusion about the island of Hiddensee
• Impressions of the island of Hiddensee
• FAQs of the island of Hiddensee

General information about the island of Hiddensee

The beautiful island of Hiddensee (part of the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park) is just 17 kilometers long and only 250 meters wide at its narrowest point. It is the perfect island for exploring by bike. Here on Hiddensee there are the 4 districts of Vitte, Kloster, Neuendorf and Grieben. The number of highlights is therefore limited, which only makes a vacation more relaxing. You never have to feel like you’re missing out on anything here. On Hiddensee, you can simply unwind; stress, hecticness, and everyday worries remain on the mainland.

The island of Hiddensee is quiet, pristine, and home to only around 1,000 inhabitants. According to the NDR (North German Broadcasting Corporation), 50,000 vacationers visit the island every year. While we were on the island at the end of June, it was quite busy, but at no time was it overcrowded or crowded; it’s spread out wonderfully. If you’re ever in the area (Fischland Darß, Rügen, Stralsund, etc.), you should definitely take a detour to the island of Hiddensee in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Arrival & Hiddensee Ferry

The seaside resort of Hiddensee Island is car-free, so cars must stay on the mainland. The only way to get to the island is by ferry. Ferries operated by the Hiddensee Shipping Company depart from Schaprode eight times a day to Hiddensee and back (45 minutes each way to Vitte). Alternatively, you can also depart from Stralsund or Dranske. It’s best to book your tickets in advance on the Hiddensee Shipping Company website, which you simply need to show on your smartphone upon departure. You can also find the exact timetable on the page.

We paid €24.32 for a return trip (Schaprode – Vitte), including a day spa ticket. You can also purchase your ticket in advance at the port in Schaprode, for example, but doing so online is less stressful. You can find all prices in this overview. Important: The daily spa tax is €2 from April 1st to October 31st and €1.50 from November 1st to March 31st. For dogs, you have to pay €0.50 per day, regardless of the month you travel to the island. For a bike, you pay €5.30 one way or €9.50 for a round trip.

Accommodation on the island

You can actually find quite a few accommodations on the island, whether vacation apartments, guesthouses, private rooms, or hotels. We stayed at the Hotel Godewind in Vitte. Vitte is the central town on the island, which we also reached by ferry. From the harbor in Vitte, it was only 5 minutes to our quiet and cozy hotel. You can also find suitable accommodations in Neuendorf and Kloster. We’ve picked out a few nice places to stay below, which we would also book ourselves.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for on platforms like Booking.com* or Airbnb*, call the accommodations directly. In our experience, you can still get a room over the phone, even if it was marked as “fully booked” on some platforms. We spontaneously emailed the Hotel Godewind and promptly received a response that something was available. For €69, we spontaneously got a simple room with a shared shower and breakfast (at the end of June). The website www.hiddenseeservice.de is also recommended.

This might interest you:

Book hotel here*

The Seemannshus guesthouse is located directly in Vitte and features a tour desk, a restaurant, a garden, and cozy rooms with private bathrooms. Wi-Fi is available in all areas. A continental breakfast buffet awaits you in the morning.

8.6 out of 10 points on Booking.com

Book hotel here*

This hotel is located in the north of the island in the Kloster district, directly on the beautiful harbor. A beautiful view, a sun terrace and garden, as well as a restaurant and bar await you here. The beach is just 700 meters away, and Vitte is only 2 km away.

3.5 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor

Book hotel here

The Pension Strandhotel is located in Vitte and is also managed by the Hotel Godewind. The family-run hotel awaits you with ten cozy rooms with shower and toilet. Some rooms even have a sea view. Breakfast is served here every morning from 8 to 10 a.m.

4.6 out of 5 points on Google

Book hotel here*

The Hotel Heiderose is located between Vitte and Neuendorf and awaits you with a restaurant, fitness center, garden and terrace, and sauna. A continental breakfast is served in the morning. Previous guests particularly praise the delicious cuisine and the very friendly and helpful staff.

4.5 out of 5 points on Tripadvisor

Getting from A to B

As we already mentioned, there are no cars on the island (only the police, post office, etc.). So you can easily walk and cover longer distances by bike. There is also a small island bus that runs regularly between Neuendorf in the south and Kloster/Grieben in the north. However, a bike gives you the most flexibility and allows you to decide when and where you want to go. The bus runs Monday to Friday; a day ticket costs €4.50.

There are countless bike rental shops on the island, where you can rent a simple bike for as little as €5 a day. The most “expensive” rental is right at the harbor in Vitte, at €7 per day. All the others were €1 to €2 cheaper. Incidentally, it’s not really worth bringing your own bike to the island, as the ticket costs €8. For that price, you can also easily rent a bike on the island of Hiddensee. There are also e-bikes, rickshaws, and bike trailers for your luggage.

Best Time to Travel to Hiddensee

We were on the island of Hiddensee at the end of June and enjoyed fantastic summer weather (up to 30°C) with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Of course, this is no guarantee; the weather can vary from year to year. We can’t tell you when the best time to travel to Hiddensee is. It also depends on what temperatures you prefer. Do you cope well with the heat and love relaxing on the beach and sunbathing? Then the months of June to August (September) are definitely the right choice.

If you prefer a milder climate and don’t like traveling during peak season, the months of May, September, and October might be interesting for you. According to climate tables, the coldest and wettest months with the most precipitation are December, January, February, and March. During these months, it can get quite unpleasant on the island (wind, rain, snow, storms, etc.). But even here, you can be lucky and experience wonderful, sunny winter days on the island. We are certain that the island of Hiddensee has its own charm in every season.

Highlights & Sights

There aren’t countless sights, highlights, and excursion destinations on the island, but there are still plenty of places and things you can do and experience during your stay. We love small, manageable towns that don’t overwhelm you with activities. We particularly enjoyed the cozy villages, the stunningly beautiful beaches, and the enchantingly idyllic nature. We’ve marked the most important spots for you on the map.

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Cycling on the island

One of the highlights for us was definitely cycling on the island. It was so relaxing, not having to share the paths and roads with cars. The paths are very well-developed and nice and wide, so there’s enough space for everyone. Get a bike and explore the island on your own. Enjoy the fresh Baltic Sea breeze, the idyllic landscapes of Hiddensee Island, and best of all, just go with the flow (you won’t get that far anyway). We occasionally had a picnic along the way and enjoyed the view. It’s naturally beautiful at the harbors or on the beaches.

Gellen Lighthouse & Beach

Our first tour took us from Vitte to the south of the island to the Gellen Lighthouse and its adjacent stretch of beach. The red and white tower was built in 1905 and, at just 12 meters high, is the smallest lighthouse we’ve explored so far. It stands directly above the dune and still serves as a guide for ships traveling on the Gellenstrom. Park your bike at the wooden railing in front of the lighthouse and be sure to take a detour to the sea.

In the hot temperatures, we couldn’t help but jump into the water. Once again, we were surprised by crystal-clear water and soft, light sand. What a scenery! On the horizon, a few sailboats bobbed gently in the water, and for a brief moment, we thought we were in the Caribbean. Germany, you are such a beautiful country! Be sure to check out our Instagram stories, where you can also see a few videos.

Neuendorf in the South of the Island

In the south of the island lies the district of Neuendorf with a harbor, a few scattered guesthouses, thatched houses, a bike rental, a snack bar, a supermarket, and the fishing museum with a wooden sculpture meadow. From Vitte, it’s about 5 km by bike to the village. Park your bike in the village and simply stroll through the few streets and paths down to the harbor. Here we had a picnic on a wooden bench and enjoyed the view. 2 km from Neuendorf, the uninhabited Gellen Peninsula with its lighthouse begins.

The Dune Heath

South of Vitte begins one of the island’s major landscape types, namely the natural dune heath. While in the north you’ll find the “Hiddensee Highlands,” the south is more flat and bushy. The Dune Heath Nature Reserve awaits you with pretty heather, crowberries, lichens, and creeping willows. It is said to be particularly beautiful in early autumn and late summer, when the heath is in bloom. The Hiddensee National Park House offers guided hikes; information is available on-site. If you drive from Vitte to Neuendorf, you’ll automatically pass the Dune Heath.

Strolling through Vitte

Our starting point was the centrally located town of Vitte. We arrived here by ferry, had our accommodations there, and also started our tours from Vitte. In Vitte, you’ll find several restaurants, shops, a pharmacy, an Edeka supermarket, a Postbank bank, several bike rentals, a tent cinema, an ice cream factory, and numerous accommodations. The “Red House,” the “Blue Barn,” and the “Witch’s House” are worth seeing. And you definitely shouldn’t forget a trip to the beautiful beach (see cover photo). If you’re hungry: Hafenkater (Harbor Cat), Aunt Hedwig, and the red house.

Strolling through the Kloster district

We liked the pretty town of Kloster in the north of the Baltic Sea island the best. Horse-drawn carriages still drive along the unpaved paths, gardens are blooming everywhere, and vacationers sit outside in the restaurants and cafés with a beer or ice cream. It’s very cozy down by the harbor, but we also liked the Kirchweg (church path) with its pretty shops and a few restaurants. Be sure to stop at the “Fischuppen” (Fish Shed) and browse through the wonderful shop. Here you can find beautiful items from local labels, and you’ll also find our products on the shelves.

In the Kloster district, there’s also a hair salon, a church, a small supermarket, the local history museum, a kiosk, souvenir shops, and, of course, some accommodations. Highly recommended are the ice cream factory, Schilling’s Harbor Office (delicious veggie burgers), Cafeteria Bach (delicious cakes), the Schmuckbar Hiddensee, and the wine restaurant Hedins Oe. In the evening, many people sat on the large rocks on the beach at Kloster and admired the unique sunset. More on this below…

Inselblick Viewpoint

From the Kloster district, take the lighthouse path to the Inselblick viewpoint. From this spot, you have a fantastic view of the entire island. If you arrive by bike, be prepared for a steep climb. Behind Kloster begins the “Hiddensee Highlands,” with the island’s highest elevation (72 meters). The bike path ends shortly after the viewing platform. Then lock your bike to the wooden railing and continue on foot to the lighthouse.

Dornbusch Lighthouse

Only a few meters separate you from the island’s highest point, the Bakenberg (72 meters) with the Dornbusch Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1887 and is around 28 meters high. Even from a distance, you can see the white tower in this truly picturesque setting. You can even climb the 102 steps to the viewing platform and enjoy the magnificent view over the island. Between April and October, the tower is open daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. Admission is €3, children up to 17 years old €1.50. Behind the lighthouse, paths continue to Fliederberg, Svantiberg and Enddorn (high-bank path).

Klausner Stairs

From the lighthouse, a path on the right leads to the Klausner Stairs and the Zum Klausner” restaurant. Follow the path and enjoy the jungle-like atmosphere of the thorn bush forest. The restaurant also offers apartments and rooms, as well as cozy wooden cottages with a view of the sea. The steep staircase leads you down to the sea, overlooking the cliffs.

Sunset by the Sea

If you’re vacationing on the island of Hiddensee, you shouldn’t miss a sunset by the sea. Ride to the beach, park your bike, and walk down to the water. Pack a blanket, a cool beer, and maybe some tasty snacks. Breathe in the fresh Baltic Sea air deeply, close your eyes for a moment, listen to the sea, and realize how beautiful this moment is. Then open your eyes again and marvel at the beautiful colors in the sky… simply magnificent!

Conclusion on the Island of Hiddensee

If you’ve been following our trip on Instagram, then you certainly know that we really enjoyed our stay on the island of Hiddensee. We simply love cycling through nature, having the water around us, and walking with our feet through soft sand.

For us, the island is the perfect place to recharge our batteries and truly unwind. We lacked nothing; we would have loved to stay longer. But we’ll make up for it and will definitely take another longer vacation on the island of Hiddensee. Whether it’s a day trip or a longer journey – Hiddensee is well worth it!

Impressions of Hiddensee Island

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