The islands in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are just as diverse as our individual federal states and their attractions. On the Island of Usedom, the enchanting imperial spa towns await you, on the Island of Rügen, the diverse Jasmund National Park, on the car-free island Hiddensee, the stunningly beautiful beaches and on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, the many charming little coastal villages. Just a few days ago (March 2025), we were on the idyllic Island of Poel, located in the Bay of Wismar in northwest Mecklenburg, in perfect weather. We lazed around on the soft sand overlooking the sea, explored the small holiday resorts on the island of Poel on foot, and enjoyed the beautiful day to the fullest. In the following article, we’ll tell you our top sights on the island of Poel, the most beautiful beaches, and what there is to experience and do there. Enjoy browsing!

• About the island
• Getting to the island of Poel
• Tourist tax on the island of Poel
• Holiday homes & guesthouses
• Campsites on the island
• Mobility on the island of Poel & parking
• Island of Poel sights & seaside resorts
• Food & Drinks
• Travel reading for the island of Poel

About the island

With an area of just 34.3 km², Poel is the seventh-largest island in Germany. Due to its small size, the island is perfect for a relaxing day trip, or you can stay a few days longer. The island of Poel is only 13 kilometers from Wismar and is connected to the mainland by a navigable causeway. And while we’re on the subject, be sure to check out the beautiful city of Wismar; we consider it one of the most beautiful cities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. But back to the island of Poel: The island has a population of just under 2,700, half of whom live in the main town of Kirchdorf. By comparison, the island of Usedom has a population of 31,500, and the island of Rügen has 63,200.

This tranquil island may seem inconspicuous, but it still has a lot to offer, especially if you’re looking for a relaxing and peaceful vacation. Beautiful beaches, idyllic seaside resorts, plenty of peace and quiet, delicious fish sandwiches, a generous portion of the sea, numerous vacation apartments, and plenty of seagull chatter. What more could you need for a relaxing vacation by the sea? We highly recommend a trip to the island of Poel, whether for a short break, a day trip, or a longer stay.

Getting to the island of Poel

By car, take the A20 (coming from Hamburg or Berlin) to the Wismar motorway junction. From there, it’s only a 20-minute drive to the island. Follow the L12 to Gross Strömkendorf and then continue on the L121 until you reach the island. From Rostock, it only took us just under an hour. Alternatively, you can also travel by train and bus* by traveling to Wismar Central Station and changing there to bus 230. This bus stops on the island of Poel in Fährdorf, Niendorf, Kirchdorf, Wangern, Timmendorf, etc. Here is a map with the individual stops.

If you want to avoid the train altogether, you can take long-distance buses to Wismar and from there change to bus 230. Flixbus offers a total of 25 bookable bus connections to Wismar, with ticket prices starting at €3.99 (you can book tickets here*). From Wismar, you can also travel further to the island by boat between the end of March and October, or take the ferry between June and the beginning of September. As always, we recommend not flying within Germany, as it is really unnecessary.

Poel Island Tourist Tax

If you visit the island as a guest, you must pay a so-called “tourist tax”. This fee is used, among other things, for the maintenance of cycling and hiking trails, for cleaning and securing the beaches, and for the maintenance of the boat docks and the upkeep of the village districts. From April 1st to October 31st, you must pay €2.50 per day, and from November 1st to March 31st, you must pay €1.50 per day. You can find a beach vending machine in Timmendorf, Gollwitz, and Am Schwarzen Busch where you can pay the tourist tax. Children up to 17 years of age are exempt from this tax, as are severely disabled people with a disability rating of 80 or higher and their accompanying person. You can find all the current information here: Tourist tax for the island of Poel.

Holiday homes & guesthouses

On the island of Poel, you will look in vain for well-known and large hotel chains and resorts; here, you can find a cozy atmosphere in smaller hotels, holiday homes and apartments, as well as guesthouses. You should book your accommodation well in advance, as availability is very limited and available properties book up quickly. You can use well-known platforms like Booking.com* and Airbnb* to search for accommodations, and you’ll also find a wide selection at the Poel Tourism Service.

A few nice accommodations:

• Hotel Zur Seemöwe in Kirchdorf*
• Inselhotel Poel in Gollwitz*
• Take a break in Kirchdorf*
• Apartment complex Zur Seemöwe in Am Schwarzen Busch*
• FIP Park Achtern Diek in Gollwitz*
• Pension Gutshaus Kaltenhof in Kaltenhof*

Campsites on the island

There are even campsites on the island of Poel. The largest and most popular is in Timmendorf near the lighthouse. The Leuchtturm campsite is open annually from the beginning of April to the end of October and offers pitches for tents, caravans, and campers. A large area is also reserved for permanent campers. The campsite is just a few meters from the sea, which is a major advantage. The site features showers, washrooms, a kitchen, a mini-golf course, shopping facilities, a washing machine, and more. Various water sports and horseback riding are also offered on site. All information about the campsite can be found here. Other sites:

• Poeler Forellenhof RV site
• RV site on the beach in Timmendorf

Mobility on the island of Poel & Parking

There are various ways to explore the island. Since the towns are not far from each other, you can easily cycle there. If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent bikes in the seaside resorts, although they usually don’t open until mid-April (e.g., Bike rental – Poel Tourist Service). The bus is also an excellent way to get from A to B. Bus line 230, among others, connects various towns on the island. For just €2, you can explore the island by bus (island map with stops).

Most tourists use their cars to explore the island. It’s usually only a 5 to 10-minute drive from one town to the next. Large parking lots are located in places like Timmendorf, Am Schwarzen Busch, Kirchdorf (free), and Gollwitz. Signs at the town entrance point to these spaces; you can’t miss them. The good thing about these spaces is that they’re usually located right at the entrance to town, which makes traffic in the towns much less congested. We used the “moBiLET” app to pay the parking fees online. You will also find the usual parking ticket machines in the parking lots (but they do not accept tickets).

Parking fees on the island of Poel for cars:

• 1 hour = €1.00
• 4 hours = €3.50
• Day ticket = €5.00
• Weekly ticket = €35.00
• Motorhomes usually pay double

Island of Poel Sights & Beach Resorts

There are several holiday resorts on the island of Poel that are popular with tourists. These would be, for example, Kirchdorf, Timmendorf, Am Schwarzen Busch, and Gollwitz. We will not refer to the smaller villages (Wangern, Hinterwangern, Niendorf, Malchwo, etc.) in this article. In the following section, you will also learn more about the sights on the island of Poel. Enjoy browsing!

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1. Kirchdorf

In the center of the island is the largest town, Kirchdorf, where approximately 1,500 of the 2,700 inhabitants live. Even from a distance, you can spot the medieval brick island church, located right next to the small harbor. Various excursion and traditional boats depart from the harbor during the season between April and October. Kirchdorf also has two supermarkets (Rewe & Netto), a few cafés and restaurants, as well as the island museum and the large Kirchsee lake. From Kirchdorf, it’s about 4 kilometers by bike (or car) to Timmendorf, just under 2.2 kilometers to Am Schwarzen Busch, and 4 kilometers to Gollwitz.

Larger boats can be rented at the harbor in Kirchdorf from Poeler Bootsbau or Yachtservice. In Kirchdorf, you can also take a trip on the traditional sailing ship “Tilikum” or on the boats “Inga” and “Eldorado” (more information here). If you’d like to learn more about the island, you can take a tour of the island, which runs from April to October (timetable & information here).

2. Timmendorf and Timmendorf Beach

Next, we visit the pretty seaside resort of Timmendorf. The small harbor and the striking lighthouse, which you’ll spot from afar, are particularly beautiful. This lighthouse is the landmark of the island of Poel and is featured on many postcards. From the harbor, you can take a boat trip to Wismar or Boltenhagen, treat yourself to a fresh fish sandwich, or embark on a tour along the Mecklenburg Bay. Timmendorf is home to a large campsite, as well as vacation apartments and guesthouses, a few restaurants, and cafés.

From the harbor, it’s only a few meters to Timmendorf Beach. Here, you’ll find a fine, white Baltic Sea beach with gently sloping water. This makes it ideal for families with children. During the peak season between June and September, the beach is also patrolled by the DLRG (German Lifesaving Association). At Timmendorf Beach, you can enjoy various water sports, such as pedal boating, banana boat rides, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and waterskiing. The fishing boat “Rühn Hart” also departs from Timmendorf, taking you to various diving spots (including wreck diving).

3. Am Schwarzen Busch and Beach

Just 2.2 kilometers from Kirchdorf lies the beautiful resort of Am Schwarzen Busch. A small promenade with a miniature golf course, children’s playground equipment, public restrooms, and several dining options awaits you here. This town also boasts several vacation apartments and guesthouses, an indoor playground, the Poel health clinic, the Cap Arkona memorial, a bicycle rental service, and a truly beautiful beach. The large parking lot is located at the town entrance and is about 800 meters from the beach (a 10-minute walk).

We lay down directly on the fine, white Baltic Sea sand and enjoyed the sun on our skin. The water slopes gently here, making it ideal for families with children. During the peak season, between June and September, the beach is patrolled by the DLRG (German Lifeboat Association). In summer, you can also rent a beach chair here; the prices are said to be “moderate.” If you’re traveling with your four-legged friend or are a fan of nudist culture, you’ll also find separate beach areas here. For us, it’s definitely the most beautiful beach on the island of Poel.

4. Gollwitz & Langenwerder

In the north of the island lies the small seaside resort of Gollwitz and the bird sanctuary island of Langenwerder. It’s best to park your car in the large parking lot right in front and then stroll towards the beach. Along the way, you’ll pass several vacation apartments and guesthouses, a bike rental shop, and a shop/café. At the beach entrance, you’ll find the “Schmuggler Bude” snack bar and a public restroom. The area is especially popular with families with children, as the water between the shore and the bird sanctuary island is shallow. The beach also features a playground, a volleyball net, and a dog-friendly area.

When you’re on Gollwitz Beach, you’ll already see the opposite bird sanctuary island of Langenwerder, which is primarily used by wading, water, and migratory birds as a breeding and resting place. Entering the island is strictly prohibited unless you’re taking part in a guided tour outside of the breeding season (all information here). Also of interest are the bird watchers’ meetings on Gollwitz Beach, which take place from May to July. Also popular are the trips on the Salzhaff ferry from Gollwitz to Rerik, which are offered from June to September. What’s special about these trips is that you have to waddle a few meters through knee-deep water to get to the ferry (prices and times here).

Food & Drink

Since fishing has been a long-standing tradition on the island for centuries, you’ll mostly find seafood and other fish dishes on the menu (everything from eel to cod and pike). You’ll also find numerous other restaurants, cafés, snack bars, harborside pubs, and gastropubs on site. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, almost everything was closed; only a few fishing boats, bakeries, and snack bars were open. The fishing boat directly at Timmendorf’s harbor offers fish sandwiches at reasonable prices. In Kirchdorf, you’ll also find the Rewe and Netto supermarkets if you want to self-cater. For great restaurant and café recommendations, check out Tripadvisor.

Popular restaurants include:

• Café Frida
• Café Zur Seemöwe
• Bensons Grill & Bar
• The Shop & Café
• Kaltenhof Manor House
• Happen Poel
• Poeler Auszeiten

Travel Reading for the Island of Poel

Lazing on the beach, enjoying the sun, and reading a great book? Or would you like to prepare for your vacation and browse through a travel guide? Most recently, we had the travel guide from via reise* with us, in which you can learn more about Wismar, the island of Poel, and Boltenhagen on 144 pages. I (Bolle) also used this guide to walk through Wismar and explore the beautiful city. If you simply need a nice book for the beach, take a look at our article “12 Months – 12 Books” and let yourself be inspired. We have also put together a small selection for you in our book shop.

We hope you enjoyed this article and were able to find some helpful information for your own trip. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has much more to offer, such as the beautiful Müritz National Park, the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, the cool Hanseatic city of Rostock or the pretty Ostseebad Kühlungsborn.