The small Baltic Sea resort of Zingst is located on the beautiful Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula and awaits you with some fantastic sights. If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that we consider the peninsula the most beautiful region in all of Germany. Here on the Baltic Sea coast in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, you’ll find not only stunning beaches, but also charming fishing villages, plenty of tradition and culture, and numerous excursion options.
Today it’s all about the small Baltic Sea spa town of Zingst, which is located between Prerow, the Vorpommern Boddenlandschaft National Park and the spectacular Hohe Düne. In the following article, we would like to reveal our top Zingst sights and give you plenty of inspiration for your trip to the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. Enjoy browsing!
- Sights in Zingst
- Excursion tips & Surroundings
- Hotels in Zingst
- Mobility on the Peninsula
- Arrival in Zingst
- Parking in Zingst
- Information on the tourist tax
- Travel reading for the Baltic Sea coast
- Conclusion – Sights in Zingst
Sights in Zingst
We really liked the Baltic Sea spa town of Zingst, especially the many pretty houses, the cozy atmosphere, the cafés and restaurants, the selection of vacation apartments, the charming harbor on the Bodden, and of course, the great location by the sea. We can easily imagine spending a relaxing summer vacation here. We’ve marked all of Zingst’s most important attractions for you on the map below.
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The expansive beach
The approximately 15 km long Zingst beach is very expansive, has fine sand, and is perfect for long walks. The gently sloping water also makes this beach perfect for younger guests. On-site, you’ll also find beach chair rentals, beach volleyball courts, a dog beach, and various restaurants, cafés, and snack bars nearby (Mee(hr) Lutz – Cocktail Bar, Bistro Zentral, Strandbistro Buhne 15, etc.).
Beach sections 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 22, 25, and 29 are manned and monitored by the German Red Cross (DRK) Water Rescue Service during the bathing season. From May to October, you can also admire and photograph the giant, pink sunglasses between beach crossings 26 and 27. It is part of the Zingst PhotoArt Trail.
Pier and Diving Gondola
You should also stroll across the 270-meter-long pier and enjoy the view of the sea. If visibility is good, you can even spot the Island of Hiddensee on the horizon. Numerous driftwood sculptures are lined up next to each other on the bridge and offer beautiful photo opportunities.
At the end of the pier, you’ll see a diving gondola with which you can discover completely new perspectives. The gondola can accommodate up to 30 people and dives to a depth of around 4 meters. If visibility is good, you can spot various sea creatures.
Zingst Kurhaus
Located directly next to the long pier and the beach is the Zingst Kurhaus, which can be used for a variety of events. Whether it’s a wedding room with a sea view, a restaurant, snack bars, event rooms, or a tourist information center – this Kurhaus also traditionally serves as a multi-purpose building. Tip: Get a fresh waffle at the “Waffelmaik” stand or grab a crepe next door at “Crepes uff Päpp”.
Off to the Local History Museum
If the weather isn’t on your side, you can visit the local history museum in Zingst (also possible in good weather, of course). The old captain’s house with its museum courtyard and transparent annex is particularly beautiful. Here you can learn all about the lives of the coastal residents, about shipbuilding, and the Zingst artists. There are also changing exhibitions, a small library, and a museum quiz for children.
Also very beautiful are the garden with the pavilion, the museum barn with its farm garden next door, and the Pomeranian Room for creative workshops. You can visit the museum courtyard free of charge. The museum itself costs €5 per person (children up to 18 years old are free). The museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Experimentarium
Another attraction in Zingst is the Experimentarium, which is especially popular with children. It offers creative workshops where children can create their own works of art under supervision. There are also over 70 interactive experiment stations, a theater, and an adventure playground. The Experimentarium is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission costs between €3 and €5, depending on age.
Horizonte Zingst and Max Hünten Haus
Did you know that Zingst is a popular destination for photographers, offering various exhibitions, photography workshops, and excursions 365 days a year? At the Max Hünten House, you can also check out and borrow the latest camera technology, receive detailed advice, take a look at the light-filled gallery, or browse the photo library. The “horizonte zingst” environmental photography festival also takes place annually and now attracts more than 42,000 visitors to the small Baltic Sea resort. More information here: Zingst & Photography.
The Beautiful Captain’s Houses
While taking a stroll through the town, you’ll certainly notice the lovingly decorated Captain’s Houses. These magnificent houses mostly date back to the 17th century and demonstrated the wealth and prominence of the captains at that time.
One of the most famous Captain’s Houses is the Local History Museum “Haus Morgensonne” (House of the Morning Sun), which was built in 1867. This and many other Captain’s Houses are now listed buildings. But the many thatched-roof houses are also an absolute eye-catcher (as can be seen in the picture).
Watching Cranes
Did you know that this region is home to one of the largest crane resting places in all of Central Europe? More than 80,000 cranes rest here every year, among other things to strengthen themselves for their onward flight to their southern wintering grounds.
In spring and autumn, you can observe the crane migration at certain locations, such as the Pramort Hohe Düne bird observation point or the KRANORAMA observation station between Stralsund and Barth. More information here: Cranes in Zingst.
Zingst Harbor
Zingst lies between the Baltic Sea and the Bodden and has a small, pretty harbor on the Bodden side. Numerous events take place here, especially in summer, such as the Netz and Zeesboot Regatta or the various harbor concerts. There is a children’s playground, a few restaurants, cafés, and fishing boats all around. Boats from the Zingst shipping company, among others, depart from the harbor and take you to the island of Hiddensee or to Stralsund. Romantic evening trips through the national park are also offered in July and August. The Poschke shipping company offers Bodden tours on authentic Mississippi paddle steamers. There is also a ferry service between Zingst and Barth, and excursions to the island of Hiddensee from Zingst and Barth are also available. Highlights include the so-called Crane Trips, which are offered in September and October. Not only will you learn interesting facts about the animals, but with a bit of luck you’ll also be able to take great photos of them.
Excursion Tips & Surroundings
There’s also plenty to see and do in the surrounding area. Right next door to Zingst is the small Baltic Sea resort of Prerow with a beautiful, wide sandy beach and the Darß Forest.
We can also highly recommend a hike through the Vorpommern Boddenlandschaft National Park. This will take you to one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, namely the Weststrand.
Wieck am Darß and Born am Darß are also well worth seeing. During a bike tour, you can explore the charming towns, enjoy a coffee, and watch the traditional Zees boats at the Wieck harbor. We particularly love the many captain’s houses with thatched roofs and colorfully decorated Darß doors. You can find a detailed report here: Bike tour through Fischland.
If you want to see even more of the peninsula, you shouldn’t miss the bike tour to the Hohe Düne. There, you’ll find the most beautiful view of the dunes and the turquoise sea. The route itself is also truly fantastic and leads past numerous beautiful spots. Want to see even more of Fischland? Then take a trip to the artists’ village of Ahrenshoop or to the small maritime town of Barth on the other side of the Bodden.
Hotels in Zingst
If you’re not just coming to the peninsula for a day trip, you’ll of course find numerous accommodations on site, such as hotels, vacation homes, vacation apartments, guesthouses, and private rooms. We’ve selected a handful of accommodations for you and linked them here. We would definitely book these ourselves.
- Holiday Apartment Strandmuschel*
- Holiday Apartment Haus am Dünenwald*
- Haus Meerle Holiday Apartment*
- Hotel and Restaurant Boddenhus*
- Hotel Garni Am Deich *
Mobility on the Peninsula
The most relaxing way to explore the Baltic Sea resort and the peninsula is on foot and/or by bike. In Zingst itself, you can take a leisurely stroll through the town and along the beach. If you want to explore the surrounding area, we recommend a bike. This way, you can, for example, ride to Prerow and the Darß Lighthouse, or in the other direction to the Hohe Düne.
We saw many bike rental shops in Zingst. For example, there is Shop 8 Bike Rental, which has four locations in Zingst. There, for example, you can get city bikes for just €7 per day, mountain bikes from €8, and e-bikes from €25. Cool cargo bikes are also available, as well as tandems, children’s bikes, and a trimobile.
Providers in Zingst:
- Luft bike rental
- Shop 8 bike rental
- Juchatz bike rental
- Zingst Rema Rosenberg bike rental
- Pedal Power – bike rental
Getting to Zingst
By car: If you want to travel by car from the direction of Lübeck/Hamburg, take on the A20 to the Rostock-Ost exit. From there, continue on the B 105 towards Stralsund. At the Altheide junction, you can continue on the L21 towards Fischland-Darß-Zingst.
If you are coming from Berlin, we recommend taking the A20 to exit 24 – Stralsund. Now follow the B 96 towards Stralsund/Sassnitz/Fähre/Insel Rügen and a little later take the B105 exit towards Rostock. From Löbnitz, continue on the L23 via Barth to Zingst.
By train: You can also travel to Zingst by Deutsche Bahn* trains. We recommend traveling from Rostock, Stralsund, Hamburg, or Berlin to Ribnitz-Damgarten or Barth. From there, take the regional bus 210 to the peninsula.
By bus: Flixus* long-distance buses also take you to your destination. There are even direct connections from Berlin starting at just €21.99. The journey takes around 4 hours.
Parking in Zingst
In the Baltic Sea resort of Zingst, you’ll find around 2,200 parking spaces, whether for cars, camper vans, or buses. A large parking lot (80 spaces) can be found on the Festwiese on Jordanstraße, and costs only €3 per day during the season (March 1 – October 31). From this parking lot, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the beach.
You can also park your car at Strandübergang 15a (at the entrance to Zingst). There are 120 parking spaces here, which are also subject to a fee (€8 per day). Right next door is the parking lot at Strandübergang 15, where we parked our car. Costs: from €1 per hour or €6 per day.
The parking lot on Barther Straße is free all day. However, these spaces are very popular, so you’ll want to be quick. If you just want to take a quick stroll along the beach, we recommend the free Straminke parking spaces (max. 2 hours).
You can pay for most parking spaces using the EasyPark app. This is especially useful if you don’t have any change. You can also easily extend your parking time from your phone (Google Play Store | Apple App Store).
Information on the tourist tax
A tourist tax, also known as a visitor’s tax, is also payable in the Baltic Sea resort of Zingst. This fee is primarily used to finance tourism infrastructure (maintenance, cleaning, construction, etc.) and makes a significant contribution to the municipal budget. The guest card is valid for the entire peninsula and even grants you free access to various events. You can also travel by bus or tram at a discount.
The tourist tax is €2.30 per person per day (reduced rate: €1.15/dogs: €1). Children aged 0 to 6 are exempt from the tourist tax. Children between 7 and 17 pay the reduced rate. In most cases, you will receive the guest card at your accommodation; alternatively, you can purchase the day tourist card at various locations (e.g., parking lots, the pier, tourist information in the Kurhaus and Max Hünten Haus, etc.).
Travel reading for the Baltic Sea coast
Are you looking for suitable travel reading for your trip to the Baltic Sea? We recommend the travel guide from DuMont Verlag*. This short guide, published on 120 pages, tells you everything you need to know about the top sights, excursion tips, and much more. The travel guide from Reise Know-How-Verlag* also shows you the most beautiful beaches, highlights, and shopping tips on 1,445 pages.
If you’d like to learn more about the other regions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, we recommend the travel guide from Michael-Müller-Verlag*. This detailed travel guide, published on over 570 pages, tells you everything you need to know about the state’s top highlights, activities, excursion tips, and hotel and restaurant recommendations.
Conclusion – Zingst Sights
The Baltic Sea spa town of Zingst is the perfect starting point for exploring the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. The town itself also has a lot to offer, with great beaches, numerous restaurants and cafés, and a charming harbor.
From Zingst, you can enjoy a variety of bike tours, go hiking, or drive (or bus) to other regions of the peninsula. We consider the Fischland peninsula to be by far one of the most beautiful regions in all of Europe.