Hotel Badehaus Goor

Rügen

Rügen, Germany's largest island, also known as the German Riviera. The island is a popular tourist destination, mainly because of its picturesque fishing villages, beautiful scenery and miles of sandy beaches on its south-eastern shore. Discover white chalk cliffs and beautiful lakes and beech forests. Spend an active day cycling, hiking, fishing or relaxing in the fresh waters of the Baltic Sea.

On the island you will of course find many cosy restaurants where you can enjoy the local specialities of the island. Also visit Binz, the largest spa town on Rügen. Along the town's picturesque pedestrian street you can visit some of the shops found in the town. Along the long promenade you will find spas and guesthouses.

Biosphere Reserve Southeast Rügen

Discover Northern Germany in your own car on a self-drive holiday. Stop by the Biosphärenreservat Südost-Rügen. This enchanting biosphere reserve is, due to its unique cultural landscapes, UNESCO-listed. The area was created in 1990 and became part of the UNESCO MAB (Man and the Biosphere) programme in 1991. Within a relatively small area, various landscape formations that characterise coastal Germany have been protected. Here land and water are closely linked; peninsulas and promontories are connected to others by narrow strips of land and at the same time separated by the water in beach islands and bays. Put on your good shoes and go for a nice walk in this vast beautiful area. Take a trip in January and find a cheap self-drive holiday with Risskov. There are many options in Germany that also lend themselves well to a family holiday, so plan the next summer holiday or winter break come a self-drive in Northern Germany.

Østersøbad Sellin

You can also visit the popular Baltic Sea bath Sellin, which is one of the most attractive bathing areas on the island. It has a white beach and a long bathing jetty.

Naturerbe Zentrum Rügen

If you love nature and heights, then you should consider visiting Naturerbe Zentrum Rügen. At the exhibition center in the middle of the National Park, you have access to the 40 meter high observation tower, from which there is a fine view of the island and the many tree crowns.

Jasmund National Park

This nature reserve is located on the north-eastern tip of the island of Rügen and, at 30 km², is Germany's smallest national park. The beautiful area includes the Stubnitz ridge north of Sassnitz and limestone cliffs up to 160 metres above sea level. The park is rich in both flora and fauna, with several rarer species in both categories. Some of the birds you might be lucky enough to see include sea eagles, kingfishers, peregrine falcons and land swallows.

St Mary's Church

Stralsund's largest church is the Marienkirche, and it's hard not to spot the magnificent building in the middle of Stralsund. It's also the second largest Gothic brick church in the entire Baltic region. On a self-drive holiday, you can easily stop and take a trip up the tall tower via the narrow spiral staircase that just goes on and on. Finally, the high steps end but are replaced by yet another 'stair climb' until the viewing platform of the 104-metre high church tower is finally reached, a trip of just over 366 steps. But it really pays off, because the view over the city and the water is impressive. Not recommended, however, if anyone in the family suffers from vertigo. Holidays by car make it easy to get out and experience a lot and at Risskov you can book a cheap hotel stay for the trip.

Visit Stralsund

The cosy German town of Stralsund is located on the Baltic Sea coast and welcomes you with adventures for the whole family. The old part of the city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and here you will find interesting buildings dating back to the Middle Ages as well as new modern developments led by the new, modern sea museum "Ozeaneum".

In Stralsund you are close to the only bridge connecting the German mainland with the scenic island of Rügen. On Rügen, you can take a trip to Jasmund National Park and see the impressive chalk cliffs along the coast. It is also home to Hitler's fascinating holiday centre, Koloss von Prora. The Nazis built the huge holiday centre and seaside resort between 1936 and 1939. The complex consists of identical apartment blocks and shows clear signs of Third Reich architecture.

Christmas market in Stralsund

Open 24th November to 4th Januar

With only an hour and a half drive from Rostock, the Christmas market in Stralsund is a favourite among Zealand's Christmas lovers who can take the ferry to Germany.

The city's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gothic architecture is at its best in December's Christmas lights.

Stralsund is one of Germany's finest Christmas markets. The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is decorated with Christmas trees, lights and decorations, creating a unique atmosphere alongside the town's Gothic architecture.

The Christmas market is also famous for its stalls with the finest handicrafts, where you can make a unique Christmas gift purchase, and its ice skating lake. And follow the scent of your Christmas food stalls, where you can feast on genuine German marzipan, roasted almonds and chestnuts, as well as the finest delicacies from the region.

At only 90 km from Rostock, the Christmas market is particularly convenient if you're driving from Zealand and Lolland-Falster.

Ozeaneum

Visit the interesting Ozeaneum with the whole family and see the amazing sea creatures up close. An extraordinary journey through the underwater world. It is also the largest Baltic Sea exhibition in Europe. Children can play their way to knowledge by exploring the many secrets and mysteries of the sea in ´Sea for Children´. Also visit the large whales that hang out and of course the Humboldt penguins on the museum's roof terrace.

Hiddensee

Hiddensee is a small island west of Rügen, only about 19 km² in size. The island is completely car-free and can be reached by a short ferry ride. Hiddensee is protected and has been part of the national park "Vorpommersche Bodenlandschaft" since 1990. Here you might be lucky to catch a glimpse of one of the endangered bird species such as the Little Tern. Between June and September there are regular guided tours of the island. Hiddensee is also home to a small fishing museum, which is well worth a visit when you're on summer holiday in northern Germany.

HanseDom

On a family holiday in northern Germany, visit the large wellness centre and water park HanseDom. There are fun experiences for both children and adults. There are even massage and spa treatments available. There's also a sports centre where you can get your heart pumping with activities in ball sports, climbing and more.

Putgarten

Putgarten is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's northernmost municipality and is located on the northern tip of the Rügen Island. The municipality includes the villages of Arkona, Vitt and Varnevitz. Some of Putgarten's most popular and interesting sites include the lighthouses and picturesque fish houses of Cape Arkona, the beautiful glacial walking cliff of Siebenschneiderstein and the protected nature area of Nordufer Wittow mit Hohen Dielen.

Museum Naval Command Bunker

The Bunker Museum in Putgarten is definitely worth a visit too. The Museum Marineführungsbunker consists of three bunkers, the oldest of which is not open to the public. This was built back in 1915, while the NVA bunker (also called the Marineführungsbunker) was only added in the years 1979-86 and was closed down again in 1990. Today there are daily guided tours through this. The smallest bunker (the Arkona bunker) is open free of charge and today houses a documentary film on the history of Cape Arkona, from the Slavic period to the present day.

Barth

Discover northern Germany on a budget holiday and stop by Barth, located on the south coast of the bay of Barther Bodden, which in turn is connected to the Baltic Sea. The town has had a somewhat tumultuous existence. During the 30 Years War, the town had several different rulers, but after the Westphalian Peace, Barth fell to Sweden and remained Swedish until 1815, when it fell to Prussia.

The city belonged to the old East Germany, but since the fall of the Wall it has developed into a small, cosy town with good restaurants and cafés. Take a stroll along the harbour promenade and enjoy the fresh sea breeze from the Baltic Sea. Try a cheap mini break and explore the charming town. A holiday in your own car is a great way to discover and explore the surrounding area. Find a cheap hotel stay at Risskov and take the kids along.

Greifswald

The old Hanseatic and university town of Greifswald has around 55,000 inhabitants and is located in the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the Baltic coast. The town is set in magnificent waterside surroundings between the islands of Rügen and Usedom, and in the cosy town centre you will find many beautiful Gothic brick houses. Greifswald is also an old university town, and its young students create a lively atmosphere in the streets. Of course, there is a lot to see and experience and the town has a wide selection of shops as well as numerous cafés and restaurants.

Greifswald and its surroundings offer several interesting places worth a visit. Take a stroll through the old town and visit the market square with the beautiful town hall. Other popular sights include the ruins of the monastery of Eldena, which are surrounded by stunning scenery. In the western part of the city, you'll find St Nicholas Cathedral, an impressive brick cathedral built in the shape of a basilica with a central nave and two aisles. Over time, the cathedral has become a symbol of Greifswald. Every year the music festivals Nordischer Klang and Greifswalder Bachwoche are held, which will delight the music lover. For boat and vessel enthusiasts, a trip to the Museumhafen is recommended, where you can see both historic sailing vessels and possibly take part in a guided tour of the waterfront and harbour. At the Pommersches Landesmuseum you can learn more about Pomeranian regional and cultural history. The museum is the setting for several cultural events in the Baltic Sea region, both local and international.