Landhotel Kastanienallee

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.