The grand dame of the Baltic coast, Sassnitz is an elegant, old-fashioned resort town where its magnificent forest meets towering cliffs and sparkling blue waters. Sassnitz has a variety of unique natural attractions, long sandy beaches and a cluster of cozy cafes.

Things to do

Sassnitz is an old fishing port and has an array of marine-themed attractions. You can tour the decommissioned British submarine HMS Otus that has been turned into a naval museum or check out the Underwater Archaeology Museum and its displays of old shipwrecks and sunken buildings. Take a boat trip up the coast for impressive views of the Königsstuhl chalk cliffs, the highest in Europe.

The beaches at the base of the cliffs are a great place to hunt for fossils of sea urchins and ancient squid or you can walk and cycle the primeval beech forests surrounding Jasmund National Park. The park even has a chalk museum that explains the geology of the area and an intriguing fossil collection.

Are you a nature lover? Visit Alaris Butterfly Park, which has more than 140 different species of colorful butterflies flying freely in its heated interior. Back in town, sample the honey and jam made with Sanddorn, a berry native to Rügen, or enjoy an indulgent slice of cake on the seaside at Cafe Gumpfer.

Getting around

The nearest airports are Hamburg Airport and Berlin’s Tegel Airport. The train from Berlin takes just over four hours, while the train from Hamburg takes around five hours. It’s best to explore the center of town on foot, but there are also frequent buses to take you around town and out to the national park.