September 2, 2024, 4:01 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

Even the Berlin aristocracy traveled to the island to relax – which is why a special rail connection was created here. At the beginning of the last century, it only took the capital’s inhabitants two hours to get to Usedom by train, but today it takes almost four. But the journey is always worthwhile.

Usedom also offers a wellness retreat: where sun, wind, and waves converge, the resulting surf aerosols – air infused with salts – help clear the bronchial tubes, boost endurance and performance, and fortify the immune system.

Spanning 445 square kilometers, Usedom Island extends into Poland, covering an area of 72 square kilometers. The Peene River, Swine, and the Szczecin Lagoon set it apart from the mainland. The island’s landscape is gently rolling, peppered with quaint lakes and moors, and blanketed in lush forests.

Vacations on Usedom – the best tips

The most beautiful beaches and places on Usedom

But what attracts people most are the Baltic Sea beaches. They are 42 kilometers long and 40 meters wide in many places. You can walk along the beach promenade, the longest in Europe at twelve kilometers, from Bansin to Swinemünde. The dream beaches are one of the reasons why people have been spending their vacations on Usedom for more than 100 years.

The beach slopes gently in most places on the island, but to the northwest of Bansin, there is a steep coast, the highest point of which is the 54-metre-high Lange Berg.

The best-known seaside resorts on Usedom are Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf, and Bansin, also known as the three imperial spas. They are famous for their spa architecture-style houses with turrets, gables, and great attention to detail. The seaside resort of Zinnowitz, located further west and also known for its magnificent villas, is considered one of the most beautiful places. The splendor is reminiscent of the times when wealthy people built their summer retreats on the island of Usedom. Today, most of the villas are hotels or vacation apartments.

Finally, in the north of the island of Usedom are Karlshagen, Trassenheide, and the aforementioned Zinnowitz, all of which have been awarded the Blue Flag for outstanding bathing quality and exceptional environmental management.

Visit the new pier in Kuserow

At the end of June, a new pier opened in the Baltic seaside resort of Kuserow. The structure extends some 280 meters into the sea and includes a jetty, ramp, and platform; it was built on 67 foundation piles. The new pier cost a total of almost 7.4 million euros, with around 4.9 million euros in funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In addition, an eight-metre-high bell tower was installed on the head of the pier, and a seating and sunbathing area was set up. The pier will be temporarily opened to visitors at the end of June before the remaining work is scheduled to begin in mid-September.

Finding amber on Usedom

Together with Zempin, Loddin, and Üderitz, Koserow is one of the so-called amber resorts – the villages are located at the island’s narrowest point, between the Baltic Sea and the Achterwasser. The villages are rightly called amber spas, as the “gold of the sea” is not so rare at this point, especially after storms.

Not everything that looks like amber is actually amber. It is often just yellow-brown pebbles or glass polished by the sea. However, it is easy to determine whether it really is amber: rub it against your clothes and see if it becomes electrostatically charged, for example, if small pieces of paper stick to it. In this case, it could be amber.

The weather on Usedom

Usedom’s weather is dependably pleasant, with little rainfall to dampen your holiday spirits. Yet, the perpetual breezes mean it seldom becomes oppressively hot, even on Germany’s second-largest island (after Rügen). As a result, the Baltic Sea’s waters offer a refreshing respite.

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Stroll across the Heringsdorf pier

Of course, the sun doesn’t always shine on the island, and sometimes it can get quite chilly, even in summer. But there are great Usedom tips for such days too. The Heringsdorf pier stands as a testament to weatherproof design, with 300 of its 508-meter-long walkway sheltered from the elements. Additionally, a glass barrier shields strollers from the sometimes fierce winds sweeping across the sea.

Visit the largest butterfly farm in Europe

Within the free-flight hall of Europe’s largest butterfly farm, visitors can meander through a park-like setting under shelter, enjoying agreeable temperatures year-round while witnessing the fascinating metamorphosis of butterflies – from egg to caterpillar, pupa, and finally, to the adult butterfly. 1,500 to 2,000 butterflies from the world’s tropical regions flutter over banana trees, giant tree lilies, pineapples, ginger, and vanilla plants here in Trassenheide. Address: Wiesenweg 5, 17449 Trassenheide.

Wellness

Imagine the bliss of submerging your chilled body into the warm embrace of 32-degree thermal waters. Transition from the pool to the sauna, where you can sweat away the day’s stress as the children delight in the water play park. This luxurious experience awaits you at the Bernsteintherme in Zinnowitz.

Should the Baltic Sea prove too chilly for swimming, the thermal spa’s saltwater pool offers a warmer alternative. The pool’s high saline content not only benefits the skin but also allows effortless floating on the surface. Another enticing option for rainy days is a visit to the Ostseetherme in Ahlbeck.

(Contributor to the text: Silke Böttcher)