Europe’s longest beach promenade: A paradise for families

The beaches on Usedom are among the most beautiful along the Baltic Sea. With shallow shores and fine white sand, they are perfect for children to build sandcastles and safely splash in the water. Instead of sun loungers, you can rent typical German beach chairs on Usedom for €12 per day, providing shelter from the sun and wind. A highlight is searching for amber, which you might find in the sand if you’re lucky. A special experience is the amber night hike, where UV lamps help uncover hidden treasures from the Baltic Sea.

Kaiserbäder Usedom: Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin

The famous Kaiserbäder Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin are particularly popular with families. Our starting point for exploring the island was Ahlbeck, which impresses with its historic pier and charming promenade.

Ahlbeck: Our highlight in the South

In Ahlbeck, we stayed at The Breeze in Usedom, which proved to be the perfect accommodation for our stay in the southern part of the island. The spacious rooms accommodate couples as well as families with up to four children and feature a fully equipped kitchen – ideal for self-caterers (the hotel also has a small coffee shop, Bagged, offering essential groceries).

Alternatively, there is a delicious breakfast that includes regional specialties such as the vitamin-rich sea buckthorn juice – often called the ‘lemon of the north’ due to its high vitamin C content – and fresh fish. In the evening, you can dine at the hotel’s restaurant, BRACA, or take one of their tasty pizzas back to your apartment. We highly recommend trying a fish sandwich along Ahlbeck’s seaside promenade, for example at Uwe’s Fischhütte.

The Breeze also boasts a wonderful wellness area with a pool, kids’ pool, and an outdoor area with beach chairs. Particularly convenient for active families: you can rent bikes on-site and explore the surrounding area. The wide bike path along the promenade makes it easy to visit the other Kaiserbäder. If you’re planning a holiday with your dog, this is the place to be – the hotel even offers a dog wash station, and there are special dog-friendly beaches nearby. For those who prefer working out at the hotel, the fitness room includes a Peloton bike, allowing you to continue your home workouts.

The Breeze is located right on the beachfront, with most rooms offering stunning views of the Baltic Sea. You’re just steps away from the beach, which isn’t only for relaxing – it’s also a place for activities, as the Kaiserbäder Sports Beach is right there. Additionally, in front of the hotel, you’ll find a street workout area, an open-air fitness studio, and the ‘West End‘ playground.

A special highlight in Ahlbeck is the Ahlbeck Pier, the island’s iconic landmark. At 280 meters long, it is the oldest pier in Germany and offers beautiful views, as well as access to excursion boats.

Heringsdorf: Culture and Fun for the whole family

Just a few kilometers from Ahlbeck lies Heringsdorf. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Heringsdorf treetop walkway, offering a breathtaking view of the three imperial baths and the surrounding nature.

If you cycle directly from The Breeze to the left along the beach promenade, you’ll pass by the pirate playground, the public observatory, a mini-golf course, and even a Ferris wheel. In the summer, Heringsdorf also hosts cultural events such as the open-air cinema and the theater tent Chapeau Rouge, ensuring there’s never a dull moment!

Cycling a little further brings you to the beach promenade of the Heringsdorf Baltic Sea resort, where just left of the pier stands the world’s largest beach chair – a fun photo opportunity and a must for every family. Its dimensions are record-breaking: the XXL beach chair is 6.4 meters wide, 4.15 meters high, and 3.33 meters deep. A visit to the beach chair factory in Heringsdorf also provides fascinating insight into the making of these iconic German beach accessories.

Bansin: Pure nature and a dog-friendly beach

Bansin, the third of the imperial baths, is quieter and offers plenty of options for nature lovers and dog owners. The dog beach at Lake Gothensee is a paradise for four-legged friends. Here, dogs can play to their heart’s content while their owners relax in one of the available beach chairs.

Another highlight is the ‘Seven Lakes View,’ a viewpoint that offers a stunning panorama of the lakes in the area known as the ‘Usedomer Switzerland.’ For those who enjoy hiking, the viewpoint can be reached on foot from Bansin in about half an hour.

A visit to the Bansin Tropical House, the smallest zoo in Germany, is a special treat for children.

A trip to Poland: Swinoujscie

Usedom is not only German – just a few kilometers from Ahlbeck lies the Polish border. A trip to Swinoujscie offers a delightful change of pace.

You can easily reach Swinoujscie by bike, where you’ll find a lively beach promenade, the Upside-Down House, and the impressive Mühlenbake at the end of the pier. Be sure to try Polish specialties like pierogi at Kurna Chata 2 – the portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the atmosphere is authentic.

Bad Weather Alternatives on Usedom

Even though Usedom is known as Germany’s sunniest island, it can occasionally rain. For such days, there are great indoor activities, such as the OstseeTherme Usedom in Ahlbeck, located right behind The Breeze Hotel Usedom. Here, children can enjoy the water park while adults relax in the sauna area.

Another exciting destination is Peenemünde, the northernmost point of the island. It is home to the Historical-Technical Museum, which explores the island’s history of rocket research. For children, the interactive Phänomenta museum is a must do – they can explore scientific phenomena in a playful way.

Other rainy-day highlights in Peenemünde include the Toy Experience World, GlowGolf, a tour of the submarine Juliett U-461, and the museum ship ‘Hans Beimler’.