Western Pomerania-Rügen: Nature, Islands and Culture

Western Pomerania-Rügen brings together islands, a peninsula landscape and cultural destinations, each with its own focus. The district includes the island of Rügen and the offshore islands of Hiddensee and Ummanz; the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula chain is also part of it. The destinations below offer a practical guide.

Coasts and natural landscapes

More than 60 kilometres of fine, white, gently sloping sandy beaches stretch along the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. Families can enjoy beach holidays there, as can kite surfers and windsurfers. If you are planning a trip focused on beaches and water sports, this offers a different experience from a stay centred mainly on the protected areas of Rügen.

Rügen has two national parks and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The beech forests in Jasmund National Park are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”. Twice a year, more than 70,000 cranes stop to rest in Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park. This recurring stopover is a distinctive natural attraction alongside the forests and coast.

Rügen is also home to the Feuersteinfelder flint fields. This geological landscape monument was formed around 4,000 years ago and is a popular local recreation area. It offers a look at both the landscape’s origins and how it is used for recreation today. In the wider region, the Darßer Ort circular hiking trail runs for 4 kilometres through Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park.

The wider region is also home to NATUREUM Darßer Ort, an outpost of the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund. It provides information about the sea, the surrounding natural environment and the national park. The permanent exhibition covers the underwater world of the Baltic Sea, forest animals, bird specimens, and the nature and landscape around Darßer Ort.

Art, history and exhibitions

The old town of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar”. In the wider region, Stralsund is also known for its many surviving brick buildings from the Hanseatic period. The OZEANEUM opened in 2008 and was named “European Museum of the Year”. The historic naval training ship Gorch Fock I can be visited in Stralsund; check current access arrangements before your visit.

In Ribnitz-Damgarten, the Gallery in the Monastery preserves, maintains and administers the art collection of the district of Western Pomerania-Rügen. It comprises around 500 works of painting, graphic art, sculpture, ceramics, silk painting and textile design, dating from the late 19th century to the present day. The gallery mainly showcases contemporary regional art, as well as a permanent exhibition of graphics by Lyonel Feininger. Temporary exhibitions featuring works from the collection round out the programme. The Ribnitz-Damgarten Art Association runs the gallery, where three exhibitions are shown. Check the current visitor arrangements before your visit.

The gallery in the Orangery in Putbus hosts up to eight exhibitions each year in a historic building in the heart of the art and culture town of Putbus. The programme also includes readings and concerts. Traditionally, at the end of the year the gallery presents an exhibition of works from the collection of the Rügen Cultural Foundation, which comprises more than 1,500 exhibits. If you are travelling for an event or this exhibition, check the current programme in advance.

The scale of the cultural scene is another useful guide for culture enthusiasts: the district of Western Pomerania-Rügen has an estimated 60 museums. Other cultural events in the region for which Western Pomerania-Rügen is known include the Störtebeker Festival. Check specific visitor or event dates before planning your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Süderholz, Grimmen, Zingst, Marlow, Sassnitz, Putbus, Binz, Stralsund, Amt Altenpleen, Amt Barth, Amt Bergen Auf Rügen, Amt Darß/Fischland, Amt Franzburg-Richtenberg, Amt Miltzow, Amt Mönchgut-Granitz, Amt Niepars, Amt Nord-Rügen, Amt Recknitz-Trebeltal, Amt Ribnitz-Damgarten, Amt West-Rügen.

Go to the main travel overview: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.