Things to do on Usedom – 22 tips for a Baltic Sea paradise

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | The beautiful island of Usedom is characterized by long sandy beaches and grand seaside architecture. The island, which is shared between Germany and Poland, is undeservedly unknown in Sweden – a real gem that is only a ferry ride away from Skåne!

Usedom on the Baltic Sea coast

The largest part of Usedom is located in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while the island also includes the Polish city of Swinoujscie. The island is a popular holiday destination all year round. In the summer, tourists come here for sun and swimming. The rest of the year, it is nature experiences, spa and wellness, and good food and drink that attract. We have visited the island both summer and winter, by camper van as well as by ferry and municipal transport. Here are our best tips for things to see and do on Usedom.

1. Enjoy Usedom's long sandy beaches

One of the main reasons to travel to Usedom is the long and wide sandy beaches that stretch along large parts of the Baltic Sea coast. In summer, they attract people to sunbathe and swim, while during the rest of the year the beaches are perfect for long walks with the sea as company.

We have experienced Usedom in both summer and winter and actually like the beach in both seasons. In summer it is filled with bathers and classic beach chairs, while the winter beach offers a completely different feeling – calm, fresh sea air and almost endless space.

2. Upptäck de tre kejserliga badorterna

En av de saker du absolut inte får missa på Usedom är de tre kejserliga badorterna (Kaiserbäder): Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf och Bansin. De ligger som ett pärlband längs Östersjökusten, så nära varandra att de nästan har vuxit ihop. Här väntar breda strandpromenader, pampiga villor och vacker badortsarkitektur från slutet av 1800-talet, då den tyska kejsarfamiljen och societeten gärna semestrade på ön.

Heringsdorf är den största och mest livliga av de tre badorterna, medan Ahlbeck har en charmig historisk atmosfär. Bansin är den minsta och lite lugnare, med eleganta vita villor och en fin strandpromenad. Det är härligt att promenera eller cykla mellan orterna och njuta av både arkitekturen och utsikten över havet.

3. Photograph the pier in Ahlbeck

The pier in Ahlbeck is the oldest preserved pier in Germany, built in 1898. With its green roof and wooden floors, it is an iconic photo motif and a symbol of classic seaside resort charm.

4. Stroll along the pier in Heringsdorf

Seebrücke Heringsdorf is Germany's longest pier, stretching more than 500 metres out into the sea. The pier is a historical landmark as well as a lively promenade with restaurants, shops and views of the Baltic Sea.

5. Upplev Usedoms trädtoppsbana

One thing we can definitely recommend doing on Usedom is climbing up Usedom Tree Top Walk, i.e. the Usedom treetop trail. The trail is located near Heringsdorf and offers wonderful panoramic views of the island, the Baltic Sea and the Achterwasser. When we were here in dark December, the trail was also beautifully lit.

6. Häng med på ö-safari i en Landrover

Do you enjoy nature? Do you like a bit of adventure and experiencing places off the beaten track? Then don't miss out on booking an ”insel safari”, a day trip around nature and lakes in a Land Rover. As soon as you leave the ”proper” roads, you can choose whether you want to sit on the roof or inside the vehicle. Read more in the report at the link!

READ MORE: Island safari on Usedom – a delightful excursion in a Land Rover

7. Ät lunch och shoppa drycker på Wasserschloss Mellenthin

Wasserschloss Mellenthin is a beautiful castle surrounded by water, which today operates as a restaurant, brewery and distillery. You can, of course, eat at the restaurant, and there is also a shop selling exciting drinks in beautiful bottles.

We ordered a tasting platter with different types of beer and had lunch, consisting of schnitzel and stuffed peppers. We also bought a large bottle of beer in a really nice bottle that will be perfect for Christmas.

8. Besök Peenemünde – raketforskning under andra världskriget

During World War II, Peenemünde, in the western part of Usedom, was the centre of Germany's rocket development. The museum located here depicts both the history of technology and the ethical consequences. Unfortunately, we have not had time to visit this museum ourselves, but we have heard that it is very interesting to visit, and therefore we still choose to recommend the museum.

9. Slappna av med spa och wellness

Even today, the imperial spa towns on Usedom are popular wellness destinations. Many of the beautiful hotels focus on spa and wellness with luxurious pools, large sauna areas and various types of treatments. We have stayed at two spa hotels, both of which are very nice: Ostseeblick Beach Hotel and Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa. You can read more in the report at the link.

READ MORE: Spa weekend on Usedom – two spa hotels in Heringsdorf

10. Upptäck Usedoms strandkorgar och tillverkningen på Korbwerk

The characteristic German beach chairs can be found all along the coast of Usedom. In addition to providing a beautiful view, they offer protection from both sun and wind, and can be reserved for a day or a week.

It all began in 1882 when Elfriede Maltzahn, who suffered from rheumatism, came to Wilhelm Bartelmann's workshop and asked for a protective seat for the beach. Even today, you can see how the chairs are made by hand at Korbwerk in Ückeritz – or why not invest in your own?

11. Känn lugnet vid Achterwasser

Achterwasser is the name of the lagoon located on the inside of Usedom. The water here is considerably calmer than the water in the Baltic Sea, and the area is popular for canoeing, bird watching and peaceful nature experiences.

12. Cykla längs Feininger Bike Trail

Feininger Bike Trail is a perfect way to combine nature and culture! This themed cycle route is inspired by the artist Lyonel Feininger and connects places he depicted in his art. At each ”viewpoint” there is a plaque in the ground with an arrow pointing towards the motif of the artwork.

13. Se konst på Atelier Otto Niemeyer-Holstein

Otto Niemeyer-Holstein is a famous artist who lived and worked on Usedom for many years. The artist wanted his home and studio to be preserved for posterity, without any changes, and that is exactly what has been done.

Here you can see Niemeyer-Holstein's own art, his collections of other artists' work, and his home. Among other things, you can step inside the train carriage (!) that he furnished and then built his home around.

14. Upptäck keramiken på Tonwerk Keramik

If you enjoy crafts and art, we can also highly recommend taking a short trip to Tonwerk Ceramics in Korswandt. Here you can meet ceramicist Daniel Graf, who makes wonderfully beautiful ceramic figures.

Prepare yourself for a lovely, pleasant and relaxed visit, in casual English. Also be prepared for the urge to buy. Many of the small figurines, especially mountain goats and chameleons, are very popular.

15. Prova öl på Usedomer Brauhaus

In Heringsdorf, you will find the local brewery Usedom Brewery. Here, for example, you can order a tasting platter with several different types of beer. Nice! You can also enjoy a hearty and delicious German meal here. We ordered a few different dishes to share, and everything tasted great: currywurst, pulled pork burgers and a plate of matjes herring. Don't miss it!

16. Ät fisk eller fischbrötchen vid stranden

On Usedom, you can try the North German street food classic ”fischbrötchen”, which is fish in bread. It can be herring, salmon, matjes or breaded fish, and you can find this tasty fast food pretty much everywhere, for example in stalls along the beaches.

If you would like to sit down indoors, you can Uwe's Fisherman's Hut In Ahlbeck, there is also a restaurant by the beach where you can order various fish dishes. Delicious and pleasant!

17. Smaka kaffe på kafferosteriet Pommerscher Hof

At the small-scale coffee roastery Pomeranian Court, located at Seetelhotels in Heringsdorf, offers visitors the opportunity to watch coffee being roasted. We must say that it was really interesting to see how it's done and learn a little more about the process. Of course, you can order a delicious cup of coffee, and perhaps a tasty pastry too!

18. Njut av mat och miljö på Marc O’Polo strandcasino

One place we really like in Heringsdorf is Marc O’Polo Beach Casino. This is a really stylish venue where a fashion shop and restaurant share the space, creating a modern and relaxed atmosphere. What's more, we had really good food and excellent service at this place!

19. Upptäck lokala delikatesser på Inselmühle Usedom Manufaktur

Om du gillar mat och lokala delikatesser ska du inte missa Inselmühle Usedom Manufaktur, där man tillverkar hantverksmässiga produkter som oljor, viner, juicer och senap. Det mesta går att provsmaka innan du bestämmer dig, och i butiken finns gott om godsaker att köpa med hem. Vissa dagar erbjuds också guidade visningar av tillverkningen, vanligtvis på tyska.

En av Usedoms lokala specialiteter är havtorn, som ibland kallas ”Östersjöns citron” tack vare sitt höga innehåll av C-vitamin. Bären används bland annat i juicer, likörer och desserter, och vi har stött på havtorn i många olika sammanhang på ön. Vi har till och med provat en spabehandling med havtornsolja!

20. Upplev Usedom från sjösidan

Usedom is a popular sailing area, with both open sea and sheltered waters. Several small marinas and harbours make it easy to explore the island from the sea. We joined a sailing trip with South Coast Baltic Boating Rally 2019, The photos below are from that trip. It is truly wonderful and exciting to sail in this area!

READ MORE: Sailing in Germany – from Usedom to Greifswald

21. Besök den idylliska naturhamnen Krummin

Krummin is an idyllic little natural harbour located on the Achterwasser. We came here during our sailing trip in 2019 and had a very cosy overnight stay here. We also went on a bike ride, starting in Krummin, and made our way to both Freest and Wolgast, which are located on the German mainland. A very nice day trip!

22. Gör en utflykt till polska Świnoujście

Större delen av Usedom tillhör Tyskland, men den östligaste delen av ön ligger i Polen. Här hittar du hamnstaden Świnoujście, som bland annat bjuder på långa sandstränder, en vacker park och historiska fort. Det är ett trevligt utflyktsmål om du vill uppleva både den tyska och den polska delen av ön.

Från de kejserliga badorterna är det inte långt till den polska gränsen, och det går utmärkt att cykla dit. Vi gjorde själva en cykeltur till gränsen och passade förstås på att fotografera oss med en fot i varje land. Det är ju inte varje dag man står i två länder samtidigt!

READ MORE: Things to do in Swinoujscie in Poland – 12 tips

Where can you stay on Usedom?

There are, of course, lots of different hotels and other types of accommodation to choose from on Usedom, not least spa hotels! We have stayed at two fine spa hotels in Heringsdorf –Ostseeblick Beach Hotel and Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa – and we can highly recommend both.

If you want to stay a little simpler, you can, for example, take a look at the hotel Buoy06, which is located next to Strandhotel Ostseeblick and has the same owner.

Are you coming with a motorhome or other camping vehicle? No problem! We haven't camped on Usedom ourselves and therefore don't want to give specific recommendations, but there are plenty of campsites and parking spaces on the island.

How to travel to Usedom?

The quickest and easiest way to get to Usedom from Sweden is usually to take the ferry from Ystad, Trelleborg or Malmö to Swinoujscie. The Polish town of Swinoujscie is located at the eastern end of Usedom, and you can easily reach the German spa towns by car, train, bus... or perhaps by bicycle.

You can also reach Usedom via the German mainland. The town of Wolgast is often described as the ”gateway to Usedom” and there is a bridge connection from here.

How do you get around Usedom?

There are many ways to get around Usedom. You can, of course, drive around in your own car or motorhome, or in a hire car. There are also trains across the island, as well as buses and taxis. If you bring your bike (or hire one), cycling on the island is also enjoyable.

Please note that visitors to many seaside resorts pay a local tourist tax, known as a kurtaxe. The tax is used for tourist services and maintenance of beaches and other communal facilities, among other things.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

• Things to do in Greifswald
• Things to do in Stralsund 
• Things to do on Ruegen