Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
45km
By the Staycation Collection team
What to do on Fischland-Darß-Zingst
The Fischland-Darß-Zingst is an incredibly underrated area of Germany in our opinion, and one of the best places to take an Urlaub an der Ostsee. The small peninsular, nestled between Rostock and Stralsund, boasts some incredible nature and a very laidback, artsy vibe.
In part one of our spotlight on the region, we share our favourite things to do on Fischland-Darß-Zingst.
When people think of the Ostsee, many think of Rügen or Usedom, but between the two is this gorgeous peninsular with a huge diversity of unspoilt nature, from forests and beaches to lagoons and meadows. This is a really wild place that allows us to switch off and just enjoy the simple things, like windy walks on the beach or quiet bike rides through the forest. It’s also an amazing place to observe wild animals, like red deer, eagles, otters and cranes.
Plus there are tonnes of stunning places to stay in the region, whether you’re travelling with a partner, friends, family or your dog, there’s something here for you (check out part two of our travel guide to find out the best places to stay on Fischland-Darß-Zingst).
A few days here really refreshes the soul! Are you sold? Great.
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Weststrand (specifically between Ahrenshoop or Prerow) is one of our favourite beaches in Germany. The fir-tree-lined beach has stunning rolling sand dunes with wild long grass and 14 kilometres of white-sand. There’s nothing more relaxing than laying out a blanket on the sand and watching the sun set below the rolling waves of the Baltic Sea: the experience is incredibly meditative.
(Tip: Weststrand is a great spot for photographers.)
These impressive boats are a symbol of the region as they were designed for relatively protected, shallow waters, of which Fischland-Darß-Zingst has a lot. They were first built in the 15th century as fishing vessels in the area of the Pomeranian Bodden and the Stettin Lagoon. Now, they make for a great way to explore the region by water and a trip on one gives you a sense of the peninsula’s history and connection to the lagoons and sea. You can book trips from Ahrenshoop.
The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park is the largest national park along the Baltic coast, with breathtaking cliffs and shallow lagoons that stretch from the Darss-Zingst peninsula to the island of Rügen. We love the dense forests and sprawling salt flats, and one of our favourite walks is through the Märchenwald from Zeltplatzstraße to the Leuchtturm Darßer Ort (the loop takes about 2.5 hours)
(Tip: Visit in the autumn as the park is the stop-off point for over 30,000 cranes - making it the largest roosting spot for cranes in Europe.)
The peninsular is broken into different sections, and we think the Zingst area is the perfect place for an afternoon bike ride. The advantage of exploring by bike is you get to take in a lot of the natural landscape in a way that isn’t too exhausting (when compared to walking!). One of our favourite rides the Bodden loop, which sees you ride from the town of Zingst along the edge of the low lagoons and over the dramatic cliffs by the sea.
(Tip: There are lots of bike rides to choose from here.)
The peninsular boasts a handful of gorgeous towns, each full of striking cabins and houses with thatched roofs. They include Wieck, where there’s a gorgeous harbour leading out to the lagoon, Ahrenshoop, be sure to visit the impressive Schifferkirche and the Kunstmuseum, and Prerow, you must walk out along the pier.
What do you love to do in the region? Let us know!
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