Vacation on the Island of Fehmarn

The Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn in the northern part of Germany is the third-largest island and is located in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The island is referred to as the 'Hawaii of Northern Germany.' Due to the wind, it is considered a paradise for windsurfers, kite surfers, and surfers. Presumably, it may be less attractive for the latter.

I can't say anything about this topic as I only ever experienced rain, wind, and hardly any waves. If you're excited about waves that are only 30 cm high, you should fly to Hawaii.

Like many Baltic Sea islands, Fehmarn records quite a number of sunshine hours a year. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm this for myself. I have been here twice, and each time it rained, stormed, or there were hailstones the size of a tennis ball falling from the sky.

For half a day, the weather finally showed some mercy and presented itself in a somewhat sunny manner. This all sounds very negative. Don't get me wrong: Fehmarn is beautiful! I just had bad luck with the weather.

Because the island is ideal for slowing down. The nature is magnificent, and it is wonderfully tranquil; you should avoid the crowded South Beach. No hustle and bustle, just pure peace and relaxation! If you want to head towards Denmark, you can take the ferry from Fehmarn (Puttgarden) and relax at one of the beautiful beaches on Fehmarn before you go.

Should I give Fehmarn a third chance? The idyllic nature is definitely a positive aspect. Sheep graze everywhere, there are flat sandy beaches, and rugged coastal sections. The coastline is 78 kilometers long. This way, everyone should be able to find their perfect beach spot, whether for swimming, surfing, or walking.

Before you read on, check out even more tips for vacationing in Germany.

If you enjoy camping in the summer or traveling with a camper van, Fehmarn is always a good choice. Here you will find some really nice family-friendly campsites. Almost all are located right by the sea.

I have already tested two campsites: one at South Beach and one in Westermarkelsdorf (Fehmarnbelt Campsite) in the northwest of Fehmarn. Both places were great.

On my next visit, I would choose one of these two campsites:

Why? Because these two sites offer even more idyllic and beautiful spots right by the sea. At the Camping at the Dike site, there's nothing but the sea behind the dike followed by a row of sites in front of a forest. It can't get any better. We cycled by here with envy.

By the way, there are really cool holiday homes with large glass windows. If you don't have a camper van or VW bus, you might like this place. If you prefer excitement, the South Beach is the place to be.

Here are the following campsites I recommend in the order listed:

The following campsites are located on the east coast:

I'm not a kite surfer myself; I've always wanted to try it but haven't gotten around to it yet. So I enjoy sitting on the beach and watching kite surfers. I am always fascinated when they lift off and fly away.

Ideal spots are Orth, Strukkamphuk, and Westermarkelsdorf.

The waves are too small for surfing; honestly, I wouldn't have fun doing it on Fehmarn. However, maybe there are days when the waves exceed the meter mark? I haven't seen any yet, but I have seen surfers in the water struggling with mini-waves...

Okay, I admit it: it's windy. Often very windy. We often thought we wouldn't make any progress at all. But the reward is sure, as Fehmarn has great bike paths along the coast. So explore the island by bike. It's much more beautiful than by car.

If you get bored, you can count sheep along the bike path. They are often lying by the path looking at you skeptically.

Did you know that South Beach on Fehmarn is the only beach in Germany located on the southern coast? You'll also find the whitest and finest sandy beaches here.

Enjoy time at the island's most popular beach. It can get quite crowded in the summer. So take a few steps east to escape the crowds.

Visit the Quarkeria or Café Sorgenfrei and enjoy your vacation on Fehmarn.

Fish sandwiches are practically found everywhere along the German coasts. At the harbor snack bar Kap Orth, you can eat one of the best fish sandwiches on the island. I have marked the place on the map.

Fehmarn has numerous farm cafés with farm stores that are no longer a secret. They are even more beautiful and offer truly the best baked goods. From bread to cakes, we have enjoyed delicious treats at the farm café Albertsdorf. Definitely bring some patience, as you often have to wait a little to be served.

More farm cafés we didn't have time for:

In the largest town on Fehmarn, most of the islanders live. Discover the pretty brick houses, the market square, and the small shops around. This is the gastronomic center of the island. The selection in Burg is the biggest. Nonetheless, there are small gastronomic gems in the small villages in the countryside or on the beach.

For example, many farm cafés (Farm Café Albertsdorf), Quintings in Orth, Elli's Snackeria, or the Beltbude by Puttgarden. The beach bar Strukkamp or Café Sorgenfrei at South Beach is worth a visit too.

A highlight is St. Nikolai Church (Burg on Fehmarn), which was built around 1230 during the transition from Romanesque to Gothic. The individual construction phases of different architectural styles can be clearly seen on this three-nave church.

Fehmarn has five lighthouses. Unfortunately, you can only climb one: the Flügger Lighthouse is 37 meters high and offers a perfect panoramic view of Fehmarn. You only have to climb 162 steps to get to the top.

More lighthouses on Fehmarn:

If you are at Flügger Beach, you must visit the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Stone. Did you know that Jimi Hendrix played his last concert at the love and peace festival on Fehmarn in September 1970? Just a few days later, he died in London. The granite stone with a guitar relief commemorates his last performance and talent.

A little north of it is the Wallnau Waterbird Reserve. The 300-hectare area has been established since 1975 as a breeding and protection site for migratory birds. Keep an eye out for the signs!

How about a day trip to Denmark? I planned the journey from Puttgarden to Rødby. Unfortunately, the weather (once again) thwarted those plans.

The ferry ride only takes 45 minutes. The neighboring island of Lolland must be beautiful. Hopefully, I can make it on my next visit in autumn? Tickets start at 65 euros. It naturally depends on how many people are traveling and whether you have a car or camper van.

You can book ferry tickets at DirectFerries.

Once a year, Fehmarn hosts the Bulli Festival. In 2019, I had the honor of being on-site with a T6 and Landliebe and reporting on it. It was great because VW bus lovers and camping fans met and exchanged ideas.

I'm just not sure if I would be welcomed at the Bulli Festival with a different camper van now. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic time!

For better orientation, I have created a Fehmarn map for you. Open it in Google Maps and simply navigate to the corresponding locations.

Fehmarn is located in the far north of Germany. The island belongs to Schleswig-Holstein and lies between the Mecklenburg Bay and Kiel Bay.

No wonder Fehmarn is popular. It is just 19 km from the Danish Rødby. Only 2 hours from Hamburg and 1 hour from Lübeck, attracting day and weekend tourists to the island.

As soon as you cross the 963-meter long Fehmarn Sound Bridge that connects Fehmarn to the mainland, vacation feelings hit you! The Fehmarn Sound Bridge is toll-free and thus free of charge.

By the way, Fehmarn is not a car-free island. I don't know how this rumor started.

Fehmarn is conveniently accessible by train from Hamburg. Depending on the connection, the journey from Hamburg Main Station to Burg takes 1.5 - 2 hours. By car, the journey of about 150 kilometers takes around 1.5 hours (A1).

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