The Best Beaches on Schleswig-Holstein’s Baltic Coast – Part 1: From Kiel to Travemünde

Schleswig-Holstein’s Baltic coast offers much more than an endless succession of interchangeable sandy beaches. Between Travemünde and Flensburg, densely developed seaside resorts alternate with broad family beaches, exposed watersports areas, quiet natural coastlines and maritime harbour towns. Some beaches stand out primarily for their scenery, while others offer an almost complete range of tourist facilities.

Which beach is actually the best therefore depends very much on what you are looking for. Families tend to favour shallow water, short walking distances and good sanitary facilities. Travellers seeking peace and quiet prefer natural beaches with little development. Watersports enthusiasts need wind, space and suitable access to the water. Others want to combine the beach with a promenade, restaurants, cafés and shops.

The following selection is therefore not a mathematical ranking. It presents ten particularly interesting beaches and coastal resorts, including both their strengths and their limitations. For a comparison focusing more closely on landscape and the individual resorts, see our article on the most attractive seaside resorts around Lübeck Bay and Hohwacht Bay.

The essentials at a glance

• For nature and tranquillity: Sehlendorf Beach, Grüner Brink on Fehmarn
• For families: Grömitz, Dahme, Großenbrode and Schönberger Strand
• For watersports: Pelzerhaken and Fehmarn
• For promenades and restaurants: Timmendorfer Strand, Grömitz and Travemünde
• For maritime atmosphere: Travemünde
• For plenty to do regardless of the weather: Damp
• For better beach accessibility: Timmendorfer Strand, Fehmarn, Sehlendorf and several of the larger Baltic resorts

1. Timmendorfer Strand: comfortable, upmarket and often very crowded

The continuous beach stretching from Timmendorfer Strand to Niendorf is almost seven kilometres long. Fine sand, a well-maintained promenade, numerous beach-chair rentals and a dense concentration of restaurants make this one of Schleswig-Holstein’s most comfortable Baltic seaside resorts.

Timmendorfer Strand is not a destination for solitude. The beach serves simultaneously as a stage, meeting place and recreational area. In the centre, cafés, restaurants, boutiques and hotels are packed closely together. This makes holidays convenient and keeps walking distances short, but it also results in considerable crowds on sunny weekends and during the summer holidays.

Families will find supervised bathing areas, play and sports facilities and numerous beach access points. Several sections have fixed boardwalks, while amphibious beach wheelchairs are available at selected locations. Dog beaches, sports areas and quieter stretches towards Niendorf further extend the choice.

Anyone wishing to look beyond the familiar tourist image of the resort will find a more critical assessment in our article Timmendorfer Strand: Light and Shadow in a Baltic Holiday Paradise.

Best for: Visitors who want to combine beach life with restaurants, shopping and entertainment.

Less suitable for: Travellers seeking peace and quiet, budget-conscious families and spontaneous day visitors on warm weekends.

Reisebuch.de tip: Those looking for more space should not restrict themselves to the central beach, but also explore the sections towards Niendorf.

2. Grömitz: a long family beach with comprehensive facilities

Grömitz is one of the largest and best-known seaside resorts on Lübeck Bay. Its beach extends for around eight kilometres, from the busy centre to the quieter outer sections towards Lensterstrand. Even in this heavily visited holiday resort, it is therefore usually possible to find a section that suits your particular style of holiday.

In the centre, tourist life is concentrated along the roughly three-kilometre promenade. Restaurants, cafés, playgrounds, beach bars and shops keep everything within easy reach. The pier with its diving gondola is one of the resort’s best-known attractions. For an overview of other piers in the region, see our article on the piers of Lübeck Bay.

The broad sandy beach slopes relatively gently into the water in many places. Grömitz is therefore well suited to families, although children should never be left unsupervised in the sea, even on shallow Baltic beaches. Watersports, beach volleyball, beach playgrounds and seasonal programmes complement the traditional bathing experience.

The resort’s strength is also its weakness: Grömitz offers a great deal, but the centre consequently feels very tourist-oriented. Those looking for nature, tranquillity and a more traditional townscape should explore the outer beach sections and the cliffs.

Best for: Families, multi-generational holidays and visitors who want as many facilities as possible close to the beach.

Less suitable for: Travellers looking for a quiet, lightly developed coastal resort.

Reisebuch.de tip: Even a moderately long walk from the centre towards Lensterstrand changes the atmosphere noticeably. The beach becomes quieter and the development recedes.

3. Fehmarn: from the lively Südstrand to Grüner Brink

Fehmarn does not have one uniform type of beach. Its 78-kilometre coastline ranges from fine sandy beaches and shallow surfing areas to cliffs and stony natural shores. This diversity is precisely what makes the island particularly attractive.

Südstrand at Burgtiefe is the best-known family beach. The water slopes gently, and beach chairs, restaurants, play areas and a promenade are all available. It is convenient and lively, but also distinctly tourist-oriented. Since 2026, a new boardwalk along the western part of Südstrand has improved access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Grüner Brink in the north of the island has a much more natural character. The beach forms part of an important habitat for birds and coastal wildlife and offers shallow water and good opportunities for longer walks. Protected areas and restrictions on leaving marked paths should always be respected.

Gammendorfer Strand, also in the north, should not be confused with Grüner Brink or its nature reserve. It is a separate and generally quieter natural beach. Other interesting stretches of coastline can be found around Bojendorf, Wallnau, Staberhuk and Westermarkelsdorf.

Watersports enthusiasts particularly appreciate Wulfen, Gold, Lemkenhafen and Orther Reede. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are permitted only in the designated zones. For a more detailed assessment, see our article Fehmarn as a Holiday Destination – A Natural Island with Clear Strengths and Limitations.

Best for: Families, cyclists, birdwatchers, surfers and visitors who enjoy trying several very different beaches.

Less suitable for: Travellers expecting a compact resort with short distances and a continuous promenade.

Reisebuch.de tip: On Fehmarn, it is worth choosing your beach according to wind direction and the day’s weather. Conditions differ considerably around the island.

4. Travemünde: a large resort beach, ships and the Priwall

Travemünde combines a Baltic beach, working harbour, traditional seaside-resort history and immediate proximity to Lübeck. The broad Kurstrand lies north of the mouth of the River Trave, with views across Lübeck Bay, the harbour moles and the shipping traffic heading to and from the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal.

The Kurstrand has fine sand, plenty of space and good facilities. Beach chairs, promenade, restaurants and play and sports areas are close together. The harbour, historic centre, fishing harbour and old lighthouse are all within walking distance.

On the opposite side of the Trave lies the Priwall peninsula, reached by ferry. It has a long, gently shelving beach. However, the western Priwall has become considerably more developed in recent years as a result of new holiday accommodation and the promenade. More natural stretches can mainly be found further east towards the state border.

Travemünde’s particular appeal lies less in undisturbed tranquillity than in the combination of sea and shipping. Ferries, cargo ships, sailing boats and excursion vessels pass remarkably close to the beach. During the Travemünde Week sailing festival and on warm weekends, substantial crowds should be expected.

Best for: Shipwatchers, city-break visitors, families and travellers who want to combine a beach holiday with Lübeck.

Less suitable for: Holidaymakers looking for complete tranquillity and an almost undeveloped natural coastline.

Reisebuch.de tip: Kurstrand and Priwall are two distinctly different beach experiences. To gain a proper impression of Travemünde, explore both sides of the Trave.

5. Dahme: a long beach for the traditional family holiday

Dahme lies on the northern shore of Lübeck Bay between Kellenhusen and the Großenbrode area. Its long beach, generally shallow water and roughly 1.5-kilometre promenade make it a classic family destination.

Restaurants, small shops, playgrounds and leisure facilities are concentrated along the promenade. The SportStrand offers supervised seasonal sports and activity programmes. There is also the StrandSpa, children’s entertainment and a pier, making Dahme suitable for families whose holiday involves more than simply swimming and sunbathing.

The beach extends well beyond the central promenade. Leaving the busiest sections behind, visitors will find quieter stretches of coast to the north and south. Not every section consists of uniformly fine sand; stones and natural deposits of seaweed and drift material are part of the coastal landscape in some places.

Dahme is well organised but has less historic seaside architecture than Travemünde or Timmendorfer Strand. The resort is primarily shaped by its beach, holiday apartments and seasonal tourist infrastructure. More information on the area can be found in our guide to the northern part of Lübeck Bay from Neustadt to Dahme.

Best for: Families, older visitors and travellers looking for a manageable, well-equipped seaside resort.

Less suitable for: Visitors expecting a historic townscape, substantial nightlife or a wide range of cultural attractions.

Reisebuch.de tip: The outer parts of the beach feel considerably quieter than the area around the pier and central promenade.

6. Pelzerhaken: Lübeck Bay’s leading watersports beach

Pelzerhaken lies southeast of Neustadt in Holstein and has one of the few distinctly south-facing beaches on Lübeck Bay. Its exposed location, distinctive light and frequently favourable wind conditions have made it one of the region’s main destinations for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

In some areas the water remains shallow for a considerable distance. This makes entering the water easier, but it does not replace swimming ability or the need to pay attention to wind, currents and designated watersports zones. In strong winds, the beach can be substantially less suitable for small children than on calm summer days.

Pelzerhaken is developed for tourism but feels less densely built-up than Timmendorfer Strand or Grömitz. Restaurants, beach-chair rentals and sanitary facilities are concentrated around the area near the pier. Beach bars and surf schools give the resort a younger and more sporting character.

Pelzerhaken is no longer an insider tip on sunny weekends. Parking can become scarce, and the exposed location means that conditions are more weather-dependent than at some other beaches. A more detailed description can be found in our article Pelzerhaken – An Insider Tip on Lübeck Bay.

Best for: Surfers, stand-up paddlers, active couples and families with older children.

Less suitable for: Visitors looking for a sheltered beach for toddlers regardless of wind and weather.

Reisebuch.de tip: Check the wind direction, weather and parking situation before setting off. Pelzerhaken can feel like a completely different beach depending on the conditions.

7. Sehlendorf Beach: the most convincing natural beach in this selection

Sehlendorf Beach lies on Hohwacht Bay and combines good-quality sand with an impressive natural setting. Behind the beach and dunes lies Lake Sehlendorf, with salt marshes, brackish-water habitats and a rich variety of birdlife.

The supervised main beach is around two kilometres long. The water generally slopes gently, making it popular with families. A main DLRG lifeguard station, additional watchtowers and automatic emergency stations improve safety during the bathing season.

Despite its natural surroundings, the beach is not lacking in facilities. There are beach-chair rentals, toilets, a small selection of food outlets, campsites and a surf school. The main path to the DLRG station is paved. A special beach mobility chair with wide tyres can also help people with limited mobility reach the water.

Sehlendorf is no longer a secret. On hot days, car parks and the main beach entrances fill up quickly. Even so, it remains considerably quieter and scenically more attractive than many of the larger resorts around Lübeck Bay.

More about Sehlendorf, Hohwacht and Behrensdorf can be found in our current overview Holidays on Hohwacht Bay 2026 and our detailed travel information for Hohwacht and the surrounding area.

Best for: Families, nature lovers, campers, walkers and travellers seeking peace and quiet.

Less suitable for: Holidaymakers expecting a long promenade, extensive shopping or evening entertainment.

Reisebuch.de tip: Combine a day on the beach with a walk around the edge of Lake Sehlendorf. The protected areas themselves must not be entered.

8. Großenbrode: shallow water at the gateway to Fehmarn

Großenbrode’s Südstrand lies on the Wagria Peninsula, just a few kilometres from the Fehmarn Sound Bridge. Its sheltered position, fine sand and comparatively shallow water make it one of the easiest family beaches to use in northern Ostholstein.

The redesigned promenade offers play areas, restaurants, seating and unobstructed views across the Baltic. The tourist centre is compact and easy to navigate. Unlike Grömitz or Timmendorfer Strand, distances between car parks, the beach and the promenade are generally short.

The DLRG supervises the central Südstrand from a main lifeguard station and several additional towers. Alongside traditional swimming, sailing, surfing and other watersports are important parts of the resort’s appeal. Walkers can continue from the promenade towards the more natural coastline and Weststrand.

Großenbrode is less sophisticated than the major Baltic resorts, but it is practical and family-friendly. It also makes a convenient base for excursions to Heiligenhafen and Fehmarn. During holiday periods, however, traffic on the access roads can become congested.

Best for: Families with small children, couples and visitors who prefer a compact seaside resort.

Less suitable for: Travellers looking for a historic old town or an extensive cultural programme.

Reisebuch.de tip: On a longer stay, compare Südstrand, Weststrand and the more natural coastal sections outside the resort centre.

9. Schönberger Strand, Kalifornien and Brasilien: plenty of space on Kiel Bay

The coastline belonging to the municipality of Schönberg stretches from Schönberger Strand through Brasilien to Kalifornien. Behind these striking names lies a long, largely continuous stretch of coast with sandy beaches, a dyke, meadows and several bathing areas with different characters.

At Schönberger Strand, the pier, heritage railway station, restaurants, beach chairs and watersports facilities form the main focal point. Kalifornien and Brasilien are more spread out and particularly suitable for longer days on the beach, cycling and walks along the dyke.

The water slopes gently in many places. Seasonal DLRG lifeguard stations, children’s programmes and sports activities make the beaches family-friendly. At the same time, visitors are more widely dispersed than in compact, heavily developed seaside resorts.

The coast is well connected to the Baltic Coast Cycle Route. Buses operate from Kiel via Schönberg to the various beach sections. Those arriving by car should check in advance which car park serves the section they wish to visit – several kilometres separate Kalifornien from Schönberger Strand.

Best for: Families, cyclists, beach walkers and visitors looking for a less densely developed coastline.

Less suitable for: Travellers who expect all facilities to be concentrated around one central location.

Reisebuch.de tip: Do not restrict your visit to Schönberger Strand. Kalifornien and Brasilien each have their own character and become noticeably quieter away from the main access points.

Other good beaches on Schleswig-Holstein’s Baltic coast

A selection of ten beaches cannot possibly represent Schleswig-Holstein’s roughly 400 kilometres of Baltic coastline in full. Other beaches well worth considering include:

• Kellenhusen: woodland, beach and pier combine to create a pleasantly balanced seaside resort.
• Hohwacht: a smaller Baltic resort with beach, cliffs, inland lake and the “Flunder” sea platform.
• Behrensdorf: a broad, rural natural beach with little tourist development.
• Weidefelder Strand: wide sandy beach on the Schwansen Peninsula near Kappeln.
• Schönhagen: manageable family beach with cliffs and holiday homes.
• Eckernförde Südstrand: an easily accessible town beach overlooking Eckernförde Bay.
• Holnis: natural beach on Flensburg Fjord with views towards the Danish coast.

Parking, toilets and beach charges

Many Baltic resorts have expanded paid parking considerably in recent years. Free parking immediately beside the beach is becoming increasingly rare. Charges, seasonal periods and payment systems vary substantially and can change at relatively short notice.

For an up-to-date assessment, see our article Parking on Lübeck Bay: What Visitors Need to Know. Public toilet locations between Travemünde and Dahme are listed in our Lübeck Bay Toilet Guide.

Visitor taxes, beach charges and the Ostseecard are also not organised uniformly. Overnight guests usually receive the Ostseecard through their accommodation provider if the resort participates in the scheme. Depending on the municipality, day visitors may need a beach ticket or may only have to pay for parking. It is therefore advisable to check the current information provided by the relevant local tourism service before setting off.

Good water quality does not guarantee risk-free swimming

Bathing waters along Schleswig-Holstein’s Baltic coast are monitored regularly. A good long-term water-quality classification does not, however, mean that swimming is entirely safe on every day and in all weather conditions.

Wind, waves, groynes, piers and changing water depths can create dangerous currents. More detailed information can be found in our article on dangerous currents along the Baltic coast.

During prolonged periods of warm weather, blue-green algae can occur locally. Conditions may change within a short time as wind and currents shift. Background information is available in our report on blue-green algae in the Baltic Sea.

High water temperatures also increase the risk posed by Vibrio bacteria. People with open wounds, weakened immune systems or serious underlying health conditions in particular should pay attention to current warnings. More information is provided in our article on Vibrio bacteria in the Baltic Sea.

As a general rule:

• swim whenever possible at supervised beaches,
• observe warning flags and lifeguard instructions,
• never enter the water when the red flag is flying,
• supervise children continuously, even in shallow water,
• keep away from groynes, harbour moles and shipping channels,
• avoid swimming if the water is unusually discoloured or if conspicuous accumulations of foam are present.

We have summarised further risks in our overview of hazards during beach holidays on Germany’s North Sea and Baltic coasts.

Which Baltic beach is right for you?

Those who want the beach, restaurants and entertainment within easy reach will find Timmendorfer Strand, Grömitz or Travemünde particularly suitable. Families have good options in Dahme, Großenbrode, Schönberg and at Südstrand on Fehmarn. Pelzerhaken and several sections of Fehmarn’s coastline are especially attractive to watersports enthusiasts.

Sehlendorf, Behrensdorf, Grüner Brink and a number of beaches around the Schlei and Flensburg Fjord are better suited to visitors who value nature, open space and tranquillity more highly than promenades and evening entertainment. Damp, meanwhile, is particularly suitable for travellers who want a wide range of leisure facilities even when the weather is poor.

The best-known beach is not automatically the best one. The decisive factors are the time of year, weather, traffic conditions and, above all, whether you prefer a lively seaside resort or a quiet natural beach. For broader guidance, see our comparison Which German Baltic Coast Is Right for Me?.