Rügen Island
Germany's largest island, known for white chalk cliffs, sandy Baltic beaches and old seaside resorts, reached by train over the causeway from Stralsund.
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Rügen is Germany's largest island, in the Baltic Sea off the northeast coast in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. A causeway from the mainland town of Stralsund connects it, and trains run onto the island, so visitors arrive by car or train. The best-known sight is the chalk cliffs of Jasmund National Park, where the Königsstuhl lookout sits above the sea. The island also has long sandy beaches and resort towns such as Binz and Sellin, where white villas line the seafront.
Your choice of base shapes the trip. Binz and Sellin suit beach days, promenade walks and easy evenings. Sassnitz is a practical base for the cliffs and has a ferry port. The Rasender Roland, a narrow-gauge steam railway, links Putbus with the resort towns. Summer, from roughly June to August, is the season for swimming and open-air cafés. Spring and early autumn bring fewer people to the cliff paths.
Rügen Island in five
- Take the train to Stralsund, then BinzLong-distance trains from Berlin or Hamburg reach Stralsund in about 3 hours or more, and regional trains continue to Bergen auf Rügen and Binz. Direct services run on some days in season, so check DB.Is a Eurail Pass worth it?
- Walk to the Königsstuhl, and respect the closuresThe chalk cliffs in Jasmund National Park are the island's main sight. Cliff-edge paths and the beach below close after rockfalls, so follow the signs and check the park's official page.
- Ride the Rasender RolandA narrow-gauge steam railway runs between Putbus and Göhren via Binz and Sellin. It is slow, and a good way to link the east-coast resorts.
- Choose Binz or Sellin for the pier and villasBoth are resort towns with piers and white seaside architecture, and Binz is the larger and busier. Sellin is quieter and more formal.
- Hire a car only if you want the northBuses and the steam railway link the east coast. A car helps for Kap Arkona, Jasmund and the smaller north-coast villages.
Things to do in Rügen Island
See all attractions in Rügen Island
Need to know
- Airport
- Hamburg (HAM) or Berlin (BER), about 3 hours by train to Stralsund
- Getting there
- Train to Stralsund, then regional train to Bergen auf Rügen and Binz
- Getting around
- Regional trains, buses, the steam railway and bikes
- Best base
- Binz or Sellin for beaches; Sassnitz for the cliffs
- Time needed
- 3–5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low1°Cold, windyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, windy
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low2°Cool, windyMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Spring, quietAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, quiet
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Sunny, cool seaMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Sunny, cool sea
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Beach seasonJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Beach, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Beach, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Mild, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calm
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Fall, stormsOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall, storms
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low5°Gray, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Gray, quiet
- DecemberCloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low2°Cold, quietDecemberCloudy
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Binz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Rügen Island
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 55%
Rügen Island
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°6°55%Monday: Rain. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Tue9°6°15%Tuesday: Rain. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed11°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°5°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri11°5°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat8°4°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun6°3°7%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 7%.
Updated 09:38 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Hiddenseeabout 1 hour by ferryA car-free island with a lighthouse and quiet beaches.
- Stralsundabout 1 hour by trainA UNESCO Hanseatic old town on the water.
- Lübeckabout 3 hours by trainA brick-Gothic old town; better as a stop than a day trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Rügen Island
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Rules for Rügen Island, checked
- Schengen 90/180-day rule: non-EU visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across Germany and the Schengen Area. Count your days before booking a long stay.
- EU Entry/Exit System: non-EU visitors have passport and fingerprints recorded at the German border. Check the current status on the EU travel site.
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire in Germany. It is the same number across the EU, so save it in your phone before you arrive.
- Some resorts on Rügen charge a visitor's tax (Kurtaxe) on overnight stays. Ask at check-in whether it is already in your room rate.
- Stay on marked paths in Jasmund National Park. The chalk cliff edges erode and fall, so keep back from the drop.
Plan around Rügen Island
The Baltic and North Sea coast as one region
Read the guideHamburg travel guideA port city, a common gateway
Read the guideLübeck travel guideA Hanseatic old town on the Baltic
Read the guideBerlin travel guideAbout 3 hours south by rail
Read the guideAll of GermanyRegions, trains, entry rules and money for Germany
Read the guideIs a Eurail Pass worth it?When single tickets beat a pass in Germany
Read the guideRügen Island FAQ
How many days do you need on Rügen?
Three to five days. That covers a beach day, the chalk cliffs and a steam railway ride. Add a day for Hiddensee or Stralsund, and avoid trying to see the whole island on a single day.
Is Rügen worth visiting?
Yes if you like beaches and sea air. Swimming is comfortable in July and August, and May, June and September are quieter and cooler. It is a poor choice for a rainy winter break.
Do you need a car on Rügen?
Not if you stay on the east coast, where trains, buses and the steam railway link the resorts. A car helps for Kap Arkona and the north, and is useful on busy summer weekends for flexibility.
Where should I stay on Rügen?
Binz for the most choice and the pier, Sellin for calmer evenings, Göhren for a family beach, Sassnitz for the cliffs. Book summer rooms months ahead.
How do you get to Rügen from Berlin?
By train to Stralsund in about 3 hours, then a regional train to Bergen and Binz. Some direct services run in season. Plan on a long day if you take the slowest connection.