Villas in Usedom

Zinnowitz, Trassenheide and Karlshagen in the north-west. The beach is wide and sandy with shallow water, and there are rainy-day options such as the diving gondola and the Peenemünde museum. Koserow is a quieter alternative with the same beach.

Usedom is flatter, with one long, continuous sandy beach and easy cycling, and it is closer to Berlin. Rügen has chalk cliffs, beech forest and a more varied coastline, but distances on the island are longer. Rügen has its own page on this site.

Yes. The promenade runs from Ahlbeck straight into Świnoujście, a flat walk or bike ride, and the island railway goes there too. Carry a passport or ID card: both countries have carried out spot checks at this border in recent years.

Both road bridges, at Wolgast and Zecherin, lift for boats at fixed times, and traffic stops while they are open. On summer Saturdays this adds to the changeover traffic. Check the bridge times and avoid arriving just after an opening.

Berlin Brandenburg has the most flights from the UK and is around two and a half to three hours away. Szczecin, across the Polish border, is closer to the imperial baths and has flights from Stansted.

In July and August most people swim, but the Baltic is noticeably cooler than the Mediterranean. The beaches shelve gently, which suits children. The lagoon side warms up faster but is reedy and better for boats than swimming.

Yes. The resorts charge a daily visitor tax (Kurabgabe) per adult in season, usually collected through your host. It pays for beach cleaning and facilities, and the visitor card often gives discounts on local attractions.