Ummanz is an island off the western coast of Rügen, located in Schaproder Bodden and part of the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park. A bridge connects Ummanz to Rügen’s Muttland and leads to the municipality’s main village. Nature watching, water sports and historic architecture offer different ways to plan a stay on Ummanz.
Natural Landscapes and Crane Roosting
From the wooden birdwatching hide in Tankow, you can look out over salt meadows and Bodden waters. In autumn, cranes stop there during their migration south. If you are also choosing when to travel based on nature, this offers a clear seasonal reference: crane roosting is described for autumn.
You can also explore Ummanz by bicycle: the island can be circled on paved roads, with opportunities to observe nature along the way. For a walking tour, there is the circular route “Around the Island of Ummanz.” It covers 17.1 kilometres and takes 4 hours 30 minutes. These details provide a specific timeframe to consider when planning the walk.
Water Sports and Beach in Suhrendorf
The village of Suhrendorf is a popular spot for surfers and kiteboarders; it also has a fine sandy bathing beach. The UMMAII water sports centre in Suhrendorf offers windsurfing, wingfoiling and kitesurfing courses, and rents out SUP boards and canoes. The centre also offers guided canoe tours for groups. In addition to courses and equipment hire, tours are another option for a water sports-focused stay.
The water sports centre’s seasonal opening arrangements may change. Check in advance whether your preferred course or equipment rental is available during your stay. This lets you plan around your specific travel dates without treating the centre’s different offerings as interchangeable.
Church, Settlement History and Ceramics
The Church of St Mary in Waase houses a late Gothic Antwerp carved altarpiece dating from 1520. Freesenort, the oldest settlement on Ummanz, still has four listed buildings. Freesenort was first mentioned in a document in 1319. One of the buildings is a Low German hall house with a sugarloaf-shaped roof, believed to date from the 17th century. The uncertainty about its age is part of this description: the date is given as an estimate.
Another cultural stop is the “Insel Schatz Ummanz” National Park exhibition. It is free, bilingual in German and English, and wheelchair-accessible. In Wusse, Ummanz-Keramik makes carefully hand-painted ceramics featuring motifs typical of the local landscape. During opening hours, you can watch the ceramic artists craft the products in the workshop. Check the opening hours before visiting if you would like to see the work in the workshop.
Information and Other Activities
The Ummanz Visitor Centre offers brochures, flyers and maps, as well as information and tips for stays or day trips on the island. Regional products and souvenirs are also sold there, including local honey and handicrafts. The selection of individual products may change.
If you would like to include activities beyond nature and culture, Ummanz offers riding lessons, riding badges and rides through the countryside. You can weigh up the different options when planning your stay: Tankow offers views over the Bodden and seasonal crane migration; Suhrendorf is known for its beach and water sports; and Waase, Freesenort and Wusse offer specific cultural, historical and craft-related stops.
Discover more destinations: Dreschvitz, Samtens, Hiddensee Island, Neuenkirchen, Kluis, Altefähr, Schaprode, Trent.
For the overarching travel overview: West Rügen Administrative District.
