An almost seven-kilometre-long, fine-sand beach connects Haffkrug and Scharbeutz. This coast is the starting point for a journey of discovery through Ostholstein that extends far beyond the beach: themed trails tell the story of fishing, nature trails lead through protected landscapes, and museums explore castle history, archaeology and rural life in the past. Each place has its own character—from harbours and coastal themes to exhibitions and open-air music. This lets you tailor your stay to your own interests, whether coast, culture or nature.
Coast, Nature and Trails
In Haffkrug, the fishing experience trail runs along the promenade. Information boards and interactive features explain the history of fishing and the fish species of the Baltic Sea. At eight stops, QR codes provide access to stories and audio-guide narration; you can explore the trail independently. Niendorf, a district of the municipality of Timmendorfer Strand, attracts many visitors with its fishing and yacht harbours. While Haffkrug presents fishing history on an experience trail, Niendorf is shaped by two distinct harbour functions.
On Fehmarn, a one-kilometre nature experience trail leads through the nature reserve at the Wallnau Waterbird Reserve. At Bungsberg, you can go hiking and cycling, watch wildlife and discover nature. The two examples offer different highlights: Wallnau focuses on a specific trail, while Bungsberg offers a range of activities. The circular route around Lake GroĂźer Eutiner See runs partly right along the shore and partly along natural trails through the forest. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Eutin, Eutin Castle and its gardens.
Museums, Castle and Archaeology
Eutin offers a range of cultural experiences, each telling a different story. The Ostholstein Museum presents changing exhibitions and a permanent exhibition about Eutin during its heyday around 1800. Every summer, the Eutin Festival stages a range of opera or operetta performances as open-air events. Eutin Castle Museum is situated right beside Lake GroĂźer Eutiner See and is surrounded by landscaped gardens. The exhibitions, lake and garden each give the castle museum a distinct connection to the history of the town and its landscape.
Another seasonal cultural highlight is in the municipality of Grömitz: Cismar Monastery hosts changing exhibitions and holds concerts in its vaulted hall during the winter season. Over the course of the year, Eutin’s summer open-air performances are thus complemented by concerts in Cismar during the winter season. If you would like to plan your visit around a performance or concert, check the dates before travelling.
The Oldenburg Rampart in Oldenburg in Holstein is one of Schleswig-Holstein’s most significant archaeological sites. Using excavation finds and reconstructions, the Oldenburg Rampart Museum presents the archaeologically and historically reconstructable story of the ring rampart and the Slavs in Ostholstein. The Lensahn Museum Farm offers a different glimpse into the past: its more than 4,600 historical exhibits are devoted to work and life in the countryside in earlier times.
Nature and Water Experiences
On Fehmarn, the Marine Centre showcases more than 1,000 marine animals in over 40 display aquariums, which together hold 700,000 litres of seawater. At the Natureum Steinwarder nature experience park in Heiligenhafen, children and adults can experience nature with all their senses. The two attractions have different focuses: the Marine Centre is all about marine animals and aquariums, while the Natureum offers a direct experience of nature.
The Ostsee Therme Scharbeutz combines a varied water world and large slides with a sauna area featuring 11 different saunas; it also offers direct access to the beach. As facilities and operations may change, check the latest information before visiting. In SĂĽsel, the water-ski cableway offers beginner courses every day. If you plan to take a course, it is a good idea to check the latest course dates in advance. This makes it easy to combine cultural events, nature experiences and waterside activities to suit different interests.
Discover more destinations: Ahrensbök, Dahme, Großenbrode, Heiligenhafen, Kasseedorf, Riepsdorf, Sierksdorf, Weißenhäuser Strand, Malente, Stockelsdorf, Bad Schwartau, Altenkrempe, Eutin, Neukirchen, Neustadt / Holstein, Grömitz, Kellenhusen, Timmendorfer Strand, Schashagen, Göhl, Grube, Fehmarn, Scharbeutz, Schönwalde Am Bungsberg, Ratekau, Heringsdorf, Oldenburg In Holstein, Gremersdorf, Süsel, Wangels and Bosau.
For the main travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.
