A Day Trip to Hiddensee

Would you like to explore the island of Hiddensee for a day? It's definitely worth it. We took the ferry from the island of Rügen and explored the island on our bicycles. Everything you need to know is here.

The island of Hiddensee is perfect for a day trip from Rügen or from Stralsund. No wonder Hiddensee is one of the most popular excursion destinations for Rügen vacationers. You'll often read about the 'Pearl of Rügen' in relevant travel guides. So we wanted to explore the car-free island, which is part of the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ourselves.

On Hiddensee, you will find tranquility as cars are banned on the island. Bring your bike with you or rent one locally. The latter is cheaper since you will also need a ticket for your bike. However, I don't want to be without my mountain bike, as it can be valuable on certain sections with deeper sand.

Picturesque landscapes that once attracted poets and painters await you. Among the most famous was Gerhart Hauptmann, whose former home you can visit in the north of the island.

But let's start from the beginning. Here you can read about what we experienced in a day on the island of Hiddensee.

Have fun with our tips for Hiddensee in a day!

In the morning, ferries depart from Schaprode to Hiddensee (Neuendorf) starting at 6:15 AM. You can check the schedule and tickets at the Hiddensee Ferry Company. There are plenty of parking spaces in Schaprode directly at the ferry terminal (also for motorhomes).

For the outbound journey, we chose the shortest ferry route: Schaprode to Neuendorf, the southernmost village on the island. The crossing takes just under 40 minutes. For the return trip, we choose to go back from Kloster in the north to Schaprode. This way, we don't have to return to Neuendorf and have more time for exploration.

Note: There is also a ferry from Stralsund to Hiddensee if you are not staying on the island of Rügen. The ferry takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes for this route.

Alternative: Hiddensee taxi boats, which are independent of the schedules and therefore more flexible. If you are traveling with your family, a taxi boat may be cheaper. They also serve all three ports on Hiddensee from Stralsund and Schaprode.

Check out the information about the Hiddensee water taxi on the Hiddensee Ferry Company website.

Bookable with the Hiddensee Ferry Company directly on the website.

Cost for round trip: $20.34 including a day pass. You need to keep it for verification.

Note: The island of Hiddensee has a tourist tax! The day pass costs $2.00 per person from April to October and $1.50 from November to March.

In the summer, the Hiddensee Ferry Company operates multiple trips a day to and from Hiddensee. We recommend leaving as early as possible and taking the last ferry back.

Departure from Stralsund or Schaprode (Rügen)

Ports on Hiddensee: Neuendorf, Vitte/Kloster

Here you will find a map of Hiddensee with all the highlights for your trip. I've marked all the sights and worth seeing places on Rügen:

In Neuendorf, we start our exploration of the island after crossing over. There are various shops at the harbor to rent a bike. You can also return them at some shops in Kloster. Just ask upon arrival in Neuendorf.

Unfortunately, our plan to have breakfast upon arrival in Neuendorf doesn't work out as everything is still closed. So we take a left towards the Gellen Lighthouse.

The path is difficult, the sand is often deep for bikes. Walking would be better, but slower. Because I have to tell you: there are no real roads in Neuendorf. Just a paved 'main street', otherwise only paths. Very quaint and everything that gives an island its flair.

But the short struggle through the sand is worth it: The Gellen Lighthouse is beautifully located on the dune. There is not a better photo opportunity than this.

Do you have time and bathing suits with you? Then jump into the waves. The beach at Gellen is beautiful. Move a few meters away from the lighthouse and you are almost alone.

Bicycle rental at Neuendorf harbor: There are several providers right upon arrival at the harbor. If you choose a different location for drop-off like we did, you must ask if it is possible. We chose this provider ($7 for one day, return at the bike rental in Kloster).

After that, we ride through the heath-covered dune landscape of the island's center towards Vitte. Along the way, we see plenty of sea buckthorn growing here. We do not encounter the grass snakes and other snakes that allegedly live here.

The dune heath is protected by nature conservation. Since the 1960s, no more construction has been allowed here. Only a few holiday homes built before that are scattered throughout the dunes.

The village of Vitte is the main settlement of Hiddensee. We cycle through the village and take a break. Here is the only bookshop on the island, the only bank, and many small shops where you can stock up on souvenirs, clothes, and local products. Vitte is very cozy and truly beautiful.

In Vitte is the Asta Nielsen House designed by architect Max Taut. The Danish actress Asta Nielsen bought it in 1929. From then on, the celebrity spent her summers on the island.

You can visit it for $2.50 or participate in a guided tour for $7. Due to Corona, we found it closed.

Also in Vitte is the Blue Barn. It became well-known when the Hiddensee Artists' Association regularly held exhibitions inside it in the 1920s. When the painter Henni Lehmann bought the house around that time, she gave it its blue paint. After the successor Günter Fink died in 2000, the studio and space for openings were turned back into a gallery. This is open to visitors on Wednesdays and Sundays in the summer. The bright blue color is definitely hard to miss.

Kloster in the north is very popular as the village is directly served by the ferry. The name of the village is not coincidental, as there once was a monastery here. Only the small island church remains from it now. It is now also used for concerts and readings.

In Kloster is the residence of writer Gerhart Hauptmann - he is buried in the island cemetery Kloster. Hauptmann bought the house Seedorn in 1930, where he mainly spent his summers on Hiddensee. Today, the former residence is a museum dedicated to the author.

I only take a quick look in the bookshop. With such good weather, we are not in the mood for a museum and head straight out to explore in the fresh air.

Behind the village there is a slight uphill climb over awkward floor tiles. We park our bike, enjoy the view over Hiddensee at the lookout point, and continue walking to the highlight and landmark of Hiddensee Island: the Dornbusch Lighthouse.

The beautiful Dornbusch Lighthouse can only be reached on foot by visitors. It stands on the highest elevation of the island, 72 meters high, called Bakenberg.

The Dornbusch Lighthouse is 23 meters tall and supposedly offers a great view over Hiddensee, the island of Rügen, and the Baltic Sea. Due to Corona, visits were unfortunately prohibited. Normally, a visit costs $7.50 for adults. You should not miss this absolute top attraction and landmark of Hiddensee! This part of the island is stunning!

After that, we ride downhill back to Kloster and enjoy a snack with a cold drink on the terrace of Hotel Hitthim (flammkuchen and aperol spritz) before we head back to Rügen by ferry.

On Hiddensee, you will find one of the last large coastal heath dunes on the Baltic Sea. The heath measures 75 hectares and is beautiful when it shines purple. It belongs to the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park and is protected. At the narrowest point of the island, you will only have to cross 250 meters from coast to coast.

The best time of year is August and September when the heath is in bloom. We were in Hiddensee in June, just before summer vacations. It was ideal for exploration, as we were able to get tickets for the ferry just two days in advance.

I will be honest: If I hadn't been traveling in a camper van, I would have loved to spend a night on the island. I found great vacation rentals on Hiddensee on Airbnb.

The probably best place to stay is the Hotel Hiddensee Hitthim. It has quite a good reputation, is somewhat pricier, but even the food in the garden outside was really very good and recommended.

In Vitte, the central village, we saw the Seemannshus Guesthouse & Restaurant. It looked super nice and well-located to us. The cheaper option compared to Hotel Hiddensee Hitthim.

Hafenkater (Vitte Harbor): Fresh from the catch to your plate. Classic: Öhe Classic Burger and fried fish with fries and remoulade

Buhne XI (Vitte): Fish dishes and sea buckthorn specialties (there are also vegetarian options)

Hotel Hitthim (Kloster): Large menu, delicious flammkuchen. Great garden outside in summer.

Many love the hike from Vitte to Kloster along the Baltic Sea beach, then turning towards Kloster. If hiking in the sand is too exhausting for you, you can also walk directly from Vitte to Kloster. You pass the national park house and a few horse pastures. Very idyllic as well. I prefer walking along the sea. The path is about 2.9 km long.

The hike from Vitte to the Dornbusch Lighthouse and back is one of the most beautiful hikes on Hiddensee. The hike is approximately 12 km long and takes (depending on how fast you walk) between 2.5 to 3 hours.

View a detailed description of the hike with GPX data here

We really enjoyed our day on Hiddensee. I'm glad we had good weather, otherwise it would have probably been quite boring. The options on a rainy day (and during Corona) would have been limited.

If you want to stay on Hiddensee, there are many vacation rentals and also hotels. The Hitthim is the most renowned one. Albert Einstein and Käthe Kruse have stayed here before. For us, the day trip was completely sufficient. Too much peace can be overwhelming after a while.

By the way, if you miss the last ferry, you can take a water taxi. It's faster and would even have been cheaper for the four of us. We only found out about that on the island. A water taxi usually costs about $80 from Kloster to Schaprode. Ahoy!

View all highlights and tips for the island of Rügen here

The most beautiful Baltic Sea islands

Baltic Sea road trip by camper van (with route & tips)

Beautiful Hanseatic cities in Germany that you should visit

You can only reach Hiddensee by ferry or water taxi. The ships depart from Schaprode or Stralsund. From spring to October from Breege, Zingst, Wiek, and Dranske.

The fastest connection is from Schaprode (Rügen) to Neuendorf (Hiddensee). The crossing takes about 30 minutes.

Cars are banned on the island of Hiddensee. The 1,300 residents have a shuttle bus, a school bus, and a few service vehicles. These are generally all electric cars.

Absolutely! There are numerous activities for families and children, ensuring that even the little ones have fun. No boredom here. A beach over 15 km long on the west side of the island is perfect for building sandcastles. Along the beach, there are several playgrounds, and in summer, events offer entertainment for the whole family. In rainy weather, you can polish amber (in Vitte) or visit the local museum or Gerhart Hauptmann House.

I hope you liked this article and it helped answer your questions. If you have ideas or questions, we would love to hear your comments here on the travel blog.

If you have no questions: We still look forward to your feedback and hope you share the article with friends or save it on Pinterest. That way, you can find the tips later.

Do you want to always receive the best travel and insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads or subscribe to my Newsletter to receive regular updates and exclusive tips.

♥ Do you like using my tips? Say thank you with a coffee ☕️

My articles are the result of extensive research, personal experiences, and honest recommendations - completely without AI. I write them to help you plan your journeys stress-free and with genuine, tested tips.

If you like my work and simply want to say thank you, I appreciate any small tip in my virtual travel fund. Every contribution helps me continue to create independent and passionate high-quality content for you. Thank you!

Trust is important: In some of my articles, you will find affiliate links. If you book or purchase something through one of these links, it costs you nothing extra - but I receive a small commission. This way, you can support me without any extra effort and help me keep this blog alive. Thank you for being part of my community and sharing my passion for authentic travel!