The island of Usedom is located on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea and is shared by Poland and Germany. We are on a sailing trip and are docked in Swinoujscie on the Polish side, and have made a really nice bike ride between the two countries.
Table of contents
Sailing trip
We are currently on a sailing trip... South Coast Baltic Boating Rally. We have moved into a really cool sailing yacht, a Bavaria C50. The first day there was no sailing though, but a bike ride on the island of Usedom. Therefore, we start telling you about it! Soon we will sail on from the port of Swinoujscie ...
Island of Usedom
The island of Usedom is a 445 square kilometre island on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is divided between Germany and Poland. The German part makes up 373 square kilometres of the island and the Polish part 72 square kilometres. The German part has just over 31 000 inhabitants and the Polish part 45 000.
Swinoujscie in Poland
Swinoujscie is the largest town on the island of Usedom, and we wrote yesterday about what you can things to see and do in Swinoujscie.
Cycling excursion on the island of Usedom
All the sailboats are in a harbour in Swinoujscie in the Polish part of the island of Usedom. We gathered in the morning for a bike ride to the German part of the island. A total of 90 people tried out bikes and set off. Great atmosphere!
We cycled through green parks, along lovely seaside promenades and through busy streets with a holiday feel.
The border between Poland and Germany
After cycling for a while, we arrived at the border between Poland and Germany. The border does not feel like a "border", but is marked by a kind of statue with the countries' names - and by the fact that many people choose to stop here and take a photo or maybe a selfie.
Ahlbeck in Germany
As you continue cycling, you will reach Ahlbeck, which is the easternmost of the German so-called "Kaiserbäder" (Imperial Spas). Here you will find a really nice pier and a long beautiful sandy beach.
Beach club in Ahlbeck
Just before you reach Albeck, from Poland, you will find a small Beach Club. The whole group met here later, both for lunch, dinner and a little "beach party". A very relaxed and nice place!
Heringsdorf in Germany
If you continue cycling, you will reach Heringsdorf. Heringsdorf is located on the island of Usedom and has around 10,000 inhabitants. It is also known as the "Kaiserbad" (Imperial Spa) and is a popular bathing, spa and wellness centre.
We took a guided tour and saw some of the most famous buildings in the city, including Villa Oechsler and Villa Staudt.
We also visited a central and relatively new concept called Marc O'Polo Strandcasino' Heringsdorf. In the centre is a modern and relaxed restaurant called O'ne, where you can also buy various products, and around it are various shops.
The idea is to make shopping fun and relaxed - and if the husband finds it boring, he can have a coffee or beer while the rest of the family shops.
The idea is to have something for everyone. In addition to the restaurant in the centre, there is an outdoor terrace with light food, O'Deli, and a mini-restaurant called O'Room, which has one star in the Michelin Guide.
The beach in Heringsdorf on the island of Usedom
Heringsdorf also has a beautiful sandy beach and a long pier that extends into the sea.
There are, of course, plenty of beach baskets along the beach. In Heringsdorf on the island of Usedom, there is also the world's largest beach basket. Or "probably the biggest in the universe", as the representatives of the tourist office here say with a laugh. And it's hard to argue with that ...
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Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
What a wonderful day and Usedom, which our friend Lisa recommends so warmly, we just have to visit once.
Have a nice sail!
09 August 2019 - 7:28
Helena says:
We agree with Lisa! Amazingly beautiful here! ??
09 August 2019 - 9:23
Lisa says:
Certainly it is nice in the three imperial cities with the nice old villas, the beach and the piers. Love it and think it's nice that you got to come there on this trip. Looks a little lonely in the beach basket it should fit 100 people. and many celebrities have been photographed in it, including Angela Merkel.
09 August 2019 - 7:32
Helena says:
Really agree with you! Very, very nice here! Relaxed and nice! And haha, most of the time there were many in that basket, but we managed to find a moment ? Fun with Angela Merkel! ??
09 August 2019 - 9:25
Eva - People in the Street says:
I really like those beach baskets 🙂 Keep up the good work!
09 August 2019 - 8:51
Helena says:
Aren't they beautiful? ??
09 August 2019 - 9:27
Ama de casa says:
Is that what you would call mass tourism with mass cycling? 😉
Looked very nice there.
Oh! You are travelling with a Bavaria? We sailed in Greece with a Bavaria 46 for a week in 2009 with the ski and boat crew. So your 50 is a few feet bigger then. Before we left, I was very proud that I actually knew the type of boat. Then I realised that it was the cheese Bavaria Blu I was thinking of. Haha!
I found it a bit confusing that there were two steering wheels on the boat, but it went well anyway 😀.
So sail calmly now! Or maybe sailing fast is better 😉
09 August 2019 - 9:59
Helena says:
Nice that you also sailed with a Bavaria, albeit a few feet smaller! ??
09 August 2019 - 11:41
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
How nice! so many new things to learn all the time.
09 August 2019 - 10:00
Helena says:
Agreed! You learn a lot from travelling (and from reading blogs) ???
09 August 2019 - 11:42
Mr Steve says:
Usedom, a nice island that I have never heard of before. Hope you have an enjoyable sail!
09 August 2019 - 11:23
Helena says:
Thank you Steve! Very nice here!
09 August 2019 - 11:43
Ditte says:
Fun to see something other than the sea as well and perfect to take the opportunity to look around by bike. A lot also had time to experience and see.
Wishing you now a nice sailing with good wind conditions.
09 August 2019 - 11:53
Helena says:
Thank you very much! And yes, it will be a good combo! ??
09 August 2019 - 16:22
JoY says:
It looks so lovely and with the long beach. Glad you are going sailing, hope you get good wind.
An area on the map that is blank to us but maybe we can discover that part soon as we ferry to Sassnitz.
09 August 2019 - 11:55
Helena says:
Very nice! Worth discovering! ??
09 August 2019 - 16:22
Elisabeth says:
Nice day with a lot of beautiful photos!
On my first trip to Poland in 1967, we came by train to Swinoujscie. Then there was only a short stop before the train went further south. Later we have been there by motorhome.
09 August 2019 - 19:08
BP says:
How nice it is! You wouldn't think so, actually. Have never heard of the German resorts. So much fun to travel with you again sitting comfortably in front of the computer. You learn a lot by following travel blogs:-)
09 August 2019 - 21:03