Fehmarn – Germany’s Baltic Sunshine Island

Sun, Sea and Open Skies on the Baltic Edge

Fehmarn sits in the southern Baltic Sea, a flat, weather-beaten island ringed by beaches and low cliffs and criss-crossed by a network of dikes and farm tracks. It is Germany’s third-largest island, yet its atmosphere is resolutely rural, with big skies, sea breezes and fields running almost to the shore. The Fehmarnsund Bridge arches across the sound to the mainland like a steel coathanger, giving an instant sense of arrival on an island that still feels slightly apart. The coastline is wonderfully varied for its size. In the south and southwest you find broad, sandy strands backed by promenades and classic wicker beach chairs, particularly around Südstrand and Burgtiefe. To the east the shore grows wilder, with steeper sections of coast and pebble-strewn coves where waves gnaw at the land. In the north, natural beaches and shallow lagoons provide a quieter, more elemental face of the Baltic.

Island Villages, Brick Churches and Maritime Traces

Burg, the island’s main town, lies roughly in the south and feels like a compact Hanseatic micro-city. Narrow cobbled streets twist between red-brick houses with stepped gables, many influenced by historic Danish styles that hint at Fehmarn’s position on the frontier between cultural worlds. At the heart stands St. Nikolai church, founded in the 13th century, its tower a useful landmark that punctuates the surrounding maze of roofs. Beyond Burg, the island is dotted with small villages such as Petersdorf, Landkirchen, Lemkenhafen and Orth. Each has its own character: perhaps a thatched farmhouse, a converted windmill, a tiny harbour crammed with yachts or fishing boats. Lighthouses like Flügge on the southwestern tip act as sentinels over the shipping lanes, while the ferry port of Puttgarden in the north underscores Fehmarn’s long-standing role as a gateway between Germany and Denmark.

Nature Reserves, Birdlife and the Wallnau Wetlands

Despite the strong agricultural presence, Fehmarn has become renowned for its nature reserves and bird habitats. Along the north coast, former coastal meadows and lagoons now form vital resting and breeding grounds for waterfowl and migratory birds. The best-known area is the Wallnau Waterfowl Reserve on the western shore, where wetlands, reedbeds and shallow ponds attract hundreds of species throughout the year. Boardwalks and discreet viewing platforms make it easy to explore without disturbing wildlife, and seasonal migrations bring dramatic flocks of geese and waders sweeping over the landscape. Elsewhere on the island, protected dunes, small inland lakes and rough coastal grassland contribute to a surprising ecological diversity. Even casual walkers and cyclists frequently spot birds of prey circling above the fields or hear curlews calling from the mudflats.

Wind, Waves and Island-wide Cycling Adventures

Fehmarn’s open position in the Baltic gives it reliable wind, which has turned the island into a major German hotspot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Around exposed bays such as Gold, Wulfener Hals and the Flügge area, colourful sails and kites dot the horizon on breezy days, and the shallow waters close to shore are especially attractive for learners. Surf schools, gear rental and launch spots are spread along the coast, keeping the scene informal but active. On land, more than 300km of cycling paths knit the island together, many following the dikes or hugging the coastline. The terrain is almost entirely flat, making day-long loops realistic even for families. Riders can string together beaches, harbour villages, lighthouses and cafés in a single outing, or detour inland through fields and tiny hamlets. Hiking routes, though fewer in number, offer similarly relaxed exploration, with sea views rarely far away.

Culture, Memory and Fehmarn’s Easygoing Rhythm

Beyond pure recreation, Fehmarn carries layers of cultural history. In Burg, local museums trace maritime trade, fishing traditions and the island’s geology. Scattered across the countryside are reminders of its position on Cold War frontiers and older trading routes. On the northwestern shore a simple stone commemorates the final festival performance of musician Jimi Hendrix in 1970, a small but evocative link to a different era. Despite ongoing infrastructure projects such as the planned Fehmarnbelt tunnel to Denmark, the rhythm of daily life on the island remains unhurried. Tractors trundle along narrow roads, cafés in village squares fill slowly with people lingering over cake, and evening light stretches across the Baltic outside. For visitors, the appeal lies in this combination of gentle activity and genuine stillness: a place where you can fill days with wind, water and wildlife, yet always find a quiet corner to watch the changing sky over the sea.