Island of Usedom

Vibrant resorts and natural beauty
 
This island has two different facets: a quiet side with woods and nature conservation areas - and a lively side with seaside resorts and 42km of Baltic beaches. All blessed by wonderful sunshine - Usedom is Germany's sunniest island.

The three imperial spa resorts of Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin lie along a 12km white sandy beach offering a variety of children's activities. Families will also feel at home in Trassenheide, a seaside resort in the north-west of the island, where the beach stretches for almost 4km with plenty of shallow water for little ones to splash in. As a change from the beach, visit the tropical house in Bansin, which has around 400 exotic animals of 150 different species. Bison, Europe's largest land mammals, can be admired in the Mellenthiner Heide area near Prätenow in the south of the island where the German Association for Nature Conservation (NABU) has established a bison breeding and viewing enclosure. After a storm, you might be lucky enough to find a piece of amber - the gold of the sea - at one the island's four 'amber' resorts.