Usedom – the famous island at the Baltic Sea – is located in the north-easternmost tip of Germany. It has been one of Germany’s top travel destinations for years, but why? In summer, it is probably the 40-kilometre-long fine sandy beach that attracts numerous travelers. It is not only the longest beach in Germany but also one of the most beautiful ones. As early as the 19th century, the imperial family came here to relax, and certainly not without reason.

But what makes Usedom so attractive in winter? Imagine a walk on the beach at sunrise – glistening golden light slowly rising and bathing everything around you in a magical fairy-tale world. A winter morning by the sea here on Usedom – believe me, it will touch your heart! Usedom in winter is simply infinitely beautiful and also surprisingly diverse: significantly less hustle and bustle than in other seasons, lots of nature, great wellness hotels and a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for a short break or a long weekend.

In this post, I would like to tell you a little more about our time on the island of Usedom, which we spent here in January, and I will introduce you to five wellness hotels. Of course, you will also find my personal tips for things to do in winter as well as information on the best sights on Usedom.

Usedom in winter – a wellness oasis

Why is Usedom an ideal destination in winter?

Oh yes, walks on the beach on Usedom in winter are truly magical, especially in the morning. The day starts much later than in summer, so you don’t have to get up so early to watch the sun rise over the sea. If you are lucky, as we were, winter will have decorated the Baltic Sea with ice floes, making the atmosphere even more enchanting. The tranquillity and endless expanse are simply magical. January is particularly quiet as it is not yet the school holidays.

Many popular restaurants – which are crowded in the summer season – can be visited spontaneously often even without prior reservation. What I particularly liked: most of the high-quality wellness hotels, located directly on the Baltic Sea, offer attractive prices at the beginning of the year. And without a doubt, a visit to the sauna is much more enjoyable in winter than in summer – sometimes even with a view of the icy sea!

In short: Usedom in winter is ideal for a long weekend or a short break.

The best wellness hotels in Usedom

We tested five different wellness hotels in Usedom – here is my personal rating:

Seetelhotel Ahlbecker Hof

General: The historic 5-star grand hotel (built in 1890) is located in Ahlbeck directly on the historic pier and captivates with its classic charm. The interior is very cozy and high-quality. My personal highlight is the fireplace room next to the lobby – coffee and cake by the fireplace. Simply wonderful!

Rooms: ☆ (4/5)

Historic ambience with chandeliers and cosy seating area, often with sea views. Perfect for lovers of classic hotels, but may seem a little old-fashioned to others.

Wellness & spa: ☆ (4/5)

The hotel has a large indoor pool and a versatile sauna area. High-quality treatments are offered in the Thai-inspired wellness area – the facial massage was particularly relaxing.

Breakfast & restaurants: (5/5)

There are four restaurants in total. The breakfast buffet is extremely varied, with an à la carte selection available until 12 noon – ideal for leisurely winter brunches. My highlight was the Thai restaurant Suan Thai – authentic cuisine, great design and excellent service.

Ideal for: couples, lovers of tradition

Double room price: from approx. 120,- EUR including breakfast

Strandhotel Ostseeblick

General: This quietly located hotel is in Heringsdorf, with a direct view of the beach. The Heringsdorf pier is within easy walking distance.

Rooms: (5/5)

Modern and very cosy at the same time. We stayed in the Panorama Master Suite – light-flooded, high-quality, with a wide view of the Baltic Sea. Definitely a wow room!

Wellness & spa: ☆ (4/5)

The multi-award-winning spa area is modern but rather compact. It has a panoramic indoor pool (unfortunately, this was under renovation during our stay).

Breakfast & Restaurants: ☆½ (4.5/5)

Very good breakfast buffet. Stylish hotel bar with a focus on cocktails and wines. The restaurant offers creative reinterpretations of regional cuisine, with a changing daily menu.

Ideal for: couples, connoisseurs

Double room price: from approx. 150,- EUR including breakfast

Steigenberger Grandhotel & Spa Heringsdorf

General: This modern hotel is located directly on the promenade. Despite its size, it offers a pleasant solution: it comprises several smaller buildings instead of one huge structure, which fits in very well architecturally with the imperial spas.

Rooms: ☆ (4/5)

Friendly rooms with a nautical and beach theme, many with balconies.

Wellness & spa: (5/5)

The wellness area is the largest of the five hotels at approx. 1,900 m² and is spread over two floors. It includes a heated outdoor pool for lap swimming, even in winter. There is also an indoor pool with massage functions, large saunas including a separate ladies’ sauna, and bright treatment rooms offering an extensive range of treatments. Plus: the spa area offers separate times for families with children.

Breakfast & restaurants: ☆ (4/5)

Large breakfast buffet, two restaurants, lounge bar with fireplace and a private spa lounge with light cuisine.

Ideal for: families, couples, groups of friends

Double room price: from approx. 150,- EUR including breakfast (this price is only valid for H Rewards members, but membership is free)

the breeze – Vela Hotels

General: This modern, trendy hotel is located in Ahlbeck, right on the beach promenade. Great: It is particularly dog-friendly, with a dog shop and dog wash. It also has a small café with a shop in the lobby.

Rooms: (5/5)

Studios and apartments with kitchens in a very modern design and plenty of space, some with their own sauna.

Wellness & spa: ☆ (4/5)

You can expect a large indoor pool, a separate children’s pool and a modern sauna area. Highlight: the sauna has a fireplace – absolutely brilliant! The wellness area is quite busy in the afternoons at weekends, but much more relaxed in the mornings.

Breakfast & restaurants: (5/5)

Excellent breakfast buffet with an extremely wide selection, including options for allergy sufferers and those with special dietary requirements. My absolute recommendation is the BRACA restaurant in the evening: Nordic-Mediterranean cuisine with creative combinations. The hotel also has a beautiful outdoor area, with fire pits and radiant heaters in winter.

Ideal for: Families & friends travelling together, travellers with dogs

Double room price: from approx. 140,- EUR including breakfast

Strandhotel Heringsdorf

General: This family-run hotel is located directly on the promenade. Special feature: It has a large, healing saltwater pool – unique on Usedom!

Rooms: ☆ (4/5)

Cosy rooms, many with bathtubs and views. However, the furnishings are somewhat inconsistent, but that is a matter of taste.

Wellness & Spa: (5/5)

I liked the Sindbad thermal baths with their Roman bath character, saunas, indoor pool and treatment rooms. There is also a rooftop wellness area with a panoramic sauna and outdoor jacuzzi with a view of the Baltic Sea (unfortunately, the jacuzzi was closed during our visit). The large heated outdoor pool contains healing salt water and can also be used in winter.

Breakfast & restaurants: ☆ (4/5)

Large breakfast buffet and cosy restaurant with classic cuisine.

Ideal for: Wellness lovers, couples looking for peace and quiet

Double room price: from approx. 120,- EUR including breakfast

Usedom in winter – the best sights & activities

Of course, Usedom has much more to offer in winter than just wellness – you can also enjoy these activities & sights during the cold season

Island safari

Usedom is not just about beaches! The hinterland also offers plenty of space for activities and boasts incredibly beautiful and diverse nature. The south of the island in particular is characterised by small bays and hidden lakes.

In Usedom’s winters, which are less inviting for swimming and sunbathing, you can still explore the most beautiful sides and secret corners of the island, preferably on an island safari. The approximately five-hour trip is led by a guide and is peppered with interesting information. Our guide shared her extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna as well as the island itself with us. We were surprised at how many animals we were able to observe during our trip, even in the middle of winter. Among them were birds of prey, deer, foxes and beavers.

Of course, a safari also includes a hearty picnic. We enjoyed all kinds of hearty treats, hot soup, mulled wine and tea by a frozen lake. What a peaceful idyll!

Walk through the ‘Kaiserbäder’

As already mentioned, the imperial family used to enjoy spending the summer months here. The nobility also favoured the island, which gradually led to the development of its characteristic spa architecture. The most popular seaside resorts were Bansin, Ahlbeck and Heringsdorf – now known as the ‘Kaiserbäder’ (imperial spas). They definitely belong on the list of Usedom’s most beautiful sights.

A well-developed beach promenade connects the three imperial spas and even leads to Świnoujście in Poland. At 12 kilometres, it is the longest beach promenade in Europe. Its image is characterised by beautiful houses and villas as well as the typical piers. Just let yourself drift and be enchanted by the impressive architecture.

Tip: If you want something a little more exciting, I recommend the Kaiserbäder-Erlebnispfad app. Blue signs along the way offer in-depth content and QR codes for digital experiences – a kind of individual, self-guided discovery tour.

Treetop walk

The Usedom treetop walk leads up to 23 metres above the tops of beech and pine trees. An impressive experience in itself, it offers a special highlight: a fantastic panoramic view of the imperial spas and the Baltic Sea. Absolutely fantastic! Even in winter, a walk high up among the trees is very appealing. Beautifully designed with illuminated animal figures from the forest, the treetop walk on Usedom is definitely one of the most recommended sights.

Marc O’Polo Strandcasino

This historic building is not a casino, but was formerly a venue for concerts and entertainment. The Marc O’Polo Strandcasino is a very popular meeting place, and not just in winter on Usedom. It is located on the Heringsdorf beach promenade and now houses a concept store with a clothing shop on the ground floor and two adjoining restaurants on the upper floor: the Michelin-starred restaurant The O’Room with only a few seats and the cosy O’ne with super delicious dishes and snacks. Even at the latter, the dishes on offer are incredibly high quality and special – but at normal, affordable prices!

A must-try on Usedom, whether for shopping or dining – preferably both :).

Cycling on Usedom

If you are one of the hardy types, you might consider exploring the beauty of Usedom by bike in winter. This is of course possible and has its own special charm. The island is ideal for cycling tours, as it has a network of well-developed cycle paths covering around 200 kilometres.

You don’t even need to bring your own bike, as there are numerous rental stations. Please note: opening hours may be reduced in winter. It is best to enquire by telephone.

Winter beach festival in Ahlbeck

One of the highlights of winter on Usedom is the annual beach festival. It takes place in January on Ahlbeck beach. The programme includes the beach chair world championships and, of course, ice bathing. We were there to cheer on the brave ice bathers. It’s incredible how naturally the daredevils jump into the ice-cold sea – as if it were nothing. Since this year the Baltic Sea was covered with a layer of ice within a few days, a large hole had to be dug in the ice beforehand. In the evening, there was a spectacular fire show. It’s a special experience that you shouldn’t miss if you’re on Usedom in January.

Winter break on Usedom – my summary

I have to admit: our trip to Usedom in winter was a dream come true. The breathtaking view of the frozen sea and the overwhelming walks on the beach at sunrise alone were worth the trip. Never in my life have I seen the Baltic Sea like this – so enchantingly beautiful! Enriched by stays in top wellness hotels, where we could then thaw out in the cosy warmth of a sauna or by the fireplace, we wanted for nothing.

I can therefore highly recommend this experience! I hope you find the right wellness hotel for you to make your time on the beautiful island of Usedom in winter as pleasant as possible.

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