In a nutshell
- Rügen is a super popular destination for families with children — and for good reason.
- There are tons of great things to do with kids on Rügen — highlights include Rügenpark, the diving gondola in Sellin, and the steam train Rasende Roland.
- Our top hotel pick for families is the Hotel Villa Sano — close to the beach and with a large playground.
- Several hiking trails are perfectly suited for kids and strollers. Our favorite is the Viktoria-Rundweg. In this article we share all our tips for visiting Rügen with children.
7 Cool Activities on Rügen with Kids
Most of the attractions on Rügen are great for children too. On top of that, the islanders have come up with plenty of ways to keep even the littlest ones entertained.
Hiking in Jasmund National Park
What do you need to know? Jasmund National Park in the northeast of Rügen is one of the island’s top highlights. This is where the famous chalk cliffs are located, surrounded by deep, ancient beech forest.
Is it worth a visit? Various hiking trails wind through the forest, and they’re suitable for children and travel strollers alike. The Königsstuhl — the most famous viewpoint overlooking the chalk cliffs — is also part of the national park. From here you get a sweeping panorama over the Baltic Sea.
Our tip: The best time to visit is early in the morning. We were there around 9 AM and had the trail and the viewpoints almost entirely to ourselves.
How to Get to Jasmund National Park
Only public transportation is allowed to travel all the way to the national park center — private vehicles are prohibited from entering.
So if you want to see the chalk cliffs, you either walk about 45 minutes (3 kilometers) from the Hagen parking lot, or take the bus for just a few euros per person.
From Sassnitz: Sassnitz is the closest town to the national park. From Sassnitz main station, bus line 23 takes you to the national park center in about 15 minutes.
From Binz: Bus line 22 runs from Binz main station to the entrance of the national park center, though the journey takes about 50 minutes.
Alternatively, there’s a parking lot in Lohme, about 4 kilometers from the national park center. From there you can only continue on foot — no shuttle bus runs from here.
Sellin Pier: Diving Under the Waves in the Submarine Gondola
What do you need to know? The pier in Sellin is one of Rügen’s landmarks. The bridge house is, as it was historically, a dance hall and café — and at the end of the pier there’s a diving gondola that descends 4 meters into the Baltic Sea for 30 minutes.
Is it worth a visit? The pier alone is already impressive, but our absolute favorite is the diving gondola. Through the windows you can watch fish and underwater plants — a genuinely cool experience for adults and kids alike.
Our tip: From the so-called Himmelsleiter (Stairway to Heaven), you get a perfect view of the pier and the Baltic Sea.
The Rasende Roland: A Round Trip by Steam Train
What do you need to know? The Rasende Roland is a narrow-gauge railway that has been running through Rügen since 1895. Funnily enough, “rasend” (racing) is the last word you’d use to describe it — the locomotive chugs through the island’s forests at a top speed of 30 km/h.
Is it worth a visit? Driving the Rasende Roland is a fantastic experience. From the train you get a view of Rügen that you simply can’t get from the road. And for kids, the little steam train is an absolute must-see no matter what.
Our tip: You can buy tickets at every station along the Roland route. We rode about 30 minutes from Sellin to Binz — a stretch we’d highly recommend!
Climbing the Treetop Walk
What do you need to know? The treetop walk is a spiral-shaped trail near Prora. The tower is built around a 30-meter-tall beech tree, and thanks to the gentle incline, even toddlers and strollers can make it to the top with ease.
Is it worth a visit? Totally! The climb is really fun, and along the way there are learning stations about the plants and animals of the forest. From the very top you get a great view over the forest and the Baltic Sea.
Our tip: The path is secured with a railing and has a roof over it — so you can head up even in not-so-great weather.
Watching the Störtebeker Festival
What do you need to know? The Störtebeker Festival is an absolute summer highlight when visiting Rügen with kids. The story of the pirate Klaus Störtebeker is performed on a huge open-air stage on the shores of the Großer Jasmunder Bodden.
Is it worth a visit? Without a doubt! The show and the stage design are seriously captivating — real horses, real ships, and even real explosions. Afterward, every kid is probably a pirate fan.
Our tip: Before the main show, there’s a birds-of-prey show you can add on as an extra. Especially for kids, it’s an impressive bonus.
A Day at Rügenpark Gingst
What do you need to know? Rügenpark in Gingst is an amusement park and miniature park rolled into one. It has 17 rides and play attractions, plus miniature versions of landmarks from around the world.
Is it worth a visit? Absolutely! There’s a wild water roundabout, a giant slide, a bounce house, a petting zoo, and plenty more to keep kids of all ages busy.
Our tip: Thanks to the miniature buildings, kids (and adults) can actually learn something here too. On display are, for example, the Bamberg Cathedral and the Sydney Opera House.
A Day Trip to Hiddensee Island
What do you need to know? Hiddensee is a small, car-free island to the west of Rügen. You get from A to B on foot, by bike, or by horse-drawn carriage. You can do a day trip or spend the night.
Is it worth a visit? Definitely! Hiddensee is absolutely beautiful. The Dornbusch lighthouse is the main attraction and well worth seeing, and the island also has forests, thatched-roof houses, and sweeping heathlands.
Our tip: Carriage tours around the island are a fun, hassle-free way to see the sights — and kids absolutely love the ride.
How to Get from Rügen to Hiddensee
The fastest option is from Schaprode to Hiddensee. The crossing takes about 45 minutes and is super relaxed. During peak season, a ferry runs roughly every 45 minutes to one of the three harbors on Hiddensee.
You can find departure times and tickets on the website of Reederei Hiddensee.
In Schaprode you can park your car for 5 euros per day in a lot right at the harbor.
Alternatively, there’s a parking lot at the entrance to Schaprode, about a five-minute walk from the harbor, where you pay 3.50 euros per day.
Staying Overnight on Hiddensee
If you’d like to spend more time on Hiddensee, there are some really lovely places to stay. We’d recommend the following:
All accommodations on Hiddensee on Booking.com
The Best Family Hotels on Rügen
If you’re planning a Rügen family vacation, staying in a family-friendly accommodation makes everything so much easier. Here are three we especially recommend:
H.W.S. Hotel Der Wilde Schwan: A wonderfully personal hotel in the north of Rügen, with a large garden, playground, bowling alley, and picnic area.
Familienhotel Villa Sano: A 3-star family hotel in the east of Rügen. The beach is just 500 meters away, and there’s a kids’ club, a playground, and great childcare.
Suite Hotel Binz: A seriously beautiful and super kid-friendly 4-star hotel right in the center of Binz. The suites offer plenty of space, there’s a kids’ club, and the beach and a shopping strip are just a three-minute walk away.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants on Rügen
Most restaurants on Rügen are welcoming to families. But a few go above and beyond with especially great offerings for children:
The Gaststätte Jägerhütte in Putbus has a large terrace and a garden with a playground. The restaurant is also right next to the wildlife enclosure in Putbus’s city park, where kids can watch deer grazing.
In the east of Rügen, right on the water, is the Nautilus. This themed restaurant is designed after the fictional submarine from “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” The menu is mostly fish dishes, but the kids’ menu also includes rice pudding and spaghetti bolognese.
We visited the Altes Postamt in Sellin with our three-year-old and had a great experience. We could order any dish from the menu as a child’s portion for 3–4 euros less, and we were given kids’ cutlery and a straw. If only every restaurant did it that way!
Rügen with Kids: Our Best Tips
Visiting Rügen with children is absolutely wonderful! To make sure you feel the same way after your trip, here are a few pointers:
What Should You Pack for a Family Vacation on Rügen?
Rügen is city, countryside, and seaside all in one, so a well-rounded kit for the kids makes sense. Our packing recommendations:
- Sun protection: Sunscreen, a sun hat, and maybe some beach toys.
- Sturdy shoes: Especially for longer hikes and rockier beaches.
- Rain gear: Even in summer, rain on Rügen is not uncommon.
- Mosquito repellent: Especially near lakes and the Bodden there can be mosquitoes. There are even handy mosquito repellent bracelets for kids available now.
- Balance bike / scooter: For longer walks, a ride-on like this is ideal for toddlers!
Everything else you need to know, you'll find here:
Costs for a Family Vacation on Rügen
Rügen has a reputation for being an island for the well-heeled, and there’s some truth to that. Hotel prices during peak season are unfortunately not cheap. Our advice: book well in advance and also consider renting a vacation apartment.
Admission prices for Rügen’s attractions aren’t cheap either. Adults typically pay between 8 and 12 euros; children get a discount or free entry depending on their age. A family ticket is often available and can save you a decent amount.
Restaurant prices aren’t much different from those in a major city like Berlin.
The Kurtaxe (Resort Tax)
On top of everything else, Rügen charges a Kurtaxe — a resort tax that visitors pay toward the upkeep of roads, beaches, parks, and cultural facilities.
The Kurtaxe varies by town and season. In Binz, for example, you pay 2.80 euros per person per day year-round. The age up to which children are exempt also depends on the town.
The Kurtaxe is paid when you check in at your accommodation. Each person then receives a Kurkarte (resort card), which gives you discounts at various facilities. You can also use the Kurkarte to ride certain bus lines and the resort railways for free.
Note: Always carry your Kurkarte with you — it also entitles you to use the beach. It’s not automatically checked, but inspections do happen from time to time.
Getting Around Rügen
The most convenient way to get around Rügen is by car. There are bus and train connections on the island, but they take roughly twice as long.
The distances on Rügen shouldn’t be underestimated either — getting from one end to the other takes about an hour by car.
The individual towns are all compact and easy to navigate on foot. In places like Binz or Sellin there’s also the Bäderbahn — a small electric train that runs through the towns. With your Kurkarte, the ride is free.
A bicycle is also super handy on Rügen. There are lots of well-developed bike paths running through the countryside. You can bring your own or rent one on-site, along with child seats and trailers.
