During the 19th century, Usedom was a favorite vacation destination for Germany’s elite, earning the nickname “Berlin’s bathtub.” Depression and war temporarily scattered the tourists, but their beach toys, enormous, gaudy houses, and long piers remained. Today, the island is the playground of the petite bourgeoisie —swarms of upper-middle-class families storm the beaches and rent rooms in restored palaces in warmer months. A hilly bike trail spans the island’s sun-dappled woods, showing off Usedom’s natural beauty and offering access to secluded warm-water beaches.
Usedom lies at the northeastern corner of Germany. Thanks to the Potsdam Conference, the easternmost portion of the island belongs to Poland. Tourists fill the island in July and August, so it’s a good idea to reserve rooms in advance. Usedom is connected to the national rail system through the Usedomer Bäderbahn (UBB), which runs the length of the island, connecting all its towns to Greifswald and Stralsund (☎038378 271 32. www.ubb-online.com. Buy tickets from any train statoin). A UBB day pass costs €15, though buses and trains operate on different systems. Adler-Schiffe (☎038378 477 90) runs ferries daily from Usedom’s resorts to Binz on Rügen Island (3½hr., €21). The price of a Kurkarte, required for beach access, is automatically added to your accommodation bill (€2 per day; under 18 €1).
☎ 038378 Heringsdorf Heringsdorf (pop. 9500) has long been the most elite of Usedom’s resort towns, illustrated by rows of ornate villas lining the waterfront. As one of the three Kaiserbäder, ...more
☎ 038375 Koserow Forests of moss-covered trees meet stunning beaches in the least touristed of Usedom’s resort towns. Koserow’s central location on the island makes it a good base for hiking and ...more
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