Rügen Island Overview

Trains leave Stralsund, the mainland gateway to Rügen, for Binz and Sassnitz (1hr., every hr., €9) via Bergen, an unattractive transportation hub in the center of the island. Buses connect Stralsund with Rügen’s largest towns, and a ferry runs from Stralsund to Schaprode, near Hiddensee, on Rügen’s west coast. Most visitors drive onto the island, and public transportation tends to be expensive. To get to Kap Arkona in the north or Göhren in the south, you’ll have to take an RPNV bus from Bergen or Sassnitz. (☎03838 194 49. Every hr., €3-7, day pass €10.) The efficient RPNV also connects nearby towns like Binz and Sellin. The Rasender Roland, a narrow-gauge rail line with historic steam locomotives, runs every 2hr. from Putbus to Göhren (€8) with stops in many spa towns. However, with a top speed of 30kph, the railway is more of a tourist attraction than an efficient means of transportation. The best way to appreciate Rügen’s stunning scenery and picturesque towns is by hiking and biking. Although the whole island is criss-crossed by trails, the best are found along the eastern coast in Nationalpark Jasmund, NSG Granitz, the Mönchgut Peninsula, and on Hiddensee Island to the west. There are 21 campgrounds in Rügen, with the majority to the southeast on the Mönchgut Peninsula.