Germany’s 5 best family-friendly beaches

Despite being mainly landlocked, Germany has an impressive array of family-friendly beaches. In fact, families may find themselves spoilt for choice, with island getaways, wistful Baltic sunsets and seascapes of ochre cliffs topped with swaying sand dunes – which is why we’re narrowed it down for you. Here are the five best family-friendly beaches in Germany, according to global travellers.*

Trassenheide Strand, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Germany’s most highly endorsed family-friendly beach, Trassenheide Strand, can be found on the Baltic island of Usedom. It has wide, pale sandy slopes that are prime sandcastle-building territory, while mild sea currents help make it suitable for swimming with young children. The beach belongs to the town of Trassenheide, a small seaside resort with a surprisingly high number of intriguing museums and the Tierpark Wolgast animal park just a half-hour drive away. Be sure to visit one of the traditional ice cream parlours along the town’s boardwalk, perhaps followed by a game of mini-golf on the beachside course. Families hoping to stay close to the beach will love the Akzent Hotel Kaliebe, only six minutes’ walk from Trassenheide Strand with a pool, soundproof rooms, children’s TV networks available and plenty of board games.

Rotes Kliff, Schleswig-Holstein

A beach called ‘Red Cliff’ might not sound particularly family-friendly but there’s good reason it’s so popular with visiting families. Russet cliffs gently descend into some of the cleanest, most beautiful beaches on the Frisian island of Silt and it’s a peaceful place with plenty of space for children to run around. The cliffs screen the beach from the wind, leaving only the gentlest breeze to carry the scent of wild heather down to sunbathers. Stay at the Hotel Walter’s Hof, where guests have access to a children’s playroom, kid-friendly TV channels, a DVD library and large gardens. The hotel’s restaurant and sea views also make it an ideal setting for parents to unwind.

Ostbad, Lower Saxony

A beach on the island of Langeoog, Ostbad is a great spot for active families, with the east end of the beach popular for kite-flying and the west end offering wind-surfing lessons and paddle board rental. And if you’re travelling with four-legged family members, dogs are allowed to run around as much as they want on the eastern end. Hotel Flörke is Langeoog’s highest-rated hotel among families. There’s a Finnish sauna for parents who need some downtime, a games room and good WiFi for teenagers, and on sunny days kids can play in the garden (if you’re unlucky with the weather there’s an indoor playroom).

Scharbeutz Strand, Schleswig-Holstein

On Germany’s Baltic coast, Scharbeutz Strand is a beach for big families. Sheltered and pristine, it offers all the usual seaside delights as well as concerts hosted on the beach during the warmer months, with deck chairs laid out on the sand for a relaxing evening. There’s also an outdoor ice rink beside the pier, a popular Baltic Sea spa, dog-friendly areas and an action and sports section of the beach where you can enjoy a family game of beach volleyball or football. Stay two minutes’ walk from the sand at Strandperle 4, a sophisticated apartment with children’s rooms, games, books, movies and bunk beds (including a safety screen for young children).

Ostseebad Boltenhagen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Boltenhagen is a seaside resort on the German Riviera, overlooking the Bay of Lübeck. Like so much of Germany’s Baltic coastline, Ostseebad Boltenhagen combines wide stretches of sand with whimsical touches like traditional bathing wagons and an ornate promenade. Families with young children will particularly appreciate the shallow waters. Stay at the Seute Deern, a large, gabled country house that’s a one-minute walk from the beach, making mid-afternoon naps a lot easier to coordinate. And free parking makes the hotel an ideal base for day trips to the nearby Tarnewitz Huk nature reserve.

**These beaches were the most highly rated ‘beaches for kids’ in Germany, according to people travelling with Booking.com.