Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail E9

With a view of the sea from Travemünde to Ahlbeck

Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea – the Hiking Trail E9 connects the coasts of Europe. On the stretch between Travemünde and Ahlbeck, hikers can enjoy the diversity of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's coastal landscape.


Always with the tangy scent of the sea, tantalisingly glimpsed through the bizarre forests, quaint villages and charming seaside resorts.

The Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail E9 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern starts from the Bay of Lübeck. Sea buckthorn and dog roses line the path of the dunes between the peninsula of Priwall and the Baltic resort of Boltenhagen. From atop the high bluff, the eye is immediately drawn to the Hanseatic town of Wismar, its brick churches a welcoming vision from afar. In Rerik, the eye spans the seemingly endless blue of the Baltic Sea. Via Kühlungsborn, the journey goes on to Heiligendamm where the clean white of the houses during the day competes with the sails of the ships for brightness.

Onwards up the steep coastline, where at its peak just before Nienhagen, the mighty beeches strain to reach the heavens. The smooth tree trunks with their mysterious branches gave this place its name: Gespensterwald - The Ghost Wood. The forest trail leads onto the promenade just before Warnemünde taking you through the Baltic resort with its picturesque captain’s houses and proud lighthouse. Mainly following the beach with the refreshing waters of the Baltic Sea lapping at your feet, the trail takes hikers into the seaside spa town of Graal-Müritz.

Nature and architecture are in a pristine state on the peninsula of Fischland-Darß-Zingst. Along the wild, romantic beaches with spectacular steep coasts, trees bowed by the wind and thatched houses, the trail continues through the largest National Park in Germany – the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft. Keen-eyed hikers can find unique souvenirs along the deserted beaches, such as amber, fossilised sea urchins or hagstones.

The red-sailed Zeesen boats are a constant companion right up to Stralsund. The trail continues along colourful meadows and fields on to Greifswald. Tucked away amongst the trees behind the Hanseatic town are the romantic and mystical ruins of Eldena Abbey. The new Peene bridge takes you from Wolgast to the Island of Usedom. The leisurely flow of the River Peene, the hinterland's tranquil Achterwasser, the ten kilometres of beach promenade with its graceful pier leading out onto the endless sea – on the path to Ahlbeck, the sunny island provides the perfect showcase for Vorpommern's whole spectrum of nature and cultural fascination.

Beyond Ahlbeck, the E9 continues on to the Polish side of the Island of Usedom.

 

General notes:

As the Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail is unfortunately not well marked along its entire length, it is advisable to take additional maps with you. You can obtain more information about the Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail from the Wanderverband Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Warning regarding hiking on eroding banks:
eroding banks are special feature of the coast and are constantly changing. Washouts and landslides are a common occurrence. For your own safety you should only use the marked paths near the edges and look out for the warning signs.

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Tour information


  • Length of tour: 400 km
  • Stages: 14 days
  • Rail link: Lübeck, Ahlbeck
  • Marker: blue horizontal stripes on a white background
  • Sights: Hanseatic towns of Wismar and Stralsund, seaside spa town of Heiligendamm, promenade at Warnemünde, resort architecture of the three imperial spas on Usedom

  • Take a break with a view of the Baltic Sea next to flowering fields of rape, © TMV/Werk3
    Take a break with a view of the Baltic Sea next to flowering fields of rape
  • Ahlbeck pier on the Island of Usedom is the oldest pier in Germany, © TMV/Werk3
    Ahlbeck pier on the Island of Usedom is the oldest pier in Germany
  • Rewarding wooden path: Many ways lead to the sea on the Darß, © TVFDZ/outdoor-visions.com
    Rewarding wooden path: Many ways lead to the sea on the Darß
1

Am Strom – 18119 Warnemünde

Alter Strom Warnemünde

Maritime hustle and bustle at the Alter Strom, © René Legrand

The 'Alte Strom' was the only shipping route to the Rostock harbour until 1903. Today only yachts, passenger ships and fishing boats anchor here.

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2

Fritz-Reuter-Straße – 18225 Kühlungsborn

Mecklenburg Resort Railway Molli

Arrival Molli-train, © TMV, Danny Gohlke

The Mecklenburg Resort Railway Molli offers something for any train enthusiast. Built with 900mm gauge width, the Molli is among the world's oldest narrow-gauge railways, and like no other mode of transport forges a link between traditional resort culture and modern holiday facilities.

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3

Hafenstraße – 17489 Greifswald

Greifswald Museum Harbour

Some of the ships and boats in the museum harbour are more than 100 years old, © Sven Fischer

Gaff ketch and schooner, seaquat and ramship, cruiser and kragejolle - about 45 old ships characterise the image of the museum harbour in Greifswald, which was founded in 1991 following the example of the museum harbours in Flensburg and Hamburg. With this, the Hanseatic townspeople reacted to the increased interest in historic ships and traditional seamanship.

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4

Goethestraße – 17489 Greifswald

Eldena Abbey

Ruins of Eldena Abbey, © TMV/Kraus

Eldena Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery, originally named Hilda Abbey. Only ruins survive of the monastery, which was founded in 1199 and is well known as a frequent subject of Caspar David Friedrich's paintings.

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6

Hafenstraße – 18439 Stralsund

OZEANEUM Stralsund

As if you had a view of the open Atlantic Ocean - the large basin in the Ozeaneum, © Anke Neumeister

With its five exhibitions and 46 aquariums, the OZEANEUM Stralsund invites you on an extraordinary underwater journey beneath the northern seas. Visit Humboldt penguins on the roof terrace, "Niki" the female sand tiger shark in the 2.6-million-litre pool "Open Atlantic" and the giants of the sea - real life replicas of whales.

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7

– 18209 Heiligendamm

Heiligendamm Pier

Heiligendamm from the pier, © VMO/M. Jeschke

In 1793 Friedrich Franz I founded the first German seaside resort: Heiligendamm. Today, the white bathing villas and the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm attract thousands of visitors every year. From the panoramic pier you have the best view of the classicistic ensemble.

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8

– 18211 Ostseebad Nienhagen

Gespensterwald - Ghost Forest

A cycling and hiking trail leads along the cliff through the "Ghost Forest"., © Fischer/TMV

The "Nienhäger Holz", a 180 hectare mixed forest, is better known among locals as the ghost forest. The forest got its unusual appearance in the course of many years by the salty and humid sea air as well as the wind.

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1

Ostseeallee – 23946 Boltenhagen

Seehotel Großherzog von Mecklenburg

Aerial photo of Seehotel Großherzog von Mecklenburg, © Seehotel Großherzog von Mecklenburg

The Seehotel Großherzog von Mecklenburg is located in the Baltic resort of Boltenhagen, between the Hanseatic towns of Lübeck and Wismar on the seafront and not far from the 290-metre long pier.

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2

Prof.-Dr.-Vogel-Str. – 18209 Heiligendamm

Grand Hotel Heiligendamm

Whether it's a romantic weekend, a spa and wellness stay or a family holiday - the Grand Hotel Heiligendamm in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offers the right offer for a wonderful holiday at the Baltic Sea. The luxury hotel, located directly at the beach, comprises an ensemble of six classicist buildings and a historic panoramic pier.

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