Camping on Poel

Long sandy beaches, sleepy little island villages and lots of nature: the small Baltic Sea island of Poel in the Bay of Wismar is nowhere near as well-known as the large Baltic Sea resorts. But that is precisely what makes camping on Poel so appealing. If you are looking for peace and quiet, long walks in the countryside and relaxed beach life on your holiday, this is the place for you.

Camping on Poel: all important information at a glance

Compared to Rügen, the Baltic Sea island of Poel may be a relatively small island with its 37 km², but Poel is the seventh largest island in Germany. The island in the Bay of Wismar is the youngest Baltic seaside resort. For a long time, life on the island was dominated by agriculture and fishing. To this day, the holiday island of Poel has retained its rural character.

The few campsites on or near the island of Poel are located on green meadows behind the narrow strip of dunes. The manageable size of the campsites is ideal for families with children and campers looking for peace and quiet. In addition to nature campsites, there are also 5-star campsites with bungalows and mobile homes to rent.

Dogs are allowed on a lead when camping on the island of Poel, but it is advisable to choose a campsite close to one of the dog beaches on Poel. There are a number of dog beaches along the coast of Poel. Campers can let their dogs run free off the lead here from October to April.

In the high season from May to September, dogs must also be kept on a lead on the dog beaches. Dogs are generally not permitted on the beaches Am Schwarzen Busch, Timmendorf-Strand and Gollwitz from 1 May to 30 September.

Campsites on Poel

The campsite at the lighthouse in Timmendorf-Strand is the largest and best-known campsite on Poel. The modern camping site offers over 600 pitches for motorhomes, caravans and tents. However, there is no rental accommodation.

The site is located on the west side of the island and is right on the beach. Next door are a natural beach, a nudist beach and a dog beach. In summer, the site offers many bathing opportunities and is a great starting point for beach walks and water sports such as kitesurfing, sailing or surfing. You can get your sailing licence at the Insel Poel sailing school. If you want, you can also sail on a catamaran.

Next to the campsite at the lighthouse there is also a caravan site with electricity connections. However, there are no sanitary facilities here and the public toilet is a little further away at the harbour.

The other campsites are not located directly on the island of Poel, but in the surrounding area. These include the Möwe campsite in Boiensdorf and the Ostseecamp Seeblick in Rerik-Meschendorf. However, due to the short distance, the island of Poel is only a stone's throw away from these campsites.

Destinations on Poel

Poel is relatively sparsely populated. Only around 2,900 inhabitants live in the 15 villages. The main town on Poel is Kirchdorf and owes its name to the 700-year-old tower of the island church, which is the most important landmark on Poel alongside the two lighthouses.

Those travelling to Poel to camp are usually close to a beach. Particularly popular beaches are Timmendorf-Strand, Schwarzer Busch and Gollwitz. These sandy beaches have parking facilities, toilets and restaurants.

However, the quiet natural beaches in Neuhof and Seedorf, which are easily accessible by bike, are less popular with tourists. The only nudist beach on the island is in Wangern. There are car parking facilities here, but neither sanitary facilities nor snack bars. However, holidaymakers can also shed their clothes on other beaches that have designated nudist areas.

Top sights

Most of the sights on Poel take visitors back in time. The castle rampart on Poel is a remnant of a legendary fortress from the Thirty Years' War. The Cap Arcona memorial commemorates the bombing of the passenger liner shortly before the end of the Second World War. A special exhibition in the island museum also provides information about this terrible catastrophe. When the weather is fine, it is worth taking a trip to the Dutch-style Stove windmill on the mainland. However, the island of Langenwerder, which is a nature reserve, may not be entered. If it does rain on the island of Poel, a trip to Piratenland is well worthwhile for families with children. The huge indoor playground impresses with slides, a climbing tower, trampoline and much more.

Excursions in the region

Poel has only been known as a holiday destination for around 100 years. Since then, holidaymakers on Poel have not only enjoyed the healing sea air, but also the numerous activities and excursion options. Poel is located in the city triangle between Lübeck, Wismar and Rostock. The nearby Hanseatic cities are ideal for day trips.

Sporting activities on land and on the water

For those who don't want to leave the island, there is a wide range of sports and leisure activities on land and water. In addition to the sailing club, the football club in Kirchdorf invites you to join in. In Gollwitz you can play tennis and in Timmendorf Strand and Schwarzer Busch on Poel you can swing a golf club. Bicycle hire is also available in the holiday resorts on the beaches of Poel. Families can have fun playing minigolf or bowling and adventurers can go kitesurfing or windsurfing.

events

June - September

• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival: The summer music festival takes place throughout the state every summer from June to September. On the island of Poel, music is performed in the festival barn in Niendorf.

July

• Day of the Sea Rescuers: On the last Sunday in July, the nationwide Day of the Sea Rescuers is also celebrated on Poel. Sea rescue boats can be visited.

August

• Poel Island Festival: The islanders and tourists celebrate with lots of music, a bouncy castle and a funfair at the beginning of the month. The festival site stretches from the church to the sandy car park on the outskirts of Kirchdorf in the direction of Timmendorf.

September

• Poel Island Cup: Since 1999, September has been all about water. The fire brigade competition in the wet fire-fighting discipline is one of the largest of its kind in Germany.

Gastronomic highlights for campers

Typical Mecklenburg cuisine is down-to-earth, hearty and rustic. Mecklenburg rib roast, potted liver sausage and Klopp ham are traditional meat dishes. There are also sweet and savoury stews. On the island of Poel, this typical North German cuisine is enriched by fish dishes of all kinds. From eel and cod to herring and seafood, the range of maritime delicacies is extensive.

Fried smoked eel and fried plaice are particularly popular. Children are not always keen on fish, but they may prefer to try smugglers' sandwiches, which are very imaginatively topped on Poel. Younger guests will also love the restaurants and pubs with playgrounds where they can let off steam.

The favourable and fair price-performance ratio of many restaurants makes eating out on Poel affordable even for campers with a medium travel budget. So you can confidently save yourself the camping cooker.

Weather and best time for a camping holiday on Poel

Overall, the weather is moderately maritime and the bathing temperatures are pleasant. July and August are the best times to visit Poel. Temperatures average around 20° Celsius at this time. The months of May, June and September are ideal for walks, cycle tours and hikes in pleasant temperatures.

The wind on Poel not only provides ideal conditions for kitesurfers, but also plenty of sunshine. Thick clouds are quickly swept away over the flat Poel. Despite the sunshine, the weather on the island of Poel can get chilly, as the wind brings with it not only a bright blue sky but also cooling.

If you want to sit around the campfire in the evening, you should pack a thick jumper. For camping on Poel, windbreakers and cosy sleeping bags belong in your luggage. The wind-protected beach chairs still promise a tan, as Poel is located in the sunniest region in Germany.