Beach Timmendorfer Strand

Ready for a fine sandy beach with crystal clear water extending as far as the eye can see? If so, then Timmendorfer Strand, one of the Baltic’s chicest and most popular holiday destinations, will be right up your street. Timmendorfer Strand, not to be confused with the beach of the same name on the island of Poel, is located in Ostholstein County in Schleswig-Holstein, around 15 km north of Lübeck on the beautiful shores of the Baltic Sea. Timmendorfer Strand’s popularity as a beach resort boomed after the construction of several hotels and B&Bs along the beach at the end of the 19th Century, before the town was later officially named as a Baltic Sea spa resort in 1951.

A top-notch Baltic resort

The exclusive lifestyle synonymous with Timmendorfer Strand as well as its outstanding hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, pubs and cafés, shopping experiences and events calendar set this dynamic Baltic Sea resort apart from the crowd. With 7 kilometres of fine sandy beach and shallow, crystal clear Baltic Sea water, the resort is well loved by guests of all ages and one of Germany’s most famous and popular beach resorts.

The barely noticeable tides here mean that sea is generally predictable and calm, which makes for a wonderfully salty maritime climate – a real tonic for your skin and soul. The unspoilt harmony of the natural world is never far away either, as shimmering lakes, dense forests, yellow linseed fields and long tree-lined avenues abound here.

52 sections of beach

Visitors to Timmendorfer Strand shouldn’t miss the opportunity to rent an iconic strandkorb (hooded beach chair). Timmendorfer Strand boasts no less than 52 designated sections of beach and therefore just as many strandkorb rental companies. In addition to these comfortable beach chairs, you can also rent recliners and parasols here. And if you want to avoid tan lines, you can go “au naturel” on the first section of beach at the far north of Timmendorfer Strand. Each stretch of beach comes complete with showers, changing rooms, public toilets and food & drink options. The town centre is also full of eateries and businesses catering to the whims of visitors. 

Guests with canine companions can also look forward to a designated dog beach close to the Ostseetherme. Indeed, in the winter months from November to April, dog owners can enjoy a stroll with their canines on all sections of Timmendorfer Strand. Bins for depositing dog waste bags are dotted all along the beach promenade.

Ideal for disabled bathers too

Sections 10 and 18 also provide universal access to the beach. Wooden walkways offer easy access for wheelchairs, while guests can make use of five free, floating wheelchairs for fun in the waves.

Kids love KinderClub Seefi

Young visitors should look no further than Seepferdchen KinderClub Seefi. A crew of carers are on hand here to provide fun and entertainment so little ones can get creative and let off some steam. The free rentals on sand toys are also a practical extra service for families. The huge beach here only slopes gently into the water and it’s supervised by ten life guard stations, making it ideal for swimming with little ones.

Timmendorfer piers

Timmendorfer Strand also has plenty to offer when it comes to sightseeing and leisure activities. The Timmendorfer Seebrücke pier, which replaced the old Seeschlösschenbrücke in 2011, is a thrill for visitors of all ages with its sections of glass floor – what better way to admire the undersea world? The famous MARITIM-Seebrücke – which hosts the German beach volleyball championships, beach hockey championships and beach polo – is perhaps the resort’s main landmark and attracts scores of visitors every year.

If you venture into the dunes behind the Timmendorfer Seebrücke, you’ll likely discover a relatively new sculpture of singer Udo Lindenberg. This monument behind the Maritim Seehotel, in which Udo wrote the song “Horizont”, celebrates Lindenberg’s long-standing loyalty to the resort – as Timmendorfer Strand is where the singer has always come to prepare for his tours. In fact, the public dress rehearsals here before his tours begin have now almost attained cult status among fans and guests to the beach resort.

Sport and leisure

If you fancy a bit of exercise, look no further than the Sport-StrandKlub. Certified coaches offer numerous types of sports free of charge here. If you want to burn some calories, beach volleyball and beach soccer are fun, if a little tiring. In July and August, the club also offers yoga, Nordic walking, aquaball, back fitness, jumping fitness, Zumba and other “in” sports.

And guests that can’t get enough of that glorious water should also take the chance to visit the Ostseetherme leisure centre and Sea Life Centre. The Ostseetherme, just a stone’s throw from the beach, offers the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind. The seawater aquarium at the Sea Life Centre showcases both domestic and tropical aquatic life, while the bird park in Niendorf is another great destination for fans of flora and fauna. One of Germany’s largest bird parks, the latter is home to numerous domestic and exotic birds. 

By car: Driving from the south, the fastest route to the Baltic Sea coast is via the A1 towards Kiel and Lübeck, before exiting at 18-Ratekau towards Ratekau/Niendorf/Ostsee/Timmendorfer Strand. Visitors can park at one of five car parks in town. These car parks are all free of charge and centrally located.

By train: Travelling to the resort by rail is a straightforward and stress-free alternative. From Hamburg Hbf, travellers can take hourly trains to Timmendorfer Strand by changing in Lübeck. In summer, there are even direct connections from Hamburg to the Baltic Sea resort running on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Timmendorfer station is only a few minutes from the town centre, and there are usually plenty of taxis available to take visitors on the last leg.