Located where the Bay of Wismar meets the Bay of Mecklenburg, Poel Island is a picturesque holiday destination in the Baltic Sea. Its rare salt marshes attract birdlife from near and far while its sandy beaches provide the setting for swimming, sandcastle-building and a variety of water sports.
Things to do in Poel
On the west coast of Poel Island is the Leuchtturm Timmendorf Strand, a rectangular brick lighthouse that’s been in operation since 1872. It marks the entrance to Wismar Bay, with its multi-coloured tower topped by a conical red “hat”. The Leuchtturm Timmendorf Strand is best viewed on a stroll around the marina or from the nearby sandy beach.
Birdwatchers can spot a variety of rare species in the salt marshes that ring Poel Island, with guided walking tours available with local ornithologists. Alternatively, you can cruise around the uninhabited island of Langenwerder. It lies off the north-east coast of Poel and has been protected as a nature reserve due to the coastal birds that flock here to breed.
For insight into the cultural heritage of the island, head to the Inselmuseum Poel, which occupies a school building that dates back to 1806. Learn about Poel’s native flora and fauna, admire the paintings by Karl Christian Klasen, together with a “rocking bathtub” built in the early 20th century. Outside the museum is a boulder garden and a model of the island’s castle ramparts that were destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War.
Getting around Poel
Poel Island is 25 minutes’ drive from Wismar and about an hour from Rostock while Rostock–Laage Airport is one hour away. Hamburg Airport is less than two hours from Poel Island. Buses travel around Poel while having your own vehicle gives you greater freedom to explore the island.