It is still vacation time in Germany. And as Germans love the beach and warm weather, they, of course, head to coastal areas. When Germans decide to spend their holidays abroad they target countries like Spain, especially, the island Mallorca (Majorca), die Türkei (Tukey), and Ägypten (Egypt).

But when Germans decide to spend their vacation in Germany there’s only one destination to name: die Ostsee (the Baltic Sea), which is the most popular travel destination of Germans within Germany.

The Baltic Sea is located in the north of Germany.  This Binnenmeer (inland sea) is 413,000 km² large and up to 459 meters deep. It is supposed to be the largest Brackwassermeer (brackish water sea) in the world, which means that it has more Salzgehalt (salinity) than Süßwasser (freshwater) and lesser salinity than Meereswasser (seawater). Beside Germany, other Anrainerstaaten (littoral sates) are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estland, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

There are many Urlaubsorte (resorts) and Ostseebäder (Baltic Sea spa towns) on the Baltic Sea. You can either go to one of the German Ostseeinseln (islands in the Baltic): Hiddensee, Rügen, Usedom, Fehmann, Poel, to the Halbinsel (peninsular) Fischland-Darß-Zingst or to one of the Baltic Sea spa towns auf dem Festland (on the mainland): Boltenhagen, Rerik, Kühlungsborn, Nienhagen, and Warnemünde. In all these places Urlauber (vacationers) can decide whether they want to zelten (camp) during they vacation or reside in one of the many Jugendherbergen (hostels), hotels or Ferienwohnungen (holiday aparments).

The Baltic Sea is known for its Strandkörbe (roofed wicker beach chairs).

Of course, do all resorts offer a wide range of activities, such as volleyball, sailing, fishing, wind- and kite-surfing, diving, cycling, walking and golf but I think that only being there is already like visiting another world. I have been to the Baltic Sea several times and what I have always loved most about it was the special atmosphere surely mainly caused by the typical Bäderarchitektur (typical building style for spas).

Since all these resorts are Touristenmagneten (tourist magnets) there are lots of cafés, restaurants and shopping facilities, which make you always feel very special when dinning or shop there, because of this fascinating architecture.

Unfortunately, the weather in Germany is temporarily bad. There is a lot of rain with temperatures between 12 degrees Celsius (= 54 degrees Fahrenheit) at night and up to 25 degrees C (= 77 degrees F) during the day. So, keep your fingers crossed that the weather will change soon.

Mallorca – Majorca

die Türkei – Turkey

Ägypten – Egypt

die Ostsee – Baltic Sea

das Binnenmeer – inland sea

das Brackwassermeer – brackish water sea

der Salzgehalt – salinity

das Süßwasser – freshwater (lit. sweet water)

das Meerwasser OR das Meereswasser – seawater

der Anrainerstaat – littoral state

der Urlaubsort – resort

das Ostseebad – Baltic Sea spa town

die Ostseeinsel – island in the Baltic

die Halbinsel – peninsular

auf dem Festland – on the mainland

zelten – to camp

die Jugenherberge – hostel

die Ferienwohnung – holiday apartment

die Bäderarchitektur = building style typical for spas

der Touristenmagnet – tourist magnet

der Strandkorb – roofed wicker beach chair