From bed to board: Campsites for windsurfers, kitesurfers and paddlers in northern Germany
Tobias Frauen
· 22.06.2026
Do you know of any other campsites right by the spot? Please feel free to email us with any suggestions at redaktion@surf-magazin.de - whether in Germany or elsewhere! We’re gradually expanding our collection!Even more camping tips:
Flügger Beach/Fehmarn
The Flügger Strand campsite is situated on the west coast of Fehmarn; no pitch is more than a few metres from the water. The conditions here are similar to those at Püttsee, which lies a few hundred metres to the north within sight: a sandbank slows the waves down slightly just before the beach, causing them to break; with side- or side-onshore (SW) winds, you can sometimes manage a turn or two on the wave. However, the waves here rarely become truly threatening; instead, good Baltic Sea freeride conditions are possible with all westerly wind directions. North or south winds blow exactly sideshore.
The site itself has everything you need, including a small shop, a restaurant and modern toilet blocks. There’s also a surf school on site offering windsurfing, wing and kitesurfing courses. Rental caravans and small beach huts make the site an attractive option for casual campers too. In the surrounding area, the Flügger Lighthouse offers a magnificent view over the Fehmarn Sound and the Orther Reede, whilst Orth itself is easily accessible by bike. Fun fact: In 1970, the legendary Fehmarn Open Air festival took place on Flügger Beach, where Jimi Hendrix gave his final performance just a few days before his death – a memorial stone to the north of the site commemorates this event.
- For more information, see fluegger-strand.de
Ahoy Camp Altenteil/Fehmarn
As a windsurfing spot, Altenteil on Fehmarn hardly needs any introduction; when the wind is blowing from the north-west, there’s a very good Baltic Sea swell here. The Ahoi Camping Fehmarn site (formerly Fehmarnbelt) changed hands last year and is now one of Ahoi’s campervan rental providers.
As part of this, the site’s somewhat dated 1970s charm is gradually being phased out and the site is being tailored to van life. There’s also a beach bar and a small surf shop. Another measure taken by the new operators was to make the front-row pitches right by the water available to holidaymakers and to move the long-term campers to the back rows. You can’t get much closer to the spot than this, even if the premium pitches do come at a price.
- For more information, see ahoi-camp-fehmarn.de
Campsite at Niobe/Fehmarn
A few kilometres east of Altenteil, the Niobe campsite offers another option for camping almost right by the water. Just a few steps across the dyke and you’re on the beach. This compact, largely unspoilt campsite offers pitches as well as caravans and cabins for hire.
As a surfing spot, Niobe offers an alternative to Grüner Brink or Altenteil for more experienced wave surfers. There is no shallow area where you can stand, but there are rocks and plenty of space. The spot is surfable in almost all wind directions, from west through north to east.
- For more information, see camping-am-niobe.de
Wulfener Hals/Fehmarn
Another absolute classic: the campsite at Wulfener Hals has always been a surfer’s paradise. At Burger Binnensee there’s a huge shallow area for beginners, those learning to jibe and freestylers; on the south side in the Fehmarn Sound, the conditions are a bit choppier, but still manageable for almost every skill level.
As well as courses, the Windsurfing Hamburg centre offers a wide range of equipment for hire. The campsite itself is one of the top sites in the whole of Germany and, with a swimming pool, restaurants and entertainment, has everything to delight fans of five-star sites. There’s also a golf course and a wakeboarding facility nearby. Cabins and rental caravans are available here too for guests without their own motorhome.
- For more information, see wulfenerhals.de
Fitting tips for surfer vans:
Camp Langholz
When the wind is from NO to ONO, Langholz is one of the best wave spots in Eckernförde Bay; with all southerly to south-westerly wind directions, there are relaxed bump-and-jump conditions. The coastline bends here, and that’s exactly where ‘Camp Langholz’ is located. The campsite offers a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. During the season, there are often campfires and music; the well-stocked shop stocks regional produce, and the little bistro serves delicious food! From every pitch, it’s just a few metres to the slightly stony beach and out onto the water.
For non-campers, there’s also a holiday home; a particular highlight is the colourful circus caravans in the front row, overlooking the water. Only those who value luxury facilities and a lawn mown to the millimetre should look elsewhere. At the Baltic Sea storm surge in October 2023 Langholz suffered severe damage, but with the help of numerous guests and friends, the course has since been reopened.
- For more information, see camp-langholz.de
Hemmelmark
Hemmelmark lies considerably further into Eckernförde Bay and therefore has little chance of producing larger waves. Yet it is precisely this that makes the spot an ideal area for beginners and flat-water enthusiasts. The gently curving coastline forms a small cove with a shallow area where you can get started at your own pace. For many years, Vincent Langer’s Kids Camp was held here, and the ‘Racer of the Sea’ has also visited the spot on several occasions for regattas and camps. The campsite has everything you need for a family holiday, with a shop, modern toilet facilities and plenty of activities on offer. Eckernförde town centre is easily accessible by bike.
- For more information, see ostsee-camping-hemmelmark.de
Grönwohld
The Gröhnwohld campsite is a popular spot for windsurfers and other water sports enthusiasts, with events and camps held here regularly. There is also a surf school on site, run by Wassersport Schwedeneck. The best conditions here are when the wind is from the east to north-east; particularly in early summer, the wind is then strengthened by thermal effects, and a six-knot forecast quickly turns into a decent gliding wind. Access is via a lovely, flat sandy beach, although there may be a few stones near the shore.
East and west winds blow sideshore; for the first 150 metres, the water is knee-deep, and further out, shallow sandbanks form a natural barrier. Further out, you’ll find typical flat-water to bump-and-jump conditions, which are great fun for freeriders, freestylers and slalom riders. The campsite has a restaurant and a well-stocked shop. Between the beach and the campsite lies a narrow strip of woodland with a few passages through which windsurfing equipment must be carried. Grönwohld was also severely affected by the storm surge of 2023, but according to the campsite, 90 per cent of it has been restored.
- For more information, see groenwohld-camping.de
Wustrow Surf Centre
Not a proper campsite in the strict sense, but a lovely pitch for motorhomes and caravans on Fischland, between Rostock and the Darß peninsula. Behind a small strip of woodland and dunes, you’ll find a car park next to the surf school, which offers equipment hire, a small surf shop and a beach bar. Toilet facilities for basic needs and electricity hook-ups are also available.
On the western side, there can be a decent swell when the wind is right; just under a hundred metres to the east lies the Saaler Bodden, with shallow water where beginners will also find plenty to enjoy. The little village of Wustrow, with its jetty and a few restaurants, is easily reached by bike or on foot.
- For more information, see surfcenter-wustrow.de
Hörnum
Not your typical mass-market surf spot, but one of the few places on the North Sea coast where you can set off straight from your motorhome or caravan – provided, of course, you have the necessary skills for the North Sea and Sylt’s shorebreak. A little further south, there are clean and surprisingly moderate waves. If you prefer something a bit tamer, you can easily walk to the east side to the Südkap Surfing school. Here you’ll find conditions suitable for all ages, regardless of the tides. At low tide there’s a shallow area where you can stand, but at high tide it becomes too deep to stand. Even during westerly storms, the islands of Amrum and Föhr shield the bay from large swells, offering a safe haven for freeriders and freestylers. An easterly wind brings open, slightly choppy conditions; with southerly and northerly winds, it’s perfect sideshore – wonderfully smooth – and south-westerly and north-westerly winds also work brilliantly.
The campsite itself is idyllically situated amidst the dunes and is divided into a section for caravans and one for motorhomes. There is a restaurant right next door, and the centre of Hörnum is easily accessible on foot or by bike.
- For more information, see hoernum.de
Suhrendorf
Stretching across several square kilometres between the island of Ummanz – which can be reached via a small bridge – and the offshore island of Hiddensee lies what is probably Germany’s largest stand-up paddleboarding area. The Rainbow Camp offers the perfect launch point, and the spot itself works within a wide wind window ranging from south through west to north-east. Because the water remains calm even in stormy conditions – apart from a few small ripples – and you can simply walk back in if necessary, this spot is perfect for all beginners, jibbing enthusiasts and freestylers alike. An easterly wind is also rideable thanks to the flat hinterland, although it can be a bit gusty; however, you’ll need to head further out into deeper water to get a consistent breeze.
The campsite was taken over by the Regenbogen Group in 2021 and offers a full range of facilities, including a shop, restaurant, surf school, mini-golf and much more! The pitches at the front are right next to the surf spot, separated from the water only by a narrow patch of grass. For experienced surfers, Rügen also offers plenty of other surf spots and attractions!
- For more information, see regenbogen.ag
Born on the Darß Peninsula
On the Saaler Bodden, on the inland side of the Darß peninsula, lies Born – one of the most popular shallow-water spots in the area. The Regenbogen campsite offers ideal conditions for launching, with a grassy area for rigging up and plenty of space for your kit. Although the beach itself is rather narrow, the large standing area means you can always come ashore at your leisure. There’s a kitesurfing school on the site, so you’ll often have to share the space with the kiters. The campsite itself is set amongst pine trees and has a rustic, cosy charm. There are numerous places to visit and other leisure activities in the surrounding area.
- For more information, see regenbogen.ag
Pepelow on the Salzhaff
The Salzhaff is a sheltered bay between Wismar and Rostock. Westerly winds are somewhat tempered by the Wustrow Peninsula, whilst easterly winds are often strengthened by thermal currents. On the eastern shore, there’s a huge flat area, perfect for beginners, freeriders and freestylers. From the “Ostseecamping am Salzhaff”, you can reach the water after just a few metres. A little further south, at “San Pepelone”, there are also cabins, holiday homes and a surf school.
Because the Salzhaff has very little water exchange with the Baltic Sea, it warms up noticeably faster than most other spots. In summer, a shorty wetsuit is often enough, but you can’t go wrong with a 4/3. Just don’t forget your seaweed fin!
- For more information, see ostseecamping-am-salzhaff.de
Loissin on the Greifswald Bodden
On the Greifswald Bodden, south of the island of Rügen, lies the Loissin family-friendly campsite, which is a great starting point for the regional surfing scene. The site is spacious and offers modern toilet facilities. Part of the site is divided into plots, but there is also a camping area that can be used by campervans and motorhomes. There is also a small café on the site, where you can hire SUPs. The spot is suitable for windsurfing with wind directions ranging from westerly (sideshore from the left) through northerly (onshore) to easterly (sideshore from the right). The launch is sandy, and in the water there’s a large shallow area where you can stand, making the spot suitable even for less experienced windsurfers. Loissin usually offers smooth water; in stronger winds, there are the usual small chop. It only gets a bit wavy here when there’s a strong north-easterly wind. There’s a lively surfing scene on site with the Pommersurf Club.
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Tobias Frauen
Editor
