Rügen

Rügen – What you should know

Rügen is Germany's largest island and sits in one of the sunniest corners of the country. The figures bear out the reputation: 9.8 hours of sunshine a day in May and 9.9 in June — leading values by German standards, and above those of the North Sea coast. The Baltic has a drying effect here, being cooler than the land in spring and so suppressing cloud formation.

The Baltic warms slowly but dependably: it reaches 19°C in August, 18°C in July, and is still 16°C in September. Air temperatures in midsummer sit at 22°C. This is no Mediterranean, but it makes Rügen the most sensible German swimming destination in August and September — when the water is warmest and the school holidays are over.

Spring is the real recommendation. April and May are the driest months of the year at 31 and 45 mm, with 8.5 to 9.8 hours of sunshine at 12–16°C. For the chalk cliffs in Jasmund National Park, the beech forests and the resort architecture of Binz and Sellin, that is the best combination of light, quiet and weather. July, by contrast, is the wettest month at 82 mm.